Red Hill to Stairway to Heaven

Chris, Ferlino, Yoly and myself joined up with HTMC for their scheduled hike and then split on our own separate hike. Photo by Janell Tuttle.

Met a couple familiar faces at the hike briefing, left to right: Aida, Dale, Yoly, Ferlino, Chris, myself, Janell and Quan. Photo by Aida Gordon.

We skirted the dribbling courts to reach the trailhead.

Right off the bat, the trail was steep and loosely packed.

Pushing our way up the trail that was populated with boulders and dry California grass.

Did I mention it was steep? I almost had to go full primate on the trail. Photo by Aida Gordon.

We finally gained the ridge crest after huffing and puffing our way to the top.

Dale coming up with the city views to his back.

Some people are happy just soaking in the views of Moanalua Valley. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Others have to grab and seize it for actual enjoyment. Photo by Yoly Bedord.

Arthur making his way through the stand of strawberry guava trees.

Some of the group walking on the trail that bordered an eroded drop off.

The trail was fruiting with these tasty and sweet guava fruits.

How many hikers can a half-dead tree support? Let’s find out.

A solitary standing pine tree that was begging to be decorated. Christmas can’t come soon enough.

What is he doing up there? Photo by Yoly Bedford

Chris, Ferlino and Yoly climbed up this multi-trunk pine tree.

We briefly stopped at the end of the pine tree grove where the blowing winds tried to peel Quan from the tree and forced Arthur to do the limbo dance. Don and Janice also turned around at this point. Photo by Janell Tuttle.

Janell photographing the sun bleached remains of a hiker who had failed to use a strong enough sunscreen. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Going down into the saddle. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Heading up the spongy and mossy covered trail. Photo by Chris Bautista

Brushing our way through the dense uluhe undergrowth.

Looking back at the cluster of Cinderella pine trees. Photo by Yoly Bedford.

Rich crossing the narrow dike section. Photo by Aida Gordon

Lunch break at the junction. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

We continued our ascent up the ridge after the lunch break was over, while the rest of the club descended the Godek-Jaskulski trail. The club warned us that the trail beyond was not cleared and most likely heavily overgrown.

Ran across a German couple who thought this was the way to heaven. They got scared at the top where the ridge turned somewhat narrow, so they turned back. We broke the news to them that they didn’t have enough time to go the “correct” way as their return flight was tonight. Auf Wiedersehen.

We made it to the summit despite the “overgrown” trail. Photo by Yoly Bedford.

Going down the saddle. Photo by Yoly Bedford.

Yielded to this guy making his way up the saddle. Turns out his instagram handle is alahekehihawaii. Small world.

Looking back at Ferlino and Yoly climbing their way down, several areas were just basically eroded dirt slides.

Ferlino going over one of several humps before our break in the middle. Photo by Yoly Bedford.

Yoly in the notch looking out towards the omega station. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Chris looking towards heaven.

Leaving the summit behind us as we climbed up the crumbly saddle. Photo by Ferlino Carinio

Ferlino climbing up the first eroded section.

Yoly contouring on the Windward side. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Climbing back up to the ridge line. Photo by Chris Bautista

Making our way towards the Dirt Triangle.

Contouring on the Leeward side. Photo by Chris Bautista

Chris climbing up past the soft dirt section to gain the more solid rock section.

Ferlino at the top of the triangle. Photo by Yoly Bedford.

Chris climbing his way up and over the assorted boulders stuck in the saddle, until they eventually get dislodged and spit down into the valley.

Making our way up the last eroded and crumbly section. Photo by Ferlino Carinio

Yoly checking her footholds near the top.

It was a typical windy day on the saddle. Just ask Chris’s hair. Photo by Yoly Bedford

Standing at the beginning of the other stairway to heaven. Photo by Yoly Bedford

Going up the back stairs that are slowly turning to rust, then dust.

We can see that Mother Nature is slowly reclaiming the stairs. Photo by Yoly Bedford.

Our slow slog to the summit. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Group picture at the CCL building.

A medical emergency within the group forced us to abandon going down middle ridge and taking the most direct route instead, which was the stairs. 3,922 steps back down. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Going down the stairs. Photo by Chris Bautista

Window seat. Photo by Ferlino Carinio

You want your picture taken? No thanks, I have others taking it as we speak. Photo by Ferlino Carinio

Enjoying the panoramic views from the first landing. Photo by Yoly Bedford

The news of the stairs death have been greatly exaggerated.

When you have to make your own trade winds. Batteries not included.

Mahalo to Laredo for coming out to escort us to safe passage to Allison’s house.

You guys lost? Want a Jamba Juice? Thanks to Jasmin for picking us up in the friendly neighborhood.

Our saddle hike covered a scant 6.67 miles through crumbly and jaw dropping terrain. Post hike meal at Haleiwa Joe’s. We avoided the long lines and got the last cut of prime rib by sitting at the bar. Forget waiting for the table!

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: koolau summit ridge trail, ksrt, kulana'ahane summit, moanalua saddle, red hill ridge, red hill summit, stairway to heaven