Moanalua Valley to Kalihi Saddle (Powerlines)

by kenji SAITO on May 2, 2021

Hiking Moanalua Valley to Kalihi Saddle (Powerlines)

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

Moanalua Valley

Moanalua Valley

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.

Kamananui Valley Trail

Kamananui Valley Trail

Early morning hikers greeted the early morning campers.

Kulana'ahane Junction

Kulana’ahane Junction

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

Godek-Jaskulski Trail

Godek-Jaskulski Trail

Just follow the glove when in doubt.

Godek-Jaskulski Trail

Godek-Jaskulski Trail

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

Godek-Jaskulski Trail

Godek-Jaskulski Trail

We must be in the uluhe zone.

Godek-Jaskulski Trail

Godek-Jaskulski Trail

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

Red Hill Ridge

Red Hill Ridge

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

Red Hill Summit

Red Hill Summit

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

First Aid 101

First Aid 101

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

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Descending the Western half of the saddle.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

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

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

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

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Hikers in staggered elevation drops. Photo by Art Young.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

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

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

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

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

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

Kulana'ahane Summit

Kulana’ahane Summit

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

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

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

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

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

Dirt Triangle

Dirt Triangle

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

Dirt Triangle

Dirt Triangle

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

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Waiting in the wind. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Tessa climbing to the top of the assorted boulder section.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

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

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Climbing up the crumbly rockface.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Tessa contouring her way around the heavily eroded section.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Chilling at the first landing. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

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

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

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

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Art making his way to the last landing.

Stairway to Heaven

Stairway to Heaven

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

Ko'olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Traversing the short, muddy stretch between summits.

Pu'u Keahi a Kahoe

Pu’u Keahi a Kahoe

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.

KSRT

KSRT

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

KSRT

KSRT

View of the climber. Photo by Art Young.

KSRT

KSRT

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

KSRT

KSRT

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

KSRT

KSRT

Approaching the two sets of powerline towers.

Tripler Summit

Tripler Summit

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

KSRT

KSRT

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

Bowman Summit

Bowman Summit

Leeward view from the 2,740 top.

KSRT

KSRT

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

KSRT

KSRT

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

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

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

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

When climbing is preferable to contouring the obstacle.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Scampering along the sliding ledge. Photo by Art Young.

Dirty Slide

Dirty Slide

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

Dirty Slide

Dirty Slide

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

Broken Wave

Broken Wave

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

Broken Wave

Broken Wave

Watching out for falling rocks, big and small.

Rock Triangle

Rock Triangle

Climbing down the rockface. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Rock Triangle

Rock Triangle

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

Hot Wheel Tracks

Hot Wheel Tracks

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

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Tessa slowly spiking her way down the eroded section.

Rock Triangle

Rock Triangle

Going down the Windward side. Photo by Art Young.

Rock Triangle

Rock Triangle

Tessa looking for her next foothold.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

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

Tabletop

Tabletop

Looking for her next scrap of a foothold.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

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

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

It’s always hump day in the mountains.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Striking a pose. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

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

Witch's Hat

Witch’s Hat

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

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

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

Witch's Hat

Witch’s Hat

Tessa giving thanks for our safe passage through the mountains.

Witch's Hat

Witch’s Hat

Looking back at the now not so conical shaped rockface.

Powerlines

Powerlines

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

All pau

All pau

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

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

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.

Leave a Comment

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Wahinee01 May 25, 2021 at 2:20 pm

This hike is too extreme for me! I’m retiring as of now. LMAO
THANK YOU for the invite on this one. Let’s go again ( NOT!!)

Reply

kenji SAITO May 26, 2021 at 9:35 am

Aloha Tessa,
No you’re not. Going again pretty soon. Get ready. LOL.
Mahalo

Reply

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