Mount 'Alava Trail

The Mount 'Alava Trail departs from a small parking lot at Fagasa Pass and makes its way along the ridge line to the summit of Mount 'Alava where the old tram station remains are and some radio and tv infrastructure for the island. If you take the bus to Fagasa, have them drop you off at the pass and hike up the hill through the gravel parking lot. The trail curves up to the left and follows what appears to be an old road. It works its way around the hillside and climbs steadily. If you look off to your left, you get fleeting views of Fagasa and the Pacific Ocean. The trail is rocky in this section and slippery, even if it hasn't rained that day, so watch your step. Moving in and out of the shade, the trail climbs gently at first, and then really starts to climb between 3/4 of a mile and the 1 mile mark. At 1 mile, the trail begins to level out and actually descends the ridge for about a mile. The trail remains double wide, but the grass and other plants grow into the trail. There are areas where the grass may be up to your waist with rocks underfoot, so watch where you are stepping. The trail follows the north side of the island, which offers you the unique opportunity to be away from a lot of manmade distractions. There are no sounds of cars or airplanes, which allow you to appreciate what is going on around you. You can hear birds signing and lizards scampering off to the side of the trail as you come through. At 2.1 miles, the trail begins to climb again toward the summit. Around 2.7 miles, the canopy opens up some and you are at the mercy of the sun. While views to the right are blocked, every once in a while you get a view off to the left of the Pacific Ocean. If it is a clear day, you can see Western Samoa from the trail. As you approach the summit, views of the old tram station and tv/radio station towers come into view. You can see old cables used by the tram station sitting in or alongside the trail. The last push to the top is a series of old stairs, some of which might be rusted so watch your step before putting your full weight on the step. When you get to the top, views of Pago Pago Harbor spread out below you and views of the Pacific Ocean surround you. You can explore a little bit at the top, but the best views are immediately when you get off the stairs. Enjoy the views before working your way back down to the parking lot via the same trail you just took.