Kalihi Saddle (Powerlines) to Moanalua Saddle (Kulana’ahane)

I decided to start off 2017 by slipping back into the saddles. Joining me today were Derek, Glenn, Lee and Matt.

Thanks to Zack for dropping us off in the land of wallabies. No sightings.

Making our way up to the power lines.

We caught the sun breaking over the three peaks of Olomana. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Glenn, Lee and Derek popping up over a hill.

Going up one at a time. Photo by Derek Potter.

Panoramic view of the Windward side by Matt Vidaurri.

Single file shuffling down Witch’s Hat.

Climbing queue. Photo by Derek Potter.

Leaving behind Witch’s Hat.

Lee going up the saddle. Photo by Derek Potter.

Dancing on the ridges of Kalihi Saddle.

We passed tabletop rock, found no breakfast and moved on. Photo by Derek Potter.

Glenn crabbing on the narrow and eroded ridge section.

Going up the first crumbly rock triangle. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Derek scrambling his way up.

Looking ahead to the second rock triangle.

The waiting game.

Where’d he go? Photo by Derek Potter.

Matt excused himself to the front of the line in order to recreate his bowel movement from our last hike up here. The only saving grace was that no Korean food was previously consumed like the last time.

Trying to stay downwind. Or should that be upwind? Photo by Derek Potter.

Lee and Derek barreling through the broken dirt wave.

We dropped below the ridgeline to contour around the narrow and crumbly sections.

Double shaka for me. Double hands on the rope for Lee, as she climbed up to the ridgeline. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Matt, Lee and Derek making their way along the crumbly and eroded ridgeline.

Primate hiking up the ridge. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Leaving all the hard parts behind us.

Pausing and taking in the refreshing views. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Making our way to the clouded summit of Bowman.

The sitting group photo. I didn’t get the memo.

Hiking in the clouds with only the highway noise to keep us company.

When you gotta go, you gotta go. At least Matt brought his own TP.

Group photo by Matt Vidaurri, left to right: Derek, Lee, Glenn, myself and Matt.

Traffic jam. Do you know where Stairway to Heaven is?

I wanna go up there too!

Go big or go home. Lee’s motto. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Somebody must have been plucking the lehua flowers like crazy. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Glenn almost passing out, I mean almost topping out at Pu’u Keahi a Kahoe.

The trail to heaven was filled with mud, crowds and covered in clouds. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

We ran into Ryan Chang, Katie Ersbak and their friends at the top. Group photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Let’s go hiking together. Text me. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Glenn looking for a pot to piss in.

Leaving the CCL building behind us.

Looking across Haiku Valley at Stairway to Hell.

The back stairs are slowly succumbing to Mother Nature. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Glenn and Lee contouring around an eroded section.

Glenn perched on the eroded section, affording him a commanding view of the valley. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

All clear?

Glenn making his way down as we noticed we were not alone on the saddle. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Derek making his way down to the Dirt Triangle.

I heard there is an active golf course in this area. Fore! Ouch! Photo by Derek Potter.

Lee making her way around the contour section with Moanalua Valley behind her.

Glenn leaving the Dirt Triangle behind him.

Is this the way to Haiku Stairs? The hard way. Ok, turning around.

Did somebody call rescue? Or a tour? Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Panoramic view from the terminus by Matt Vidaurri.

Leaving the summit to make our way down the spur ridge leading into the valley.

We saw a trickle of a waterfall coming down the chute.

What? We’ve been hiking on unmaintained trails this whole time?

One of many stream crossings. The water was so clear. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Glenn and Lee making their way underneath the tangled thicket of hau tree branches.

Our last group photo.

Walking the long road out of the valley.

Lee crossing one of seven storied bridges that was built for the Damon family back in the day.

Walking out towards the sunset.

Great hike to start off the New Year with new and old friends. Our rollercoaster of a double saddle hike covered 10.76 miles. Post hike meal at Outback Steakhouse. Prime Rib, I have missed you.

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 summit, ccl building, haiku stairs, kahuauli, kalihi saddle, kamananui valley trail, kulana'ahane trail, moanalua saddle, moanalua valley, powerlines, radar station, stairway to heaven, tripler summit, witch's hat