I decided to spend another camping weekend in the mountains, but on the KST this time around. Thanks to Lonnie for dropping Ani and myself off at the start of our hike.

Trailhead

No other hikers on the trail this morning, except …

Trail

… a friendly dog walker and her domesticated charges.

Paalaa Uka Pupukea Road

Enjoying the mountain shade until we curved around the road and greeted the morning sun.

Paalaa Uka Pupukea Road

Practicing my flood evacuation procedures. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Trail

Going off the beaten road and onto the beaten path.

Black Junction

Pushing off to start the official beginning of the Ko’olau Summit Trail.

Ko’olau Summit Trail (KST)

Making our way down the tree lined trail.

KST

Ani passing the separated and solitary ohia trees on our way to the small clearing at the top.

Pu’u Hina

Taking a short break at Pupukea Summit.

KST

Watching the windmills slowly pin wheeling at the Kahuku Wind Farm.

KST

Welcome to the jungle. Please keep your hands, arms and legs on the trail at all times. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Geocache

Is there a machete or sickle inside that leaky Tupperware container? Nope, back to pushing our way through the dense overgrowth which pulled, scratched and poked us six ways to Sunday.

KST

Shouldering our way through the Windward side of the trail. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

KST

Halfway there and my arms were already on fire. I should’ve worn long sleeves as this was not my first rodeo on this trail. Slow learner.

KST

Fighting gravity and the overgrowth as we pushed our way up the hill.

KST

Ani enjoying every minute on the overgrown trail. Lovin’ it. Maybe I was thinking of a Quarter Pounder with Cheese Value Meal instead.

Tree Cross

Service in the mountains. Does your body and soul good.

Malaekahana Junction

Watching the waves wrap around Laie Point before dropping down to contour on the Leeward side of the ridge.

KST

Ani pushing her way through the dense thicket of uluhell ferns and trees.

Laie Summit

Can we just camp here? Absolutely, positively not.

KST

Pushing on the Windward side of the ridge in a futile attempt to make the cabin before nightfall.

KST

Ani making her way out of the bowl shaped depression.

KST

We made contact with the beginning of the fence line and the rain just started dumping on us. Then the sun went away as well. Good times.

KST

Climbing over the fence only to find that the cabin was locked tighter than a drum. We ended up pitching our tent on the porch in the driving rain.

Koloa Cabin

Early morning bowel movements. Air freshener not included nor needed.

Koloa Cabin

Mahalo for the porch hospitality.

KST

Ani climbing over the fence to get back on the muddier trail. The mud pits that she heard so much about, she was about to experience it first hand.

KST

Contouring the carved trail on the Windward side as the sun and rain took turns bathing us.

KST

Hawaiian rainbow arcing from the mountain to the sea.

KST

Passing through a section of moss blanketed trees.

KST

Ani sloshing through the mud trail.

KST

Back on the exposed Windward side of the ridge line.

Papali Junction

What happened to the 10 minute break? It’s only been two minutes! Sorry, I went to public school.

The Pig and The Lady

Opening soon at a mountain near you. Fresh off the bone.

KST

Ani going through the gated fence that would take us to the other side of the fence.

KST Sign #3

One of four wooden KST signs on the trail.

KST

Following the fence to the smelly sock post.

KST

The ridge soon began opening up with wrap around never-fails-to-disappoint views of Punalu’u and Kahana Valleys.

KST

Looking back at Pu’u Piei through the constricted views afforded by the narrow ravine.

KST

We can see the boot for the fence.

Bus Shelter

Let’s not miss the bus at Poamoho. Leaving at 1500.

Boot Junction

Ani finally got her whole 10 minute break at the boot junction.

KST

Background views of Manamana and Kanehoalani. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

KST

Are we on the right trail?

KST

Did we lose the fence?

KST

Are we on the right trail?

KST

We followed the outer fence line that shadowed the ridge.

KST

Hanging on the outside of the fence until we had to switch to the inside of the fence.

KST

The fence line soon ran into a blockade of trees and overgrowth which shunted us to the original trail.

KST

Yes, we are on the right trail. Please play another record. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

KST

This section of the KST affords the most bucolic views to be had from the mountains.

KST

Time to get off the fence line and join the crowd waiting for us at the summit.

Cline Memorial

We arrived at the summit around 1415, which gave us ample time to guzzle down the carbonated beverage and manapua that Chris so graciously brought us.

Poamoho Summit

Postcard perfect view of Punalu’u and Kahana Valleys. Thanks to Brian and Chris who met us at the summit; along with Andrew and Josh, two mainland welders from our work place. There were also two other hikers who happened to be visiting the summit as well, Jacey and Miles. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Poamoho Summit

Group photo at the 2,520′ summit; left to right: myself, Andrew, Brian, Miles, Jacey, Josh, Ani and Chris.

Poamoho Trail

People had places to go and Japanese food to eat, so we took our leave of the summit. Chris the Sherpa, lightened Ani’s burden by shouldering her backpack on our way down.

Poamoho Trail

Andrew and Josh fared suprisingly well in their sneakers on the muddy trail.

Poamoho Trail

Jacey and Miles making their way back on the graded trail.

Poamoho Trail

Ani at the trailhead. But wait, we’re not finished yet.

All pau

We still had to contend with and endure the bone jarring, head bashing 4×4 ride back down the five mile jeep road. Thanks Brian.

GPS Tracks

Our two day camping hike through the muddiest and overgrown sections of the KST covered just shy of 24 miles. Amazing adventure with an awesome buddy, who also doubles as a broken record player. Post hike meal at Alley’s Restaurant. Dinner on Ani. Mahalo! Thanks to Brian for picking us up at the trailhead and Chris for taking us back to our cars. A slice of pecan pie from Lonnie’s party ended our day.

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.