Kalihi Saddle (Powerlines) to Pali Lookout

by kenji SAITO on September 10, 2017

Hiking Kalihi Saddle (Powerlines) to Pali Lookout

It was time to pick and pack the champagne again. Met up with Ani, Analyn, Chris, Ferlino and Khym at the Pali Lookout. Thanks to Jasmin for dropping us off on the side of Likelike Highway.

Powerlines Trail

Powerlines Trail

Making our way up through the overgrown and slightly eroded trail.

Powerlines

Powerlines

Catching the sunrise at the top. Always a nice way to start the day.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Back in the saddle. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Shark's Fin

Shark’s Fin

Climbing up the initial steep rock formation. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Leaving the power lines behind us.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Following the undulating ridge line. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Slanting down the saddle.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Wait, is that the Shark’s Fin? Maybe it’s a Dolphin’s Fin. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Looking back at the cloud capped Bowman side of the saddle. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Bunny Ears

Bunny Ears

Approaching the Bunny Ears. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Bunny Ears

Bunny Ears

The group scooting their way down.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Climbing up the second ear. Not as soft as I was led to believe. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Making our way to the Door Stop. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Door Stop

Door Stop

Descending down the steep rock formation that had ample handholds and footholds and weathered webbing for peace of mind. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Ani making her way down as Chris waits his turn.

Kalihi Valley

Kalihi Valley

Still searching for those elusive wallabies.

Pimple

Pimple

Making our way to the bump of a rock. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Pimple

Pimple

Khym contouring his way around the awkward pile of rocks.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

It seems that every time I hike this saddle, I see a new rope here and there.

Pimple

Pimple

Chris about to pop the Pimple on his way down.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Panoramic view of the saddle and Windward views.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Group photo left to right: US Flag, Ferlino, Analyn, myself, Khym, Chris and Ani.

Can Opener

Can Opener

Ferlino hawking a bag of boiled balut eggs while we took a short break. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Can Opener

Can Opener

It was here at this very spot, that somebody assaulted me for my non-balut egg. Thanks to Khym for the photographic proof. Police report to follow.

Can Opener

Can Opener

Contouring below the ridge line. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Lanihuli Wall

Lanihuli Wall

Analyn making her way up to the first tier. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Lanihuli Wall

Lanihuli Wall

Ani climbing up the steep flank of the ridge. Please don’t take the webbing with you. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Waiting for everybody to make it up topside.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Exploring the extremely crumbly ridge above the Can Opener. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Looking up ahead to the crumbly section known as the Dirt Dragon.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

The group passing through the more exposed section of the ridge line.

Dirt Dragon

Dirt Dragon

Straddling the sliver of its former self. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Dirt Dragon

Dirt Dragon

Everybody taking turns riding the soon to be extinct dirt dragon.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

The ridge started to get noticeably thinner as we gained elevation.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Chris overlooking Kalihi Saddle. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Khym climbing his way through uki grass to gain the ridge line.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

The ridge eventually widened on our final ascent up the ridge. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Making our way to the crown jewels of the Ko’olaus – Lanihuli Summit.

Lanihuli Summit

Lanihuli Summit

If you have something on your teeth, open wide and smile for the group photo.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Climbing our way down the ridge where some sections are barely held together by tree roots and plants. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Down the rabbit hole as we contoured below the ridge.

Anvil

Anvil

Khym breaking a smile while pulling himself up.

Anvil

Anvil

Analyn making it to the top of the former puka. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

The group back on the cloud washed ridge line.

W

W

Trying to mimic a letter of the alphabet. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong

The group flossing their way through the triple peaked rock formation.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

We scrambled up the steep Leeward side of the hill to regain the ridge line going down.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Losing elevation and the clouds, we soon got back the views. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Khym in between a rock and some rubber trees.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Climbing around, down and over the assorted sizes of boulders that punctuated the ridge line. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Back to scooting on the ridge.

Pu'u Suicido

Pu’u Suicido

Swinging my way around the (im)movable rock. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Incisor Rock

Incisor Rock

Look mom, no feet! Don’t try this in the mountains, boys and girls. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Just a couple more humps left on the ridge line.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Which way does the wind blow? Just ask the tree. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Khym scrambling up the last hump.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Looking back at our saddle traversal. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Trail

Trail

Khym rooting his way down.

Pali Puka

Pali Puka

Perfect timing as the rain started to sprinkle and fog Khym’s oversized goggles.

Trail

Trail

Making our way down to the lookout that was teeming with tourists. Kama’ainas still park for free. Until the rail project starts looking for more money.

Pali Lookout

Pali Lookout

Khym only getting half of the champagne treatment. Somebody forgot the corkscrew. Just pretend. Next time, get the twist off bottle cap. Congratulations to Khym for completing the entire Ko’olau Summit Trail.

All pau

All pau

Post hike meal at the Pali Lookout? Fired up my stove and cooked us a mess of Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen which clocks in at a reported 8,706 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), hot enough to melt your lips off. Some washed it down with another serving of balut. One sat the entire food challenge out. Party pooper. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

Our saddle hike covered a whopping 2.9 miles. Really? Fun hike with a great group and an amazing accomplishment for Khym today. The real post hike meal was at Max’s of Manila. No balut on the menu here.

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.

Leave a Comment

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Khym November 25, 2017 at 9:21 pm

Wow I was actually smilling at the anvil lol I thought I was making the constipated face lol… thanks again kenji for helping me finish up what I needed to finish the KST.

Reply

kenji SAITO November 26, 2017 at 8:26 pm

Aloha Khym,
Yes you were smiling the entire hike! Just imagine, just over a year ago we were standing with Gen when she finished the KST and now you have finished it and Chris has done it thrice. How time flies.
Mahalo

Reply

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