Picking up from three weeks ago; met up with Art and Tessa at the Manana trailhead where we got a ride to Keaiwa Heiau State Park. Mahalo to Robert for shuttling us.
Trailhead
The park gates were surprisingly open, which saved us about 10 minutes of walking up the road. Not surprising, was the rain that came down. Photo by Art Young.
Aiea Loop Trail
Somebody was hoping for no repeat of swooping owls or screeching birds. Photo by Art Young.
Aiea Ridge Trail
Looking back at the large peak of Pu’u Kawipo’o where I could faintly pick out Art and Tessa at the 2,441′ top.
Aiea Ridge Trail
Approaching the powerline tower. Forget about the high voltage, expect high winds. Photo by Tessa Bugay.
Aiea Summit
Art using his knife to open the water valve for Tessa.
Aiea Summit
Group photo by Art Young at the 2,805′ freezing summit. We are going ahead rain or shine. Does that include extremely high winds?
Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)
Leaving the summit behind us as the winds tested our balance on the ridge line. Photo by Art Young.
KSRT
Descending down the hill towards the other powerline tower.
KSRT
Art rolling down the hill. Photo by Tessa Bugay.
Coitus interruptus
After Art had his fun, he squashed somebody’s else fun. At least they went out with a bang.
KSRT
Catching our breath or more accurately just trying to breathe. Photo by Art Young.
KSRT
Art “enjoying” the windy rollercoaster of a ridge line. Whose idea was this again? Photo by Tessa Bugay.
Waimalu Summit
Enjoying the windy panoramic views around us. The spectacular scenery revolved around us on the whole hike, but the chilly and gusting winds minimized the picture taking.
Waimalu Meadows
Descending on the spongy ground towards the meadows. Photo by Tessa Bugay.
Waimalu Meadows
Art and Tessa crossing over one of the largest meadows to be found on the KST.
Waimalu Meadows
Meadow life. The watering holes were surprisingly mostly dry and what little H20 had was a dark shade of brown with an unappetizing surface skim of dead bugs. Glad we didn’t need to filter water for our hike.
Waimalu Meadows
Quick group photo at the meadows so that we could freeze on the ridge line instead of in the meadows.
KSRT
Back to battling the stiff winds on the ridge line.
KSRT
Going up and down a couple more times until our next summit stop.
Waimano Trail
Looking out towards another landslide that has seemingly interrupted the Waimano trail. Still not as bad as the ones that ravaged the Poamoho trail that we were witness to last weekend.
Waimano Summit
Summit life where we took a pause to find out that the winds were so strong that it popped one of Art’s lens from his glasses. Perhaps we should’ve took a swig from the found liquor to keep us warm on the trail.
Waimano Summit
Group photo at the 2,160′ saddle summit.
KSRT
Tessa passing the landslide as she made her way down the ridge line.
KSRT
Almost there. To the meadows that is. Photo by Tessa Bugay.
Jackson Chameleon
Eye see you. Photo by Tessa Bugay.
KSRT
Climbing up the hill as we saw the fence line across the ridge line.
KSRT
Hanging on to the fence line for dear life as the winds whipped around us. The winds were no joke on this day. Photo by Tessa Bugay.
Eleao Meadows
Passing through the bowl shaped meadow that is slowly being fenced in. Photo by Tessa Bugay.
Manana Summit
Feeling wet, cold and exhausted at the 2,660′ knob.
Manana Trail
Stepping foot on what I would respectfully disagree with Stuart Ball’s characterization of this trail as “the best of the ungraded Ko’olau ridge trails.” Especially at the end of a long hike.
Manana Trail
Some of us were more tired than others. Photo by Tessa Bugay.
Manana Trail
Trying to beat the sun going down. An exercise in futility.
Sunset
The sun setting behind the Waianae Mountain Range. Photo by Tessa Bugay.
Manana Trail
Art and Tessa approaching the gate which marked the 3.5 mile marker. Time to switch on the headlamps.
Manana Trail
The only company we had hopping on the trail with us. Who else would be hiking in the dark on a Sunday night?
All pau
The end of the road for us.
GPS Tracks
Our grinder hike covered over 14 miles on a mud soaked trail made even more exhausting by the super windy “take our breath away” vacuum conditions that prevailed in the mountains. No post hike meal as we couldn’t find a establishment that was open to eat in. A trying and testing hike for all, made bearable by good company.
Note: I have been made aware that some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Sooo, whose idea was it to hike on this crazy windy day?! LOL… You got a “one shoe hike” from before. Now a “ one blurred eye” hike… hahaha! What’s next? Fun, exhausting, annoying hike that day for me but nonetheless awesome hike.
Aloha Tessa,
I wonder if we had hiked this same trail 3 weeks before, if the winds would have been just as crazy? Throw in rain and lightning. Maybe it’ll be a one glove hike next. Thanks again for tagging along.
Mahalo