I was invited to hike down to Sigua Falls with Leevin, Julie and John yesterday and I went along because it turns out I'm a glutton for punishment. Here's my take on the hike, written in the form of an acrostic for FALLS. I'd've done SIGUA but all I could come up with was:

Sad!
It
Goes
Uphill
A lot!

By 'It' I mean the trail. Here's FALLS:

F - Freaking Hot
We started out at 8:30 and for a while it was great because there was plenty of cloud cover. But then the sun began to dry up everything including the nice cloud cover and soon it was just full sun. I really think the heat is what made this hike difficult for me. There is absolutely no shade on the trail (well, a small tree here and there) until the very last part when you descend to the falls. There's no doubt in my mind now that God was with the Israelites as they wandered the desert. I was melting out there after just an hour. I can't imagine 40 freaking years.

A - Anti-Climactic
"Hey. Look at that. It's a waterfall."
I must've built Sigua up to be something else in my mind, or maybe two hours of wandering around in the unforgiving sun turned my brain into a raisin because Sigua Falls didn't blow me away the way I fully expected it to. Sigua is beautiful for sure, but it is my opinion that Tarzan Falls is prettier than Sigua and a lot more interesting. However, I'm willing to give Sigua another chance and maybe go back during the rainy season and see it in all its glory.

L - Left
Stick to the left of the trail. That is, unless you want to go the long, hard, hot, scenic route that meanders through the Tank Farm and almost doubles the length of time it takes to get to Sigua via the shorter trail. If that's the route you prefer to take, then by all means ask Leevin for directions to the 'historical trail' aka The Death March.

L - Liquids
Bring plenty, more than you normally would, because the scorching sun will dry you out in no time at all. Half an hour from the home stretch I was all out of water and drinking the rest of Leevin's. He obliged, being the nice guy that he is. Or maybe he just felt bad about getting us lost, I mean, taking us on the 'historical trail'.

S - Superdog 207
One of the dogs (dubbed 207 from his id tag) that lives up there by Channel 10 followed us, and in some instances, led us on the trail to Sigua. When we got to the bottom he disappeared and we thought he had split and gone home. But just as we began packing up to move out, he appeared again as if to lead us home. I love that dog. I thought about stealing him, but then changed my mind. I'm gonna need him there for the next time. And when that time comes, I'm bringing a bag of beef jerky with his name on it.

Watch Leevin take the plunge:

Elsewhere: Leevin's story and photos.

Thank you Leevin, Julie and John.
Hey, maybe when I'm able to move my legs again we can do it again sometime.