Commando Trail to Kalihi Saddle (Powerlines)

Back in the saddle. Met up with Chris, Ethan, Khym and Scott in Kaneohe.

Thanks to Scott’s friend, Alvin, for dropping us off on the side of the highway.

Looking for wallabies …

… deep in the valley. I think we found some. Rather large ones. Let’s keep our distance.

Shout out to HTMC for clearing this shortcut to the Bowman trail.

Chris hanging around. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

We are not alone. We are not pigs.

Scott making his way up the short and steep spur ridge.

End of the cleared and defined trail. What is everybody looking at?

Oh, the view. Kodak moment.

The “face” of Bowman.

Looking up at two moons. Which one is brighter? Photo by Scott Bowling.

Topping out at the “face” of Bowman. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Scott walking through the dewy bog at the top.

Group photo at the 2,740′ socked in summit of Pu’u Kahuauli (Bowman), left to right: Scott, Ethan, myself, Khym and Chris. Where are you going? That way? No, this way. Wanna bet?

No plucking of the flowers. We already got clouds. Don’t need rain as well.

Time to put on our spikes and gloves for those so inclined. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Dropping down into the clouds. Photo by Scott Bowling.

Khym making his way along the fractured ridge.

Scooting over the crumbly rocks. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Psst, it’s this way. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Khym and Scott coming around and down the crumbly hill.

Got webbing? Inside joke. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Scott making his way down the slippery slope.

Clouds, clouds go away. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Please don’t kick any rocks my way. Thank you. Photo by Chris Bautista.

The shaka brothers making their first appearance at the top.

Ethan barreling down the broken dirt wave. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Windward views.

Khym making his way down the first rock triangle.

How Scott deals with OCD behavior. “I hear you Khym. I’m just ignoring you.”

Making our way past the overhang. Photo by Chris Bautista.

What a view! Photo by Khym Ansagay.

What’s up?

Almost there. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Khym scooting down the crumbly rocky ridge.

One hand on the ridge and one hand for the shaka. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Scott coming down the second rock triangle, as the shaka brothers make another appearance.

Valley views.

Leaving behind the second rock triangle.

Looking out to the clear summit of Lanihuli.

The group coming down tabletop rock. We found a cut or discarded rope at the base.

Crossing the mini-saddle. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

The group coming down the skinny ridgeline.

The Silence of the Saddles. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Thinking. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

The group making their way along a narrow dike section.

Making our way down the crumbly ridgeline. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Looking back.

Climbing up Witch’s Hat. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Contour? Where we’re going, we don’t need contours. Photo by Ethan Clavecillas.

Khym pulling himself up.

Group photo on top of Witch’s Hat.

Coming down the backside of Witch’s Hat. We found another cut or discarded rope at the base.

Almost there. Really. Photo by Ethan Clavecillas.

Goodbye Bowman, until next time.

Last group photo.

Making our way back down to the valley floor.

Somebody left the gate open.

Chris and Khym seeking shelter from the hot sun.

Thanks again to Alvin for picking us up on the side of the highway.

Our breezy ride back to the Windward side.

Our short saddle hike covered a scant 3.64 miles over crumbly ridgelines with a great group. Post hike meal at Dean’s Drive Inn. Food tastes better when it’s free. Sorry about the beer. That’s what you get when you ask a non-drinker.

Note: I have been made aware the 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.

Tagged as: bowman, bowman trail, commando trail, kalihi saddle, kalihi valley, koolau summit ridge trail, ksrt, powerlines, puu kahuauli