I joined Brad, Marcus and Scott today to hike another Windward ridge. Marcus picked me up from my car on Alani Drive in Manoa and we met the others at the hairpin turn on Pali Highway.
Maunawili Demo Trail
The trail is popular with hikers, trail runners, mountain bikers and pigs. We didn’t run into any of them today on our hike to the ridge.
Last stop for water
Unfiltered water, straight from the tap.
Ko’olau Mountains
Scott had researched and scouted the trail earlier based on Dayle Turner’s ascent in 2002. Pete Cline’s group also made the climb in 2011.
Warm up is over
The group taking a break after hiking four miles to the base of the ridge. Can I get some sunscreen?
Uluhe hell
Long sleeves and long pants highly recommended.
Plunging in
Scott had cleared the lower portion of the ridge earlier, leaving a swath for us to climb up the ridge. Photo by Scott Bowling.
Bushwhacking
We eventually contoured to the right to avoid a steep section, skirted the gully and resumed our climb. Brad stayed on point for the hike, plowing through the thick flora. What a beast.
Pink ribbon
A faded and tattered pink ribbon hung from an overhead branch. A confirmation from the past that we were on the right track.
Scenic view
Today was a good day to be on the mountains.
Burrowing
Tunneling through the thick uluhe ferns. Photo by Scott Bowling.
Looking back
We enjoyed a respite from climbing as the ridge leveled off to a flat spot.
Almost there
Caveman. Da mountain! Da mountain! Photo by Steve Bowling.
Watch the drop offs
Break time over. Resuming our climb up the ridge. Photo by Scott Bowling.
Getting steep
Deep rooted clidemia plants, uki grass, ohia trees and other flora covered the crumbly dirt and rocks on our steep climb up the ridge.
Ko’oko’olau
We found this native plant near the top.
Your pic…
The top was a stone’s throw away. Or was that a webbing drop away?
…for ours
Looking back at the ridge we had climbed up. Photo by Marcus Griego.
Contouring
We contoured to the left to avoid another steep section, before heading straight to the summit. Photo by Scott Bowling.
Steep
Any more vertical and we would fall off the ridge.
So close, yet so far
A vertical section with few handholds and crumbly footing halted our climb. Marcus contoured more to the left to find a better spot, despite Scott’s objections that it was a death drop on that side. I was game as I had no desire to go back down the way we came from. Then something amazing happened. Photo by Scott Bowling.
All smiles
Quiet! I hear voices!
Trail angels
By a stroke of luck, Nick and Angie happened to be traversing the ridge on top of us and they had webbing. Christmas came early!
Waiting our turn
Brad climbing his way up. Photo by Nick Kalanakilaokalahui.
Thank you
Scott making his way to the top of the saddle between Ka’au Crater and Mount Olympus.
Don’t use the rope
Code word. Inside joke. Photo by Scott Bowling.
Olympus Windward
Group photo left to right: Marcus, Scott, myself and Brad. We gave our thanks to Nick and Angie as they continued on their way to Ka’au Crater.
KSRT
No rest for the weary, we resumed our climb along the Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail towards Mount Olympus.
Final push
Marcus and Scott climbing towards the summit of Mount Olympus.
Panoramic view
Click here for the larger image.
Mount Olympus
Rare to see the summit dry and not cloaked in clouds.
Awaawaloa
Group photo with Olomana, Awaawaloa (Mount Olympus) and Ka’au Crater behind us.
Waahila ridge trail
Marcus making his way down the eroded trail.
Looking back
Leaving behind the 2,486′ summit of Mount Olympus.
Four legged hiker
The dog and her owner wisely decided to turn around after they found out how much more ground they had to cover to the summit and their water was running low.
Kolowalu Trail
We took the Kolowalu junction that dropped us down into Manoa and my car.
Manoa Valley
Caveman take tree for firewood. Make lots of firewood.
All pau
Many thanks to Scott for organizing, scouting and clearing the hike, Brad for being on point and Marcus for not using the rope.
GPS Tracks
The hike covered 7.1 miles. Of that mileage, roughly half a mile was for the Windward ridge. The hardest and shortest section of the hike. Post hike meal at Brick Oven Pizza. Burnt pizza. Extra charge for olives. No love.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Awesome hike and write up!
Aloha Tom,
Glad you enjoyed the post. Almost as awesome as Camp Awesome! LOL
Mahalo
Great write up Kenji! My favorite photo is of Brad’s smiling face as he hears the hikers above.
Aloha Scott,
Thanks for putting together the hike and nice seeing you again! Yup, I think we all had smiles like Brad at that point! Well, maybe with the exception of Marcus! The rope of shame! LOL
Mahalo
Great write up. I simply can’t imagine what that final push to the summit must have been like. Awesome.
Aloha Evan,
Glad you enjoyed the post. We’ll have to hike a trail when you get back to the islands.
Mahalo
Great write up Kenji! Congratulations to all of you! Glad you lived to tell!
Aloha Nani,
Thanks for the kind words. Yes we are all glad we are still here!
Mahalo
Epic! Nice work!
Aloha Nate,
Thanks, glad we all made it to the top, rope and all, safe and sound!
Mahalo!
Wow, you guys are so lucky K14 was there to greet you at the top. Nick is like a phantom hiker. The few times I ran into him, he doesn’t like to be photographed. Good guy though. I wish I had cardio like Nick.
Yup, even offered to buy him dinner! I was trying to take a group photo with him, but Marcus said no photo! I’m thinking we should have gone more to the right based on Pete Clines summited photo, but Marcus keeps on insisting it should have been more to the left. Well that’s all moot unless I do it again, which is unlikely, but main thing is we all get out safe and sound.