Kolekole Pass to Palehua

Today was the day to polish off the last chunk of the Waianae Summit Trail (WST) for the second time around. Joining me today were Chris, Justin, Ryan and Thessa. Mahalo to Matt for dropping us off at the crack of dawn at Schofield Barracks. Photo by Thessa Bugay.

Nobody but us early hikers on the trail. Photo by Justin Hirako.

The trail has been considerably cleared and marked from the last time I was here. It’s like Disneyland. Without the lines. Well, if you come early.

Hiking infractions are dealt with harshly on military bases. You have been warned.

We stopped at the meadow and looked out towards Lualualei Valley and the blinking antenna lights.

Looking up at the notched ridge silhouetted against the twilight sky.

Chris and Ryan making their way up the paperbark tree lined hill.

Maybe this was the cliff hazard the sign had warned us about earlier?

Justin looking out at Pu’u Ka’ilio and Lualualei Valley.

Thessa climbing her way out of the big notch.

Impromptu group photo.

Ryan making his way over the notch.

Justin climbing his way out of the smaller notch. Photo by Justin Hirako.

Leaving Kolekole Pass, the lowest point in the Waianae Mountain Range, behind us.

Click here for the larger image.

The sun poking through the thick clouds over the Wahiawa plain and Pearl Harbor.

The fastest way to get down to the valley. Not recommended.

Group photo by Justin Hirako at the 2,883′ flat topped summit, left to right: Ryan, Thessa, Justin, myself and Chris.

After a short break, we resumed our hike by following the fenced ridgeline.

Looking back towards the rest of the rugged Waianae Mountain Range. Spectacular scenery all around.

Despite the heavy cloud cover, we could see all the way out to Diamond Head. I’ll say it again. Spectacular scenery.

Multiple choice: Is Ryan a) stretching b) scratching his back or c) reaching for his gopro.

The ridge overgrowth started to get out of hand.

Who brings canned food on a hike? Justin. That’s who.

Looking down at the large rock formation straddling the ridge.

We contoured to the right of the towering rock edifice.

The jumbled and scattered boulders helped to break up the overgrowth.

Thessa enjoying the view from the 2,778′ summit.

Chris hiking through the overgrowth.

Looking out towards Lualualei Valley, the birthplace of the island of Oahu.

Typical ridge hike composed of short ups and downs.

Scattered rain and rolling clouds helped to cool us down on the overgrown ridge.

The cool weather soon evaporated. At least we got our views back.

A seven-spotted lady beetle looking for lunch.

Click here for the larger image.

We soon came across the rock formations known as “Gorilla Heads” or “Kriangles.”

Looking back at Pu’u Kanehoa.

Ryan, Thessa and Justin making their way up the first and smaller gorilla head.

Chris climbing up to join me at the top of the second and larger gorilla head. Photo by Ryan Leano.

Ryan and Thessa making their way up. When it was Justin’s turn, he dislodged a good sized boulder coming up. Stuck. Nothing that webbing can’t fix.

Climbing down the backside of the larger gorilla head. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Justin and Ryan making their way down.

What goes down… Photo by Justin Hirako.

…must go back up.

Leaving the Gorilla Heads behind us. It was fun.

Group photo by Justin Hirako at the 3,127′ summit.

Another group photo by Justin Hirako at the third highest peak on the island.

Back on the fence line. We could see Pohakea Pass in the distance.

Leaving Pu’u Kaua behind us.

Chris and Ryan making their way down the ridge.

We didn’t have to worry about overgrowth from this point. It was going to be climbing up, over and around small and big rocks.

Up and …

… over.

Scrambling out of the small saddle.

Climb or contour?

Thessa looking back at Ryan and Justin making their way around a tree. Tight squeeze.

Chris climbing down the roughly 20′ rock face.

A short stretch of pine trees separated us from the pass.

We meet again. Somebody had left their yellow rope at the pass. What the heck? Photo by Ryan Leano

I climbed up from the base and tugged on the rope to check out the condition. Photo by Thessa Bugay.

The rope quickly jerked and snapped, leaving me with a dangling rope. Luckily I didn’t have my weight on that rope. Rope left behind by others may look comforting as a form of assistance, but they are exposed to the elements 24/7 and intermittent abrasion. Conversations heard at the base “It’s not worth it mann.” Back and forth shuffling. “Let’s take the snapped rope and go back down the valley.” Photo by Justin Hirako.

I secured my webbing at the top and threw it down to the waiting crew. NEXT!

Looking for a helping hand. The top of the pass was crumbly. Dirt crumbly.

I alternated between watching the sunset and the crew making their way up the pass. Two great views.

Conversations from the bottom to the top of the pass. “Who’s watching the webbing?” “I am! Your life is in my hands. HAHAHA” I always like to punctuate my replies with a hearty and reassuring laugh to build confidence in people climbing up a crumbly cliff. Hanging by a webbing. Literally. At one point.

The sound of music.

The hardest part of the WST behind us. Group photo by Justin Hirako.

Hiking by head lamps.

Taking a well deserved break. Loads of bushwhacking through knee to waist high uluhe ferns lay ahead of us. In the dark. Photo by Ryan Leano.

We reached the 3,098′ summit marked by ti leaf plants. One hour left to the road. Photo by Justin Hirako.

Too dark to look for native snails and happy face spiders. Photo by Justin Hirako

Trail meets the road. The long five mile Palehua road. Luckily we had a ride.

The hardest segment of the WST covered 13.03 miles of bushwhacking, rocky ridges and cliffs and spectacular scenery. Fun hike with a great crew that didn’t bail. Cough. Almost. Post hike meal at Zippys. Eat then sleep.

Tagged as: gorilla heads, kolekole pass, kriangles, mauna kapu, palehua, palikea, pohakea pass, pu'u kaua, puu hapapa, puu kanehoa, schofield barracks, waianae summit trail, wst