Laie to Black Junction (Pupukea)

It was time to help another friend complete the Ko’olau Summit Trail (KST). Photo by Art Young.

Thanks to Jasmin and for the gate being open which resulted in us being dropped off directly at the beginning of the trail. Tessa was answering the call of nature which resulted in her missing the call of Uber, so Ferlino double backed to pick her up to complete the group.

Katie coming up the heavily eroded and rutted hills.

Ferlino at the technical start of the trail.

Going through one of multiple blowdowns that are peppered throughout the trail.

Taking a break in the shade from the sweltering sun as we waited for the rest of the group to catch up. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

When the scare doesn’t go as planned. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Ferlino showing his flexibility while holding a sharp blade. Photo by Art Young.

Approaching the steep cliff on the trail. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Katie making her way on the Windward side of the ridge.

Art and Ferlino ascending towards the 2,240′ summit.

Booty grab. Shake it like a salt shaker. Manipulate and articulate like a toy. Noon nap. Geocache.

Group gyrations at the foxhole.

Lilyn showing us the way. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Passing underneath scattered native palm trees. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Enjoying the trail conditions while it lasted. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Bushwhackers at work on the trail. Photo by Art Young.

Looking out towards the rugged Waianae Mountain Range. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

When the marker hits your olfactory senses before your visual senses. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

The wilted marker looks like it needs a dose of nature’s sildenafil.

Contouring our way through the Northern mountains. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Tree huggers. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Picking our way on the trail that was littered with false holes and shin high branches.

Chris playing with his food. Somebody didn’t listen to their parents growing up. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Halfway there. Are we eating lunch in this mud? Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Trying to keep most of the noodles in the cup and less on the back pack. Not very successful, I might add. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Back to our regularly scheduled program of bushwhacking. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Taking nature’s eye test.

Despite staying away from sharp objects, somebody still got cut. Photo by Art Young.

Tessa testing out nature’s cushion. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Katie pushing her way through the almost constant overgrowth on the trail. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Lilyn looking towards the heavens to ask if we are almost there. Photo by Art Young.

Make way for the pinay with the machete! Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Group photo at the northernmost summit on the KST, left to right: Lilyn, Quan, myself, Ferlino, Katie, Art, Tessa and Chris.

I want a picture too! All downhill from the 1,860′ summit. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

We met Aida coming down the trail as Lilyn did a head count. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Pushing to the finish line where one cold can of Coke and a haku lei awaited. No pushing allowed. Dale, Jennifer and Narissa and two dogs, one that was somewhat over friendly were waiting for us at the sign that marked the end of the KST. I did my traditional celebratory champagne pouring after being coached into an abbreviated congratulatory speech to Katie for completing all the segments that make up the entire Ko’olau Summit Trail. Props to her for joining the KST club and finishing a major hiking accomplishment.

Group photo where not all eyeballs were focused on the same camera, left to right: Dale, Kamalani, Aida, Art, Lilyn, Tessa, myself, Hana, Katie, Jennifer, Petra (Facetime), Narissa, Ferlino, Quan and Chris.

Art making his way out of the forest and back to civilization.

Where the trail meets the road. Expecting another champagne dousing? Limit one per customer.

Going down the road that never seems to end. Photo by Art Young.

Who let the dogs out? Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Putting in extra cardio training with our dog trainer, Hana. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Aida shedding some light at the end of the trail. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

#14. Congratulations again to Katie for finishing the entire Ko’olau Summit Trail which spans over 52 miles from Makapu’u to Pupukea. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Our epic hike with good friends covered roughly 12.3 miles through the most overgrown and densely packed section of the KST, well some thought it wasn’t that bad. Post hike meal on the road sans the cannibal chickens, that included salt and vinegar chicken wings and chilled carbonated beverages. We topped it off with a side trip to McDonald’s to scarf down shakes, McFlurry’s and saimin. Hold the French fries. Thanks to Jasmin and Narissa for the rides back to our cars.

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: black junction, kahuku junction, koolau summit trail, kst, laie falls, laie summit, laie trail, maleakahana junction, pupukea, puu hina