Red Hill to Stairway to Heaven

by kenji SAITO on September 8, 2019

Hiking 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.

Moanalua Valley Park

Moanalua Valley Park

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.

Basketball Court

Basketball Court

We skirted the dribbling courts to reach the trailhead.

Red Hill Trail

Red Hill Trail

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

Red Hill Trail

Red Hill Trail

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

Red Hill Trail

Red Hill Trail

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

Red Hill Ridge

Red Hill Ridge

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

Red Hill Ridge

Red Hill Ridge

Dale coming up with the city views to his back.

Red Hill Ridge

Red Hill Ridge

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

Red Hill Ridge

Red Hill Ridge

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

Red Hill Ridge

Red Hill Ridge

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

Red Hill Ridge

Red Hill Ridge

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

Trail snack

Trail snack

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

Load limit

Load limit

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

Red Hill Ridge

Red Hill Ridge

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

Red Hill Ridge

Red Hill Ridge

What is he doing up there? Photo by Yoly Bedford

Tree monkeys

Tree monkeys

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

Windy

Windy

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.

Skull and Bones

Skull and Bones

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

Red Hill Ridge

Red Hill Ridge

Going down into the saddle. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Red Hill Ridge

Red Hill Ridge

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

Red Hill Ridge

Red Hill Ridge

Brushing our way through the dense uluhe undergrowth.

Disney

Disney

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

Red Hill Ridge

Red Hill Ridge

Rich crossing the narrow dike section. Photo by Aida Gordon

Godek-Jaskulski Junction

Godek-Jaskulski Junction

Lunch break at the junction. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Red Hill Ridge

Red Hill Ridge

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.

Lost

Lost

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.

Red Hill Summit

Red Hill Summit

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

Ko'olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Going down the saddle. Photo by Yoly Bedford.

Moanalua Saddle West

Moanalua Saddle West

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

Moanalua Saddle West

Moanalua Saddle West

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

Moanalua Saddle West

Moanalua Saddle West

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

Kulana'ahane Summit

Kulana’ahane Summit

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

Kulana'ahane Summit

Kulana’ahane Summit

Chris looking towards heaven.

Moanalua Saddle East

Moanalua Saddle East

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

Moanalua Saddle East

Moanalua Saddle East

Ferlino climbing up the first eroded section.

Moanalua Saddle East

Moanalua Saddle East

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

Moanalua Saddle East

Moanalua Saddle East

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

Moanalua Saddle East

Moanalua Saddle East

Making our way towards the Dirt Triangle.

Moanalua Saddle East

Moanalua Saddle East

Contouring on the Leeward side. Photo by Chris Bautista

Dirt Triangle

Dirt Triangle

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

Dirt Triangle

Dirt Triangle

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

Moanalua Saddle East

Moanalua Saddle East

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.

Moanalua Saddle East

Moanalua Saddle East

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

Moanalua Saddle East

Moanalua Saddle East

Yoly checking her footholds near the top.

Moanalua Saddle East

Moanalua Saddle East

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

Moanalua Saddle East

Moanalua Saddle East

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

Moanalua Saddle East

Moanalua Saddle East

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

Moanalua Saddle East

Moanalua Saddle East

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

Moanalua Saddle East

Moanalua Saddle East

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

Stairway to Heaven

Stairway to Heaven

Group picture at the CCL building.

Stairway to Heaven

Stairway to Heaven

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.

Stairway to Heaven

Stairway to Heaven

Going down the stairs. Photo by Chris Bautista

Hoist House

Hoist House

Window seat. Photo by Ferlino Carinio

Stairway to Heaven

Stairway to Heaven

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

Stairway to Heaven

Stairway to Heaven

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

Landslide

Landslide

The news of the stairs death have been greatly exaggerated.

Haiku Valley

Haiku Valley

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

Haiku Valley

Haiku Valley

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

All pau

All pau

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

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

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.

Cancel reply

Leave a Comment

{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

Aida November 4, 2019 at 2:10 pm

Great and funny narrative! Liked the photos taken by heaven. Thanks for coming with us at the start of Red Hill. It was really tempting to go to the “overgrown” summit. Now we know better how overgrown it is! ????

Reply

kenji SAITO November 4, 2019 at 6:04 pm

Aloha Aida,
Thanks for the fun company while it lasted. Yes, next time just head to the summit!
Mahalo

Reply

Quan November 11, 2019 at 8:55 am

Love the pictures!!!!

Reply

kenji SAITO November 16, 2019 at 4:57 pm

Thanks Quan!
Mahalo

Reply

Previous post:

Next post: