Red Hill to Moanalua Middle Ridge

by kenji SAITO on February 11, 2018

Hiking Red Hill to Moanalua Middle Ridge

Ferlino, Robin and myself decided to pay a visit to Heaven today.

Kamananui Valley Trail

Kamananui Valley Trail

Pounding the pavement. What happened to the jeep road?

Kulana'ahane Junction

Kulana’ahane Junction

We ran into Janell’s group who was going one way … Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Kulana'ahane Trail

Kulana’ahane Trail

… and we were going the other way.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Real time weather forecast of clouds on the saddle. Photo by Robin Farr.

Godek-Jaskulski Trail

Godek-Jaskulski Trail

Ferlino and Robin going up the skinny section of the ridge.

Red Hill Ridge

Red Hill Ridge

Pushing towards the top of the rollercoaster ridge.

Red Hill Summit

Red Hill Summit

We all brought our favorite chilled carbonated beverages to the summit.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Dropping down onto the eroded ridge and leaving the clouds behind us. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Have hiking stick, will hike.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

The much improved views ahead of us.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Looking back at the Western half of the Saddle.

Kulana'ahane Summit

Kulana’ahane Summit

A group of Korean hikers joined us at the top from the valley floor to soak in the expansive views.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

The weather forecast for Heaven looked favorable.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Making our way up on the Eastern half of the Saddle.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

When the Windward climb doesn’t work for you, there is always the Leeward contour. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Contouring on the Windward side with the H-3 below us.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Making our way towards the Dirt Triangle. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Dirt Triangle

Dirt Triangle

Climbing up on the Leeward side. Photo by Robin Farr.

Dirt Triangle

Dirt Triangle

When one hiking stick is not enough. Photo by Robin Farr.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

The weather forecast seemed to be holding.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

There seemed to be less rocks holding this ridge together, as compared from the last visit. Photo by Robin Farr.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Ferlino climbing up the last “technical” climb up the ridge.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Oh wait, let’s not forget the optional face plant section.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

The view towards Hell.

Ka Hae Hawai'i

Ka Hae Hawai’i

When you hike with Ferlino, it’s always Flag Day.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Panoramic view of the stairs coming and going.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

And she’s buying the stairway to heaven. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Looking down at the Halawa Amphitheater.

CCL Building

CCL Building

The graffiti angel has fallen from heaven. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Fly by

Fly by

For those that don’t want to run the risk of being ticketed or put the time in on the trail.

Stairway to Heaven

Stairway to Heaven

The couple that was hanging out at the top told us we arrived at the right time, as it was completely socked in before we got there. Lucky us.

CCL Building

CCL Building

Sporting the latest in eyewear fashion, the eyepatch sunglass. May lead to lopsided squinting.

Fly boy

Fly boy

We noticed a paraglider skimming the saddle.

KSRT

KSRT

Leaving Heaven behind us.

Moanalua Middle Ridge

Moanalua Middle Ridge

Mingling with other hikers on our downhill commute to the valley floor.

MMR

MMR

Ohia trees picture framing the view. Photo by Robin Farr.

MMR

MMR

Traffic jam. Passing on the left.

MMR

MMR

Ferlino and Robin coming down the eroded trail against the backdrop of the fluted ridges that composes the flanks of the Ko’olau Mountains.

MMR

MMR

A possible distant cousin to the now extinct tree-osaur in Kahana Valley.

Bark Park

Bark Park

Who wants a belly rub? Me!

All pau

All pau

Nine hours later and we were right back where we started from this morning.

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

Our saddle hike to heaven covered 10.35 miles through constantly changing and eroding terrain. Great hike with good friends. BOGO coupon dictated the venue of our post hike meal to be at the Cattle Company. We just had to wait over 30 minutes which helped to build our appetite up.

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.

Leave a Comment

{ 0 comments… add one now }

Previous post:

Next post: