Pali Lookout to Likelike Highway

by kenji SAITO on December 8, 2019

Hiking Pali Lookout to Likelike Highway

Met up with Anne and Dennis at the Pali Lookout to break in their saddle cherries. Drone photo by Dennis Regan.

Pali Lookout

Pali Lookout

Scrambling our way up the steep and slippery rooted trail.

Pali Puka Trail

Pali Puka Trail

The sun was slowly peeling the shadows away from the imposing rock spire ahead of us. Glad we are not climbing that!

Konahuanui

Konahuanui

Looking back at the strikingly clear summit of the highest peak on the Ko’olau Range.

Pali Puka

Pali Puka

View from the other side. Drone photo by Dennis Regan.

Trail

Trail

Anne making her way up the long slippery slope to the ridge line.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

We hit the exposed ridge line and starting climbing our way down the saddle. Photo by Dennis Regan.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Anne and Dennis passing the wind bent trees, but hardly a whisper of wind blew through the mountains today.

Incisor Rock

Incisor Rock

Swinging myself up and over the rock. Beats contouring any day. Photo by Dennis Regan.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Anne and Dennis coming down one crumbly rock at a time.

Thimbleberry

Thimbleberry

Passing thorny bushes of these tart trail snacks.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

We had stunning panoramic views from Kanehoalani to Olomana.

Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong

Grabbing fistfuls of uki grass as we made our way up to the adventure in the mountains.

Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong

It’s on like Donkey Kong. Photo by Anne Fai.

W

W

Dennis contouring his way down the non-visible trail.

W

W

Somebody was either exhausted or glad to have made it to the top. Or both.

W

W

Anne and Dennis trying to pass themselves off as the 23rd letter of the alphabet.

Anvil

Anvil

Making my way down the short drop. Photo by Anne Fai.

Anvil

Anvil

Did that rock just move?

Trail

Trail

Anne contouring her way back up to the ridge line.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Pulling ourselves up the severely eroded ridge line which has seen much better days.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Climbing our way out of the saddle and to the summit.

Lanihuli Summit

Lanihuli Summit

Drone photo of Swirling Heavens by Dennis Regan. The only thing swirling was our heads over the crystal clear 360 degree heavenly views around us.

Lanihuli Summit

Lanihuli Summit

Sometimes a helping hand is all a drone needs.

Ko'olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Leaving the 2,700′ summit behind us as we dropped down into another saddle.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Scooting and scrambling our way down the serpentine ridge. Photo by Anne Fai.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

When hikers on a narrow ridge line have to regress to their pronograde posture of their forebears.

Dirt Dragon

Dirt Dragon

Group photo on the crumbly back, left to right: Dennis, Anne and myself.

Lanihuli Wall

Lanihuli Wall

What happened to the webbing?

Lanihuli Wall

Lanihuli Wall

Lowering ourselves down the steep flank of the ridge line.

Trail

Trail

Dennis contouring his way back to the ridge line.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Drone photo by Dennis Regan of the most photographed spot on the saddle.

Can Opener

Can Opener

Leaving the eroded section underneath the sofa sized rock that is just waiting to pop out. And we’re not even at the pimple yet.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Making our way down to start our colorful climbs. Photo by Anne Fai.

Pimple

Pimple

Trying my best not to dislodge any rocks going up. Photo by Anne Fai.

Doorstop

Doorstop

Dennis climbing his way up. Photo by Anne Fai.

Doorstop

Doorstop

Anne making her way to the top.

Bunny Ears

Bunny Ears

They sure don’t feel soft as one. Photo by Dennis Regan.

Bunny Ears

Bunny Ears

Anne and Dennis making their way down the crumbly ridge line.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

You go your way and I’ll go my way. Photo by Dennis Regan.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Almost there. Really.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Request wide angle photo please. Photo by Dennis Regan.

Sharks Fin

Sharks Fin

Anne making her way down the last obstacle.

Powerlines

Powerlines

Drone photo by Dennis Regan with Kalihi Valley in the background.

All pau

All pau

Walking out the service road as we finished our less than three mile saddle hike that was blessed with the best weather I have seen to date. Thanks to Jasmin for picking us up. Nobody had time or wanted to eat, so it was McDonald’s for me.

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.

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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

Rose January 3, 2020 at 8:33 am

Thanks kenjie! Another awesome blog!!

Reply

kenji SAITO January 3, 2020 at 3:25 pm

Aloha Rose,
Thanks for finally coming out! Miss your loudness on the trails! Come out more often!
Mahalo

Reply

Aida Gordon January 10, 2020 at 3:36 am

Wow..2 saddles in 1 day? That’s amazing! How long did that take with you 3 hiking machines?

Reply

kenji SAITO January 10, 2020 at 11:56 pm

Haha, no hiking machines here. It was their first time, so we took it slow and safe which translated to basically all day.
Mahalo

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