Poamoho Trail to Castle Trail

May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. What better way to spend St. Patrick’s Day than in the verdant mountains of the Ko’olau’s? Now if we only had a Patrick with us. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Met up with the group at Allison’s house where we then shuttled to the trailhead, where Chris inspected a Volvo parked on the side. Safe but no 4×4 capability. Let’s just wait for Olivier.

Somebody wanted a group photo on the bumpy road, so I fished my GoPro out of my backpack and obliged with this very clear and detailed picture.

You can’t sweet talk us lady, you’re still not riding in the cab with us.

Hunters were unloading their dogs near the trail sign, so we stayed back just in case any of us reeked of swine stench. Group photo by Olivier Rojas, left to right: Chris, Allison, Laredo, Ani, Janell and myself. Mahalo to Olivier for the ride up the jeep road.

Laredo peeled off his jacket, so my brain finally registered that rainbow man was hiking with us.

Heading into the gulch.

We were greeted at the 2,520′ hump with piercing sun beams and suspended pollution particles that muted the mountains and valleys below us.

Hanging a right at the Cline memorial to begin our trek on the KST.

Opening the gate to where the country is still country. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Contouring below the fence line as the views continued to stay with us. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Some of us took the fence line while others took the original KST, but we all ended up in the same place.

Laredo opening the gate for the ladies.

Following the trail as it bended its way through the mountains.

Making our way through the rolling terrain dotted by ohia trees in varying states of decay and growth.

I always wondered who left the boot here?

No fence sitters here. We all know where we are going.

Panoramic view of the mountains and valleys below us. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Leaving the fenced meadows behind us. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Hiking on the fenced periphery of the native plants. Photo by Chris Bautista

Chris spotted a native lobelia jutting out from the side of the cliff below us, its isolated existence shelters it from close contact.

One of many short ups and downs, helped or hindered by the fence line? Photo by Chris Bautista.

The girls crossing over another gate in the fence line. Keep to the left to our destination. Keep to the right to explore.

Looking at the four star hotel in the distance.

Janell’s baptism by mud. She took it like a champ.

Somebody doesn’t look too happy.

Hopping over the gate to continue our hike on the muddy trail. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

The group meandering their way through the mountains.

Time to leave the KST.

Some of us chose to cling to the fence, while others gave the gift that keeps on giving a wide berth.

We hopped the fence to catch a glimpse of the waterfalls that always seems to be flowing.

Checking out the coastline views.

Going off the reservation or was it the other way around? Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Allison and Laredo coming down the trail who were easily identified by the bright white shirt and bare skin.

Janell snacking on the leaf base of the ubiquitous uki grass.

Heading down into the hanging valley. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Passing through a clump of moss-ified trees.

The trail down was peppered with miniature landslides and blowdowns that textured the terrain.

Random trail meetings. Photos by Chris Bautista.

Standing in the stream that collects and cascades down multiple waterfalls before terminating at Kaliuwa’a Falls.

Stream life.

I wonder if this shelter is built near the original redwood framed tin roofed cabin that was established in the 1930s?

Sheltered life.

Leaving the stream as we climbed up the trail.

Making our way out of the hanging valley.

Walking underneath a stand of moss-ified trees.

The fence line has continued its migratory spread and shows no sign of slowing down.

Passing through the notch on our way down.

Bushwhacking our way down the Pig God trail.

“The finest view on the island if it doesn’t rain, only it always rains.” 1946 HTMC schedule. Today it didn’t rain. Photo by Allison Banks.

We cut out a lot of the vegetation choked switchbacks by going straight down a spur ridge. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Looking back at the notch in the mountains.

Somebody’s skin seemed impervious to all that clawing and intrusive overgrowth.

Looking for a four leaf clover in all the wrong colors and genus.

The ridge eventually petered out and returned us to the overgrown switchbacks.

Crossing over one of multiple boulder strewn runoffs from the mountain.

Tree huggers are proliferating on these trails like so many strawberry guava trees. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Heading down into the valley that once was golden colored from all the rice paddies that were once tilled by Chinese immigrants.

Speak softly and carry a big stick, especially when there are loose dogs running around and you go down the wrong road. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Janell doing her best impersonation of a speed bump. Many thanks to Jasmin and Quan for picking us up.

Somebody’s dream hike covered 14.2 miles through verdant mountains, muddy trails and lush valleys. Fun hike with a great group. Post hike meal at El Chile Relleno where they still give unlimited chips and salsa.

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: castle trail, cline memorial, kaluanui stream, koolau summit trail, kst, papali junction, poamoho summit, poamoho trail, punaluu valley