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.

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

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

Back in the saddle. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

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

Leaving the power lines behind us.

Following the undulating ridge line. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Slanting down the saddle.

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

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

Approaching the Bunny Ears. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

The group scooting their way down.

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

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

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

Ani making her way down as Chris waits his turn.

Still searching for those elusive wallabies.

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

Khym contouring his way around the awkward pile of rocks.

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

Chris about to pop the Pimple on his way down.

Panoramic view of the saddle and Windward views.

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

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

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.

Contouring below the ridge line. Photo by Chris Bautista.

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

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

Waiting for everybody to make it up topside.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chris overlooking Kalihi Saddle. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

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

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

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

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

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

Down the rabbit hole as we contoured below the ridge.

Khym breaking a smile while pulling himself up.

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

The group back on the cloud washed ridge line.

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

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

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

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

Khym in between a rock and some rubber trees.

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

Back to scooting on the ridge.

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

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

Just a couple more humps left on the ridge line.

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

Khym scrambling up the last hump.

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

Khym rooting his way down.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tagged as: anvil, bunny ears, can opener, dirt dragon, donkey kong, doorstop, incisor rock, kalihi saddle, kalihi valley, lanihuli summit, lanihuli wall, nuuanu saddle, pali lookout, pali puka, pimple, puu suicido, sharks fin, w