Crouching Lion to True Manamana

Jasmin dropped Ferlino and myself off on the North Shore side for our Sunday exercise. Photo by Art Young.

We were surprised when we saw Aida, Art, Chris and Tessa at the trail. I guess hiking minds think alike.

Going up the eroded trail partly shaded by the hala trees.

Memorial with a stunning view of Kahana Bay. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Panoramic view of the trail as it splits into two destinations. We were going for the farther one.

Starting our stiff climb up the ridge. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Tessa climbing up with the backdrop of the Crouching Lion rock formation. Can’t see the feline for the rocks.

Ferlino perched on a knob with a sweeping view of the remote bay and valley.

Patiently waiting for the photo shoots to run their course. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

The group resuming the hike under scattered cloudy skies. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Chris traversing the narrow ridge.

Aida basking on the rocks.

Waiting for another photo shoot to run its course. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Ferlino spotting Art as he climbs down a steep rock face. I think we lost the trail runner at this point that was drafting us from the bottom. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Its always hump day somewhere in the mountains.

Aida contouring her way through some protruding rock formations. Photo by Art Young.

Art pushing up the last hill towards the first summit. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Group photo left to right: Art, Chris, myself, Ferlino, Tessa and Aida.

Dropping from the 2,027′ summit to hit the uluhe infested trail. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Pulling myself out of a uluhe hole. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Looking for the trail as I tried to clear my nasal cavities from the constant infiltration of pollen and dust. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

It pays to have a face mask on this trail. Coronavirus and social distancing notwithstanding. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

The group slogging through the tangled thicket of green and dry uluhe ferns. Quite the nasty combination to encounter on trails. Photo by Art Young.

Is this the trail?

Aida on a relatively cleared spot of the trail with Pu’u Kanehoalani ahead of her in Ka’a’awa Valley. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Tessa dropping down to the 1900 Lookout. Photo by Aida Gordon.

To go or not to go? Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Art is going. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Climbing and contouring our way around the assorted boulders that interrupted the narrow ridge. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Tessa and the rest of the group on the “edge.” Photo by Art Young.

Taking a Captain Morgan break. Photo by Art Young.

Dipping down into one of the numerous saddles on the ridge. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Some like to be on top. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Others like to be in the hole, teeth enamel erosion notwithstanding.

Looking back at the group about to contour a large spade shaped rock on the ridge. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Almost there. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Let’s pick up the pace!

The summit space has shrunk considerably due to overgrowth which forced us to be closer than we socially wanted to be on the cramped summit.

Time was ticking, so we took our leave of the postage stamp sized summit. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Some lingered for further photo shoots.

Going down the rock face without webbing was much easier than trying to go back up without it. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

The rest of the group wading through the uluhe trail previously trampled. Photo by Aida Gordon.

The tent was looking very tempting but it was occupied by a snoring hiker. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

We put on our headlamps as we were not going to beat the sun going down. Photo by Aida Gordon.

I was so over the hike as we went down the steep and moss blanketed ridge line. Somebody else was over the hike as well. As in head over heels over. Cap, glasses and flashlight were left as souvenirs to the mountain.

Our 5.4 mile hike was paid for with blood, sweat and tons of scratches and cuts. Misery loves great company. Thanks to Jasmin for picking us up at the bus stop since OTS wasn’t stopping for us. Post hike meal at Casa Carinio’s house where we ate Filipino leftovers washed down with ice cold Coke from McDonald’s.

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.

Tagged as: 1900 lookout, cemetery ridge, crouching lion, pu'u manamana, true manamana, turnover