Manana Trail to Waiahole Ridge

We spent Father’s Day in the mountains from sunrise to sunset and then some. Anything for a good time, right?

Thanks to Jasmin for dropping us off in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood to begin our early morning hike. Group photo left to right: Ferlino, Aida, Lilyn, myself, Art and Somphet. Photo by Jasmin Carinio.

Pounding the pavement for a short time. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Breaking out into the open flat section with the twinkling city lights behind us.

No benchwarmers on this hike. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Passing through the second set of camping tents that started by the picnic shelter.

Aida opening the recently installed gate which roughly marks the halfway point on the trail. Photo by Art Young.

Looking ahead as the ridge line undulated and narrowed to the top.

Rear views. Currently better than the front views.

Fleeting views at the 2,660′ knob. Time to move on.

Descending from the summit as we struck out towards the Northern parts of the island. The winds and clouds forced our attention on the ridge as we had no views to distract us.

Navigating the tricky turn in the mountains.

No stop at the creek for H20. We had enough liquid nourishment to last us for the day. Photo by Aida Gordon.

What is going on here? Photo by Aida Gordon.

Keeping our hands and feet on the hilly ridge line as we approached Waiawa Gap. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Aida overlooking the Windward ridges, valleys and coastline. Photo by Somphet Chanhpheng.

Putting on my best white face in the mountains. There is no political correctness in the mountains. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Dropping down to the gloved one that still lives in the mountains. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Enjoying the “country” views. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Sliding down the soggy hill.

Hamming it up. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Climbing out of the gap. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

One shouldn’t play with sharp objects in the mountains. A lesson that would soon be unfortunately learned.

Enjoying the views of the ridges holding the clouds at bay.

What happens when you shop for your poncho at the dollar store. You need nature’s fan for an additional windbreak. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Ferlino pushing up another hill. Hills after hills.

Somphet savoring the rugged views. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Aida and Somphet coming up the ridge line with sweeping Windward views behind them. Photo by Art Young.

Ferlino and Lilyn pushing up one of the last hills. Photo by Art Young.

The point where the hike transitioned from the Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail to the Ko’olau Summit Trail. Tomato. Tomatoe. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Contouring to connect back to the ridge line. Photo by Somphet Chanhpheng.

Aida in the thick of the stand of Japanese Sugi Pine Trees. Photo by Art Young.

The group climbing up to the windswept and soggy summit after a brief stop at Camp Rusty.

Somebody was eager to start bushwhacking. Go to town young man. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Taking a hike down memory lane. It wasn’t that long ago and it wasn’t particular happy ones. Some of us are gluttons for punishment I guess. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Enjoying the cloud soaked ridge before we hit the overgrowth.

Back in the jungle. Time to start swinging. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

When you swing inside instead of outside, you will need the medical attention of a retired nurse.

All patched up and ready to resume hiking. Happy out patient.

The views to the left of the ridge as the clouds cleared up. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Working our way through the overgrowth clogged ridge line also made it painfully clear why I don’t use a hiking stick, they are more of a hindrance than a help. Sorry about losing your GoPro Ferlino! Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

The views to the right of the ridge. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Aida coming down the tangled thicket of vines and uluhe ferns. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Art climbing down the first rope. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Lilyn coming down the second rope section. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Aida’s turn at climbing down the severely eroded section. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Pushing our way through the thick carpet of uluhe ferns. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Ferlino in over his head. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

We slid off the uluhe clogged ridge and set foot in the valley of the lost or soon to be.

Following the trail as we made good use of the dwindling daylight.

We crossed the dam and then it was dam time to turn on our head lamps.

Climbing over, under and through patches of large blow downs. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Finding our way out after wandering through the valley on an extended tour. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Walking out the road after we were subjected to an earful and then some by a certain valley inhabitant. Thanks to Jasmin for picking us up on the darkened road. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Our “never learn from the first time” hike covered 11.6 miles through hostile terrain in more ways than one with a great crew. Post hike meal at Casa Carinio where we were treated to the neighbor’s laulau. Yum. Not enough to induce a kanak attack, but good enough to whet the whistle.

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: corner, kipapa summit, koolau summit ridge trail, koolau summit trail, ksrt, kst, manana summit, manana trail, waiahole summit, waiahole uka, waiahole valley, waiawa gap