Kalihi Saddle (Powerlines) to Moanalua Middle Ridge

by kenji SAITO on May 6, 2018

Hiking Kalihi Saddle (Powerlines) to Moanalua Middle Ridge

Met up with Chris, Chun, and Ferlino in Moanalua Valley to be shuttled by Jasmin to the trailhead. Photo by Chris Bautista

Trailhead

Trailhead

We waited for Anne as the weekend traffic whizzed passed us; expecting oxtail soup, but instead was just graced by her presence. I guess that will have to do.

Kalihi Valley

Kalihi Valley

Panoramic view of the jagged saddle overlooking the valley that was once known for its fishponds, but now home to a colony of rock wallabies.

Powerlines trail

Powerlines trail

Hammering our way up the powerlines trail.

Powerlines

Powerlines

The hammer had more balance than somebody on this sawed off pole. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Climbing up to Camp Centipede, thankfully the tenants were not home.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Rounding the knob through knee high shrubbery.

Witch's Hat

Witch’s Hat

Making our way up the crumbly backside. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Witch's Hat

Witch’s Hat

Coming down the conical shaped rock.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Looking ahead to the crumbly ridge line ahead of us.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Chun had the best seat in the house.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Humping it over the rock, hiking like it was a Wednesday. Photo by Ferlino Carinio

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Chris all smiles after crossing a saddle on a saddle. Photo by Chris Chun.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Making my way to tabletop rock. Photo by Chris Chun.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Scrambling up by branch, rock or root; whatever would safely get us up.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Approaching the first rock triangle. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Thankfully we had favorable weather on our saddle hike today.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

I forgot if I was yawning or yelling. Photo by Chris Chun

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

The rest of the group making their way on what I call the Hot Wheels Track, a chunk of earth seemingly suspended above the earth.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Is this thing safe? Photo by Chris Chun

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Hanging out at the broken wave.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Contouring on the Leeward side of the ridge. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Pulling ourselves up the dirty slide. Photo by Chris Bautista

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

No views at all up here, let’s check Facebook to keep us occupied until the others make it up.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Dirt surfing on the saddle. Photo by Chris Chun

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Chun pondering the age old question; over or around?

Ko'olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Looking towards Heaven as the clouds slowly collected and gathered near the mountains.

KSRT

KSRT

Pushing up the final steep climb to …

Kahuauli Summit

Kahuauli Summit

… where we had our lunch at the socked in summit of Bowman.

KSRT

KSRT

Shaking off the kanak attack, we resumed hiking on the cloud soaked ridge.

Tripler Summit

Tripler Summit

What? Nobody wants to do the sun dance? Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

KSRT

KSRT

Chris nearing the second set of power lines on the ridge.

KSRT

KSRT

Climbing up the hill towards the defunct relay station or is it now active?

KSRT

KSRT

I guess hanging upside down is not the same as climbing. Photo by Anne Fai.

KSRT

KSRT

Lady avoids being on the six o’clock news. Chris bumped into this visitor who thought this was the way to Stairway to Heaven.

KSRT

KSRT

This is the way to Heaven, filled with mud and a deeply rutted trail.

Stairway to Heaven

Stairway to Heaven

Group photo at the CCL building. Heaven was closed for business. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Stairway to Heaven

Stairway to Heaven

Weather conditions did not look too sunny, so the group decided to take the safer route back down. Photo by Ferlino Carinio

Moanalua Middle Ridge (MMR)

Moanalua Middle Ridge (MMR)

Leaving Heaven behind us as we dropped in elevation.

MMR

MMR

Escaping the clouds but not the erosion and crowds on the trail. At least we got the views back.

MMR

MMR

Chillin’ in my own cave. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Kulana'ahane Trail

Kulana’ahane Trail

To knock or not knock down? Such is the age old question.

Kulana'ahane Trail

Kulana’ahane Trail

Chun looking forward to hiking four more miles in the valley.

All pau

All pau

When you have too much time with your feet, you end up playing hopscotch in the dirt.

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

Short and sweet saddle hike with good friends. When you confuse Salt Lake with Moanalua, you end up eating at Ramen-Ya for your post meal hike.

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.

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