Poamoho to Laie Trail

It was time for another camping weekend in the mountains. Thanks to Caroline for dropping Katie, Lilyn and myself off at the trailhead where we met up with Agnes, Allison, Anne and Matt, but not before taking care of bathroom breaks and morning coffee fixes. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

A big mahalo to Lonnie and Stacy for driving us up the jeep road to the trailhead, where the weather conditions looked promising. False promises.

Group photo at the rainy start to our hike, left to right: Agnes, Lilyn, Matt, Allison, myself, Anne and Katie.

Threading our way through the barricade designed to filter only two legged hikers onto the trail.

The group traversing the graded trail which interrupted the wall of cascading uluhe ferns.

Katie explaining where the rain comes from.

Catching nothing but rain drops today. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

The group going up the muddy rutted trail.

Hunkered below the rock memorial from the sweeping rain storm. We all passed on visiting the scenic-less summit. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Looking for native escargot and finding none. Photo by Allison Banks.

Stepping foot on the Northern section of the KST. Keep the country country.

Allison going over the land slide. Photo by Agnes Bryant.

Working our way back to the fence line.

The hills have fences. For daze. Photo by Agnes Bryant.

Some in the group went left and some went right. We all ended up at the same place.

Fast forward to a couple hours where Chris and Lee got dropped off and hiked up to meet us and were blessed with scenic mountain views. What a difference that a couple hours makes. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Where there’s a glove, the boot can’t be far off. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Group shot at the iconic boot junction. Photo by Agnes Bryant.

Matt crossing the spongy meadow to get to the other fence line.

Dropping down into the gully. Photo by Agnes Bryant.

Matt standing near the top of the trickling waterfall. Photo by Anne Fai.

Entering the first established Natural Area Reserve in the Ko’olau Mountains. Photo by Anne Fai.

Clinging to the fence line to avoid the mud. An exercise in futility for the most part.

Is that a dirty sock on the stake or are you just glad to see me? Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Plunging through the shin deep mud, at least it wasn’t waist deep like a couple years ago. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Allison embracing the mud. Nowhere to run. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

The goat skull says to go that way. Photo by Agnes Bryant.

Allison approaching the only cabin on the KST with mountain views. Photo by Agnes Bryant.

Draining the water from the 55 gallon catchment to wash our muddy shoes and pants. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Everybody except one liked the green mangoes with fish sauce. Guess who?

It is true. Duct tape can fix anything! Photo by Katie Bingham.

Limbering our bodies up for what was to come.

Synchronized shaka’s. Harder than it sounds. Photo by Agnes Bryant.

Drone photos by Matt Vidaurri.

Group photo as we decided what to do next with all the time we had on our hands. My return to childhood memories was dashed when Katie tossed the recently found squirt gun in the bushes. Killjoy and stick in the mud. Photo by Agnes Bryant.

Finding our 15 minutes of meaningless fame in the mountains.

It works without the handle too. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

I hear you knocking but you can’t come in. Chris and Lee crashing the cabin party.

Clothes and shoes hanging out to dry. Wet dry. Photo by Allison Banks.

Carrying the oxtail soup up the mountains paid off with a delicious hot dinner. Sides of rice, eggs, mountain house, tuna and ramen. Washed down with hard liquor, soda and water.

Enjoying the twinkling city lights before turning in to the snoring sounds from the animal zoo. Photo by Agnes Bryant.

Waking up to the cloud soaked hills in the distance with a slight chill in the air. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Group photo as we left our cabin lodgings, left to right: Lilyn, Katie, Matt, Anne, Allison, Agnes, myself, Lee and Chris.

Chris enjoying his early morning mud bath. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

The wooden sign was back where it rightfully belonged, thanks to Chris for zip tying it to the post. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Crossing the mud soaked trail that was interrupted by the gated fence line. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Following the fence line as it cut through the mountains. Photo by Anne Fai.

We took a short break at the sign-less summit.

Enjoying the scenic view of the Waianae Mountains. Photo by Katie Bingham.

And what big hands you have! The better to shaka you with! Photo by Agnes Bryant.

Meandering in the mountains. Photo by Chris Bautista.

The group passing through one of many meadows in the mountains. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

When the overgrowth is so thick and punishing, that you need the combined weight of two bodies to push through. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Agnes against the backdrop of the slowly rotating windmills. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Time for a photo break. Sponsored by Akamai Services. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

She’ll be coming round the mountain when she comes.

When pigs fly. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Chris sparring with the mossy double end bag. Photo by Agnes Bryant.

Making our way through the convoluted terrain of the KST. Photo by Agnes Bryant.

Holding hands and singing Kumbaya on the scenic rock. I don’t know about the singing part. Photo by Agnes Bryant.

Lilyn climbing her way back to the trail after she took a slight detour.

Colorful hikers spread out on the trail.

The group climbing in and out of the notch.

We’re almost there! Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

The group meeting up with the fence again.

Taking the short cut to the cabin. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Dropping down to the cabin.

A short stay at the most spacious cabin on the KST.

Group photo by Agnes Bryant on the cabin porch deck.

Leaving the cabin for muddier trails.

When you just can’t get enough of the mud, you go back for a second helping. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Going down the steep hill where the fence came in handy. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Enjoying the scenic views on our way down. Photo by Allison Banks.

Leaving the fence line behind us. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Where’s that fence when you need it?

The group crossing the bowl shaped depression. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Following the trail to the summit. Photo by Agnes Bryant.

Agnes and Allison getting scared on the way to the 2,240′ summit. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Stupid Human Tricks Day 2. We needed more than our allocated 15 minutes of fame.

The group showing their “L” for the mountains. Anybody’s guess as to what “L” represents? Photo by Agnes Bryant.

Leaving the summit as we started down the six mile trail.

Katie at a scenic spot overlooking the towns of Kahuku and Laie.

Falling head over heels off the trail. The main thing is not losing the two phones in my pocket. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

We are hangry. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Chris fired up his Jet Boil to cook up the remaining ramen packs. When you don’t have a fork to slurp down the noodles, a toothbrush will do. And you can brush your teeth right after eating. Killing two bird with one stone.

Allison making her way down the mostly graded trail. Photo by Agnes Bryant.

No side visit to the refreshing pool today.

Ducking our way underneath one of several blowdowns on the trail.

Passing through the grove of pine trees. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Making our way down the eroded red dirt road.

Walking out to Matt’s staged truck and other rides that had come to collect the group. Our 23 plus mile hike was filled with mud, overgrowth and fun times with good friends. Memories to last a lifetime or at least for the weekend. Post hike meal at Haleiwa Joe’s where we were promised prime rib and had to settle for steak instead. Life is hard. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Video by Matt Vidaurri of our fun weekend 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: army cabin, boot junction, koolau summit trail, kst, laie summit, laie trail, opaeula cabin, papali summit, poamoho summit, poamoho trail