Pueo Ridge to Kalihi Saddle ( Powerlines )

Helped a friend to finish a ridge and another to celebrate her birthday today. It was also a nice day to be alive and hiking as we all managed to survive the false missile alert that gave everybody a pause yesterday.

Met up with Daryl and Mia at the parking lot as Amber, Anne, Clayton, Jan and Robin had already pushed off on the trail. Chris was running late.

The construction bees have been quite busy in the back of the valley. Unsubstantiated rumors that the concrete roads are meant for soon to come paying tours to crowd out the free loading hikers from these trails filled the air.

The stairs? Where we’re going, there are no stairs.

Passing the traditional short cut to Tripler Ridge. We were not being traditional today.

Met up with the rest of the group at the start of the spur ridge we called Pueo after the sign that marks the trailhead.

We followed the clearly trodden trail through knee high uluhell ferns until …

… the trail took on a steeper pitch packed with strawberry guava trees.

Group photo as we gained the semi-exposed ridge. Photo by Anne Fai.

Looking out towards Moanalua Valley with her cloud puffs.

The point where Clayton turned around on his prior solo hike. Time to push forward.

Making our way under and over the twisted trees. Photo by Clayton Takemoto.

Rotten rocks and questionable trees laid ahead of us.

After a short stretch of raining rocks and voices in the valley, we soon scrambled to more solid footing on the ridge.

Sometimes I think a pair of knee pads belongs in my pack. Photo by Clayton Takemoto.

Anne threading her way through the barrier of strawberry guava trees to step foot on Tripler Ridge. Photo by Clayton Takemoto.

Group photo left to right: Chris, Daryl, Clayton, myself, Amber, Jan, Mia, Anne and Robin.

We bumped into members of the HTMC group on the ridge.

Passing the happy half of the flower in the mountains.

We ran into Rich Bailey who was videoing the group on their hike.

Pushing up the last hill on the ridge to the summit.

Waiting for our lunch to be delivered.

A visual feast for the eyes.

Thanks to Anne for making oxtail soup, Filipino spaghetti, and kalua pig and cabbage. We had a fully loaded feast on the summit. Talk about a kanak attack. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Blowing out the candle and making a wish. Photo by Clayton Takemoto.

Group photo by Rich Bailey.

Leaving the summit behind along with Amber and Clayton who went down Moanalua Middle Ridge.

Mia passing the 2,740′ summit of Pu’u Kahuauli.

The group scooting their way down the grassy ridge.

Hiking by the seats of our pants.

Robin contouring on the Leeward side of the cracked ridge.

Mia making her way around the sliding dirt area. Photo by Chris Bautista.

One at a time going down. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Looking back at the others climbing and cramping their way down.

The pause that refreshes. Photo by Robin Farr.

We are going down there. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Jan making her way down past the broken wave.

Mia scooting along the narrow ridge. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Jan climbing down the first rock triangle with rope that was a tad short from the bottom.

Daryl, despite advice given and not taken, took the butt express slide down. Mia and Anne took the belly express slide down. Chris sticked his landing and then fell flat on his face. Fun in the mountains and we didn’t even have to pay for it. Photos by Robin Farr.

The weathered tree had finally withered away.

Going down. Photo by Robin Farr.

Going down the Windward side of the second rock triangle to avoid the hanging, clustered ropes on the Leeward side.

The group passing tabletop rock on their way down.

Everybody taking their turn to scoot over the hump.

Daryl spotting the rest of the group making their way down.

As we were dropping into the saddle, a familiar red jacketed individual appeared at the top of Witch’s Hat. Photo by Derek Potter.

Eye in the sky. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Coming down the mountain.

Climbing up the hat. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Panoramic view from the top.

Which way do we look? Photos by Anne Fai and Derek Potter.

Jan on her way to the knob.

Dropping down the backside of Witch’s Hat. Photo by Chris Bautista.

It was lights out as Mia had the last cupcake that was meant for the other birthday boy who couldn’t make it to today’s hike. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Our birthday hike covered a little over six miles that was filled with ono food and fun company. Mahalo to Clayton and Richie for picking us up on the side of the highway. Post hike meal was satisfied on the spot thanks to Clayton bringing us tasty beverages to wash down the still warm chicken sandwiches.

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: bowman, kahuauli, kalihi saddle, kamananui valley road, moanalua valley, pueo ridge, puu kahuauli, tripler ridge, tripler summit