Kalihi Saddle (Powerlines) to Nu’uanu Pali

Met up with Andy, Chris, Matt and Olivier at the Pali Lookout to continue riding the saddles. Somebody woke up late and got to ride in the boot (trunk). Thanks to Nandor for dropping us off on the side of the highway. The other side.

We don’t need hard hats where we’re going today. Maybe on second thought …

Looking out at the ocean of trees rising to meet the ridge line. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Stepping foot on what some folks call the hardest hike on the island. I would beg to differ. Diamond Head is the hardest hike on the island.

Hiking on the edge. Photo by Chris Bautista.

No passing allowed. Photo by Matt Vidaurri

Olivier skirting around a boulder on the ridge. Photo by Matt Vidaurri

Panoramic photo by Andrew Keller.

The John Williams music was drowned out by the whipping winds. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Finning our way down the back of the hill.

Chris climbing up the first of the hills named after the rabbits organ of hearing. We could hear the winds loud and clear.

Traversing between the twin hills. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Making our way to the Doorstop. Photo by Chris Bautista

Everybody waiting their turn to climb down. Photo by Matt Vidaurri

Are we being challenged yet? Photo by Chris Bautista

Chris making his way around the pimple.

When you realize your fly is open while your picture is being taken. Photo by Matt Vidaurri

Scrambling our way over the loose and rocky terrain to our breakfast spot.

Group photo left to right: Chris, Matt, myself, Olivier and Andy.

Keeping a wary eye on a sofa sized rock that seems to be slowly edging its way loose from the mountain. It could just be my imagination.

Contouring on the Windward side below the Can Opener.

Matt going up the shortest and steepest section of the multi-tiered wall.

Leaving the serrated ridges of the saddle behind me. Photo by Matt Vidaurri

Another “brick” in the wall.

Pulling ourselves up the mountain where the webbing was soon replaced with uki grass. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Sitting room only. Photo by Chris Bautista

Passing a weathered husk of an ohia tree on the ridge.

Climbing our way out of the saddle. Photo by Olivier Rojas.

Trudging through the Leeward side of the trail which afforded temporary protection from the gusting winds.

Socked in at 2,700′. Might as well have our lunch.

Making our way down the sliver of a ridge, where the drops were masked by the clouds around us.

Dropping off the ridge to contour through the tangled, thorny thimbleberry bushes on our way to the lost pali puka.

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again. Luckily it only took one more try. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Trying to redeem myself with the alphabet. Photo by Chris Bautista

Matt climbing up on the Leeward contour. Photo by Andrew Keller.

Looking back at the W, Donkey Kong or “true pali notches.” Tomato. Tomatoe.

Dropping down the ridge below the cloud banks.

Leaving behind the aptly named summit.

Climbing up and over a small pu’u (hill). Photo by Matt Vidaurri

To swing or not to swing? That was the question of the day.

Matt had no problems with being a swinger.

We passed two girls who seemed like they were vacillating between pressing forward or hanging out with the views. I think her friend was leaning towards the latter.

We can see our cars for the ridge.

Primary colors on the saddle.

Dodging and keeping pace with the falling rocks. Photo by Matt Vidaurri

Hello from the other side.

Making our way down to the Pali Lookout. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Finishing in the bamboo sieve that sifted and filtered the light and sounds. Photo by Matt Vidaurri

Our abbreviated 2.10 mile air cooled hike that failed to reach the planned end of Piliwale due to a lack of consensus, still was a fun day filled with “not so challenging” moments. Post hike meal at Rainbow Drive Inn. You can lead someone to the slush float and loco moco, but you can’t make him eat and drink it.

Video by Matt Vidaurri of our saddle 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.

Tagged as: anvil, bunny ears, can opener, doorstop, incisor rock, kalihi saddle, lanihuli summit, lanihuli wall, nuuanu valley, pali lookout, pali puka, pimple, powerlines trail, puu suicido, sharks fin