Moanalua Valley to Kalihi Saddle (Powerlines)

Back in the saddles this weekend. Turns out we didn’t get as much plurals as we wanted.

Met up with Art and Tessa at the sea of beauty where the pitter patter of rain was our only company. We could have either dribbled our way up to the ridge or walked down the valley. We chose the latter option. Art wanted a reunion with the spiritual side.

Early morning hikers greeted the early morning campers.

Art testing the waters, lest we get swept away in a freak flash flood.

Just follow the glove when in doubt.

Preparing to go up the somewhat pitched slope carpeted with dead leaves and exposed roots. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

We must be in the uluhe zone.

Reaching the junction where the trail intersects with the Red Hill ridge trail. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

We soon roused two campers from their slumber. Turned out to be Justin and Matt from Uloha. Small world.

Going up and down the seemingly endless false summits before cloud soaked views of the Windward coastline greeted us.

Tessa tending to her shin injury under the watchful eye of Art.

Descending the Western half of the saddle.

Going down the slightly eroded ridgeline with flanking views of Halawa Valley and beyond. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Art and Tessa making their way down the somewhat slippery rocks.

Hikers in staggered elevation drops. Photo by Art Young.

Contouring and climbing our way down through the denuded spots on the ridge.

Tessa following the flow of gravity down the saddle. Photo by Art Young.

Art running down the dirt corridor bracketed with uluhe ferns. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Tessa taking in the windy scenery. Photo by Art Young.

Ascending the Eastern half of the saddle. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Art coming up the Windward side of the ridge line. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Climbing up the Leeward side of the ridge. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Tessa pulling herself up while Art waits his turn at the bottom.

Waiting in the wind. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Tessa climbing to the top of the assorted boulder section.

Scampering our way up while keeping our a low profile as the winds rocked the crumbly rocks underfoot. Photo by Art Young.

Climbing up the crumbly rockface.

Tessa contouring her way around the heavily eroded section.

Chilling at the first landing. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Looking back at the entire Moanalua Saddle. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Can you hear the wind blow, and did you know your stairway lies on the whispering wind? Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Art making his way to the last landing.

So, this is what heaven looks like? Covered with concrete, teeming with people and covered in clouds. Photo by Mike Karas.

Traversing the short, muddy stretch between summits.

We met up with one of several guides that were taking their paid charges up the trail. I think I need to re-evaluate my nickel business model.

Dropping down to the defunct radar tower. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

View of the climber. Photo by Art Young.

View of the non-climbers. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Leaving the climbing gym behind us. Photo by Art Young.

Approaching the two sets of powerline towers.

Relaxing and enjoying the panoramic views at the 2,760′ flat-topped peak. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Roller coasting our way to the next peak. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Leeward view from the 2,740 top.

When the photographic proof doesn’t match the dramatic visualization. Photo by Art Young.

Descending down from the clouds. I thought we left heaven behind us already?

Scooting and sliding our way down the narrow and crumbly ridge line. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

When climbing is preferable to contouring the obstacle.

Scampering along the sliding ledge. Photo by Art Young.

We found out that somebody had moved the anchor to a more solid group of trees. Mahalo! Photo by Art Young.

Tessa looking back as Art makes the climb down which offers a steeper drop than before.

Was somebody having a pang of nostalgia? Photo by Art Young.

Watching out for falling rocks, big and small.

Climbing down the rockface. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Watching Art making his way down. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Mr. Lonely. Just missing the tree. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Tessa slowly spiking her way down the eroded section.

Going down the Windward side. Photo by Art Young.

Tessa looking for her next foothold.

Picking our footholds very carefully on the sliver of a ridgeline. Photo by Art Young.

Looking for her next scrap of a foothold.

Hiking on the edge. Literally. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

It’s always hump day in the mountains.

Striking a pose. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Who’s gonna take my photo? Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Climbing up the conical shaped rockface. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Looking back as Art makes his way down the steep and narrow ridgeline. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Tessa giving thanks for our safe passage through the mountains.

Looking back at the now not so conical shaped rockface.

Climbing down to the powerlines and our exit out through the valley. Photo by Art Young.

Mahalo to Lilyn for picking us up and dropping us back to our cars.

Our saddles hike covered roughly 8.3 miles through crumbly ridges and spectacular scenic vistas. Great hike with good friends. Post hike meal at Pho Le. Somebody said they had the best spring rolls. Maybe they need to get out more. Just saying.

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: dirty slide, godek-jaskulski trail, hot wheel tracks, kalihi saddle, kamananui valley trail, koolau summit ridge trail, ksrt, kulana'hane summit, moanalua saddle, moanalua valley, powerlines trail, puu kahuauli, puu keahi a kahoe, red hill summit, rock triangles, stairway to heaven, tabletop, tripler summit, witch's hat