I’m a bit late, but today I found out that a friend I worked with on Hawaii fell 400 ft from the top of the Olomana mountainside- one of my favorite hikes on Oahu. He walked off the trail to fetch back his friend’s hat, which had blown away. Then he slipped on mud and fell to his death.

He was a really beautiful person, only 24 years old, kind, genuine, hardworking, and just had the best smile :)

At least it was a quick death (I hope). You’re here, and all of the sudden you’re not. Your death is not sad for your own self because you’re no longer conscious- you can’t feel sadness. It’s sad for everyone that loved you. It’s sad that you can no longer contribute to their lives. My deepest sympathy goes out to Nate’s family and friends.

Such an unexpected death from an experienced hiker reminds me to watch my step. I feel very lucky to still be alive after all the stupid stuff I’ve done in life. Some of the “illegal” treks I’ve hiked were much more dangerous than the Olomana Trail.

I won’t stop living on the edge when the edge is astounding, but I will think twice about where I put my feet. My fellow hiking guide, Dima, once scolded me for running back to the train station to find my mittens 5 minutes before our train departed. He said, “I hate stupid moments like this. You’re so concerned about your mittens that you’re not careful while you run. What if you get hit by a car because you’re rushing for those mittens? For what? 300 rubles?”

It’s true. Your life is not worth a pair of mittens, a hat, a Ferrari, a 5-bedroom mansion, or any other “thing”.

And don’t forget this quote: “When you buy something, you’re not paying money for it. You’re paying with the hours of life you had to spend earning that money” -Jose Mujica

Don’t forget that life can slip at any moment. So, what do you live for?