Ka’ala to Kolekole Pass

Thanks to Robert for dropping Art, Enrique, Lilyn and myself off to Waianae Valley where we met Justin for somebody’s WST finish.

This must be the way to the trail. Thanks for the visual reinforcement, as I would’ve totally missed it.

End of the service road and the beginning of the “real” trail.

Going up the leaf covered hill.

Waiting for the rest of the group as we gained the ridge line.

Looking back at the prominent and jagged ridges behind us.

Steady climb towards the highest point on the island.

Enrique scrambling up the first boulder section.

Art climbing up the ladder on the second boulder area. Easy peasy.

I thought my calves were big! Echoes of Kauai.

The climbing must be getting serious as somebody put his gloves on.

I found out that everybody has different ways of entering a gate. Some climb over it and others swing it open. To each their own.

Entering the 1,000+ acre reserve that was once a fishpond and is now home to endemic plants, many found nowhere else.

Justin strutting it on the boardwalk.

Walking through a bog with a beer in hand gets better with every step.

After wandering and getting turned around a couple times, we found the fence line and followed it to the ridge.

Leaving the bog behind us as we made our way down the ridge marked by a breath of fresh air and poked by countless raspberry bushes.

Art climbing down the moss slicked rocks.

What happens when you don’t listen to your own advice about being careful going down, you walk away with a rope burn on your finger.

Justin straddling the leap of faith gap.

Lilyn lowering herself down.

Enrique carrying the weight of the problems of Waiea on his shoulders.

I’ll bushwhack through the raspberry bushes but don’t expect your GoPro stick back in one piece. Promise delivered.

Art making new friends on the trail.

The overgrowth wasn’t actually that bad this time around.

Guys, I’m telling you the chameleon was this BIG!

Enrique about to traverse the split in the fence line.

Art going down using vintage webbing.

Lilyn dropped down and contoured around the rock face.

Art leaving the fence behind as he climbed up another small rock face.

Lilyn standing on the sitting tree.

#18. I was misguided and thought we had overshot Star Trek which marked Art’s official completion of the WST. Prematurely celebrating his finish with my customary champagne dousing. Check that bubbly. It was wine. Same family.

Justin “Nambooty” Nambounmy cleared for take off. Get out of my drone’s way.

Group photo at the second highest peak on the island, notice that Art is cherising his prized kukui nut broken shell which symbolizes today’s accomplishment. This tradition dates back hours, if that.

Leaving the summit and looking forward.

Getting the rocks out of his shoes. The other ones are still stuck in his head.

The official end of Art’s WST finish. Congratulations Arthur Young on completing all 26 miles that make up the Waianae Summit Trail that traverses the Waianae Mountain Range.

Some chose to push through the pine tree while others jumped the fence. The path of least resistance.

Hiking the WST is always a welcome change from the KST.

Climbing and contouring our way around the fence line and the rocks.

Looking at unfinished business. We’ll be back.

Climbing down towards the narrow rock dike.

Shoefie with the 3,504′ peak of Kalena in the background.

Tower, this is Ghost Rider requesting a fly by. Wait until May 27.

Art coming to the end of the fence line for us, with the background of Lualualei Valley and Pu’u Ka’ilio.

Leaving our perch on the mountain as we made our way down.

Justin stepping his way down.

Making our way down the dike as it gradually leveled off bordered by bushes on one side and steep drops on the other side.

Art turning off the ridge line for greener pastures.

Leaving the forest behind us as we broke out into the open and heavily eroded section of the hill. Anybody brought their cardboard boxes?

Running and sliding our way down towards the lowest point in the Waianae Mountain Range.

Yea, though we walk through the valley of the shadow of UXO, we will fear no MPs.

Walking down the road as we heard artillery fire in the distance. There’s nothing like the smell of discharged gun powder in the afternoon.

Our walk on the wild west side covered roughly 8.37 miles with a great group. Congrats again to Art for finishing the 26 miles of the Waianae Summit Trail. Mahalo to Aida and Quan for picking us up, despite our less than hygienic conditions. Post hike meal at Popeye’s Chicken. On base. The only downside for somebody was the lack of free flowing alcohol.

Photos taken by Art Young, Enrique Chavez, Justin Nambounmy, Lilyn Avendano and yours truly. Not necessarily in order.

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: hobbs junction, kaala, kolekole pass, puu kalena, schofield barracks, star trek junction, waianae mountains, waianae summit trail, wst