Kalihi Saddle (Powerlines) to Nu’uanu Pali

by kenji SAITO on August 5, 2018

Hiking 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.

Trailhead

Trailhead

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

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

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

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

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.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Hiking on the edge. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Single file hiking

Single file hiking

No passing allowed. Photo by Matt Vidaurri

Don't look down

Don’t look down

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

Windward Views

Windward Views

Panoramic photo by Andrew Keller.

Sharks Fin

Sharks Fin

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

Sharks Fin

Sharks Fin

Finning our way down the back of the hill.

Bunny Ears

Bunny Ears

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

Bunny Ears

Bunny Ears

Traversing between the twin hills. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Bunny Ears

Bunny Ears

Making our way to the Doorstop. Photo by Chris Bautista

Doorstop

Doorstop

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

Doorstop

Doorstop

Are we being challenged yet? Photo by Chris Bautista

Pimple

Pimple

Chris making his way around the pimple.

Pimple

Pimple

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

Can Opener

Can Opener

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

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

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

Caution

Caution

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.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Contouring on the Windward side below the Can Opener.

Lanihuli Wall

Lanihuli Wall

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

Lanihuli Wall

Lanihuli Wall

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

Lanihuli Wall

Lanihuli Wall

Another “brick” in the wall.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

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

Dirt Dragon

Dirt Dragon

Sitting room only. Photo by Chris Bautista

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

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

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

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

Ko'olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

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

Lanihuli Summit

Lanihuli Summit

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

KSRT

KSRT

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

Contour

Contour

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

Anvil

Anvil

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

W

W

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

Watch your drop

Watch your drop

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

W

W

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

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Dropping down the ridge below the cloud banks.

Swirling Heavens

Swirling Heavens

Leaving behind the aptly named summit.

Picture Frame

Picture Frame

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

Incisor Rock

Incisor Rock

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

Pu'u Suicido

Pu’u Suicido

Matt had no problems with being a swinger.

Windward Views

Windward Views

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.

Makai Parking

Makai Parking

We can see our cars for the ridge.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Primary colors on the saddle.

Contour

Contour

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

Pali Puka

Pali Puka

Hello from the other side.

Pali Highway

Pali Highway

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

Bamboo Forest

Bamboo Forest

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

All pau

All pau

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.

Leave a Comment

{ 0 comments… add one now }

Previous post:

Next post: