Kalihi Saddle (Powerlines) to Lanihuli to Pali Lookout

Cranking winds threatened to blow out the candle on Aida’s birthday hike today. Thanks to Quan and Lilyn for dropping Merrill and myself off in the land of Wallabies and Aida, Aileen and Chico off at Alewa Heights respectively.

Running across multiple downed trees on the service road. Heard some pigs rustling in the bushes, too bad it wasn’t members of the kangaroo family.

We popped up on the ridge line to be met with winds that were blowing hard. Didn’t have to worry about sweating today.

Merrill pulling himself up the dorsal shaped rockface.

Catching the sunrise breaking over the Olomana peaks.

Keeping our center of gravity low as the winds pushed us around.

Standing on the mushroom rock as we approached the first of two bunny ear rockfaces.

Scooting our way down the knife edge of a ridge.

I wasn’t getting any better reception in between the ears.

The winds blowing in our face literally took our breath away.

Dropping down the rockface whose handholds and footholds have eroded over the years.

Merrill making short work of the down climb.

That’s our way up.

Climbing up the crumbly hill to climb up another crumbly hill.

Group photo with Kalihi Saddle as the backdrop.

Making our way around the grassy contour below the crumbly ridge line.

The money shot. Perhaps a few dollars short.

Merrill coming up what many consider the hardest section of the trail due to a lot of upper body strength that is expended on the climb up.

Trying to tame what is left of the dirt creature. Dust to dust. Ashes to ashes.

Pushing our way to a free dinner. Wishful thinking.

A scare that didn’t go as planned. The rest of the group in the form of Aida, Aileen and Chico soon joined us at the summit from Kapalama Trail.

Happy Birthday Aida. Somebody forgot the cupcake. It’s the thought that counts.

Group photo at the unusually clear 2,700′ summit.

Leaving the swirling heavens behind us. More like the windy heavens for today.

Dropping into the saddle.

Chico coming down the steep hill.

Contouring our way on a sliver of a trail.

Aileen pulling herself up the unstable anchor.

Timing is everything. Aida was trying to figure out her footing as a small rockslide fell between her and the ropes. Somebody was watching over her to make sure her birthday wasn’t ruined.

Just call me Otis. Mister Otis.

Trying to learn my alphabet.

Aileen climbing and contouring her way down the triple diked rockface.

Hanging off the side of a sheer cliff overlooking Nu’uanu Reservoir.

Climbing down another steep hill with the “W” behind us.

Following the serpentine ridge with scenic Windward and Leeward views all around us.

Descending through a corridor of trees on the Leeward side which afforded temporary respite from the stiff winds that were sweeping the ridge.

Scooting our way along the narrow shelf of a ridge.

Aileen making her way down.

Who brings an ax to a hike? Paul Bunyan?

Swinging over the toothy rock.

Aida spotting Aileen.

Coming down one careful step at a time.

The Prince making sure the spike fits perfectly on Cinderella aka Princess. Move over Matt.

Merrill climbing down the cracked rocks. It’s only a matter of time.

Which way does the wind blow? Take a wild guess.

Going up the last hill. Promise?

Climbing our way down the rooted flank of the ridge.

We crossed paths with a couple of guys who were looking for the “lookout” and had overshot the puka until they bumped into us.

Group photo with the lost boys photobombing us in the background.

Traffic jam on the way down.

Thanks to Quan for bringing us frozen cokes and Lilia for picking us up. Our windy saddle hike covered less than three miles for Merrill and myself. Mileage was slightly higher for Aida, Aileen and Chico. Crumbly and challenging hike with a fun group. Post hike meal at the Kaneohe Yacht Club by invitation of the Commodore. Mustard packets for the taking.

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Aileen Agustin, Chico Cantu, Merrill Kalopodes 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. One should also always let somebody know of your hiking plans in case something doesn’t go as planned, better safe than sorry.

Tagged as: anvil, bunny ears, can opener, dirt dragon, doorstop, incisor tooth, kalihi saddle, koolau summit ridge trail, ksrt, lanihuli summit, lanihuli wall, nuuanu saddle, pali lookout, pali puka, pimple, powerlines trail, shark fin, w