Lao Lao and Fintasa Falls

Another weekend and another hike to waterfalls...Guam has many waterfalls (and many hikes, for that matter)!! We are still getting used to the hikes on Guam...very different than hikes in the States. For this one, we basically parked in someone's front yard (we got their permission first) and then followed an old road past a water tank and a communication tower. The guide book says to proceed down this road which continues down a steep slope...there is no mention of the chain across the road or the sign that states "Keep Out Private Property"! Apparently everyone just walks around the sign, this road also leads to another waterfall, and everyone uses this trail. So we continued on...

Carlton is raring to go!

Communication tower

The sign everyone ignores

Pretty view of the surrounding hills

Small fire here recently...apparently

Carabao in the distance!

Gathering place

We followed the road down the slope and at the bottom we found this lean-to equipped with chairs and various other items for the next time the family comes to hang out by the stream. I am assuming they would drive down the road otherwise it would be fairly difficult to bring coolers and stuff if you were walking. That slope was steep!















We came to Lao Lao falls fairly quickly after that. They were nice but we didn't really see a way down to the bottom. We climbed down as far as we could for a couple pictures and then climbed back up. We had to retrace our steps back to the lean-to in order to find the trail heading to Fintasa falls.

We have arrived!

Pools and small falls

More pools

Looking down the falls to the pool below

"CHEESE!"

Lao Lao Falls

Lao Lao Falls

Gotta have a selfie!

To get to Fintasa Falls we had to cross the stream a couple times and walk through a field that had Carabao in it....and plenty of Carabao pies to avoid!

Stream crossing

Carabao

Pies to avoid!

Once we made it through the field, there was a shift in the landscape. Very abruptly it went from grassland to desert-like. The colors remind me of Sedona with the red rocks and the dirt we were walking on was very soft.

Random abandoned vehicle

Landscape change in the distance

Carlton trying to locate the trail

Very desert-like

More color changes

We finally made it to the falls only to find the natural beauty of the falls marred by metal pipes. Still a pretty area but not quite what we were expecting to find.

Mini dam

Pipes running along the stream

While I sat on the edge of the waterfall, Carlton climbed down to the bottom for a better view of the falls and pictures.

Fintasa falls

There's me!

Pretty falls

Lovely

Oasis

The rope Carlton had to use to climb back up

Once Carlton returned from his excursion, we took more pictures from the top of the falls before we headed back.

Another view of the pipe

Pipe we had to use to cross the water

Falls from the top

Perspective

Ghost prints

Interesting striations in the rocks

Huge volcanic boulders in the field

Another Carabao

Almost to the top of this steep slope!

Whew!! We made it back to the truck! That was a pretty tough hike made even harder because we got a late start. We didn't actually start hiking until about 11am and this trail had virtually no shade, so it was hot! We had plenty of water, which was good but it was definitely a bit too warm for hiking.

On our way home, we decided to make some stops along the southern end of Guam and even had a picnic.

Natural arch

Bear Rock

Our picnic spot

Very pretty coastline

Our picnic spot was at Fort Nuestra Senora de la Soledad or  Fort Soledad for short. It was built by the Spanish around 1802 to strengthen the defenses of the supply station that was located in the bay below. By 1815, the Mexican Revolution brought an end to Galleon trading and this fort was allowed to deteriorate. It is now one of the most visited sites on Guam.

Lookout tower

Gotta have cannons

The barracks portion of the fort

There used to be 7 cannons

More pretty coastline

Closer look

Remnants of another fort across the bay

Selfie!

Carabao and her calf

Little guy!

Mount Jumullong

And we made it back home! We are trying to make the most of our weekends and explore more of Guam before Carlton heads out to sea again. Hopefully we will have more adventures to share this coming weekend!