Nu’uanu Pali Puka to Kalihi Saddle (Powerlines)

Deja vu. I found myself back doing the same hike from last weekend, this time to help Bill and Shirley finish their KST for the first and second time respectively. Thanks to Lilyn for dropping Analyn, Bill, Matt, Shirley and myself off at the tourist-less attraction. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Making our way up the rocky and steep climb with artificial illumination.

Looking into nature’s window on the mountain. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Ducking and weaving our way up the flank of the ridge. Photo by Shirley Gloriani.

Bill climbing his way to the top of the ridge line. Photo by Shirley Gloriani.

Waiting for the rest of the group. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Dropping into the saddle.

Brisk winds and cloudy conditions were our company on the hike.

Catching the Windward views. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Contouring and climbing on the saddle. Photo by Shirley Gloriani.

No slipping off the rock this time. Got video as well. Photo by Shirley Gloriani.

Bill contouring on the Windward side as the others waited their turn.

Masking and social distancing on the hike.

Bill enjoying a flat section of the ridge line. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Back to the up and down climbing.

Grabbing what views we could since the clouds decided to hang out.

Bill approaching the climb to the second main obstacle on the saddle. Photo by Shirley Gloriani.

The group on their way up.

Hello from the other side. Photo by Shirley Gloriani.

The group climbing and contouring their way around the cloud soaked rock faces.

It was getting crowded at the top. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Making our way slowly down the narrow rock face.

Bill using all available resources on his climb down. Photo by Shirley Gloriani.

Analyn pulling herself up the severely eroded hill. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Traversing between the false peaks. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Our group photo at the top of lani “no-can-see” huli. Photo by Bill Yogi.

After our late breakfast, we resumed our hike in the misty mountains.

Leaving the clouds behind us as we dropped in elevation down the ridge. Photo by Shirley Gloriani.

Bill walking on the ridge line through clumps of uki grass, the mountain grass that will save your life one day.

Trying to figure out how to fit five people on this mound of crumbly dirt.

Four people sitting and one standing. That’s how you make it fit. Photo by Bill Yogi.

Heading down the ridge, one of my favorite hikes. Photo by Shirley Gloriani.

The group climbing over the ridge smothered with native woody climbers.

The group scooting and hiking down the exposed and barren section of the ridge. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Getting ready to climb down the side of the ridge, but first take our photo. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Looking back at the steep flank we all descended. Photo by Bill Yogi.

Analyn going down the shorter and second tier.

Analyn contouring below the bulging can opener.

I guess the girls were not ready. Of all people not ready to get their picture taken. Photo by Bill Yogi.

Climbing down the crumbly hill to climb another crumbly hill. Saddle hiking.

Looking ahead to the rock faces that were ahead of us. Colorful names makes it more fuzzy and less intimidating. Or so the theory goes. Photo by Shirley Gloriani.

Climbing to the top of the wedge shaped rock face. Photo by Shirley Gloriani.

Extra webbing is always appreciated.

Nothing soft and fuzzy about these “ears.” Photo by Shirley Gloriani.

I believe somebody “suggested” that since I visit this area quite frequently, that I should at least have the decency to clear the trail of any offending overgrowth. No comment.

Climbing down the last rock face of the pair.

Bill traversing the exposed skinny ridge line with steep drops down to the highway. Photo by Shirley Gloriani.

The girls climbing down the dorsal shaped rock face.

All smiles as the journey to complete the KST had come to its conclusion. Congrats to Bill and Shirley for their first and second KST completions respectively!

What KST finish would be complete without the celebratory champagne dousing? Exactly. Although one was more enthusiastic than the other about the waste of perfectly good alcohol. Perhaps walking back up the service road in bare feet had something to do with it. Bill was also Lucky #13. As in the 13th person I have helped finish the KST. I guess that would make Shirley #14. Oh wait, I only count first timers and not repeat business. LOL. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Thanks to Analyn for bringing the ono-licious lumpia and pancit and Bill’s stash of cold beverages. Good enough to take home for leftovers. Mahalo to Chris for picking us up and taking us back to our cars.

Our saddle hike covered a little over three miles in bi-polar weather with great company. Another KST completion hike in the books. Congrats again to Bill and Shirley!

Video by Matt Vidaurri of Bill and Shirley’s KST final hike.

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: anvil, bunny ears, can opener, dirt dragon, donkey kong, doorstop, incisor rock, kalihi saddle, kalihi valley, koolau summit ridge trail, ksrt, lanihuli summit, lanihuli wall, nuuanu saddle, pali lookout, pali puka, pimple, powerlines, shark fin, true pali notches, w