I decided to do a solo outing today and see how far my legs would take me in the mountains.

Kulana’ahane Junction

The darkness in the valley gave my legs added fleetness as I made it to the sign in under 30 minutes.

Red Hill Summit

Making my way to the 2,237′ top after being rained on for the most part of the ridge climb. Luckily, the rain paused as I summited. Thank heavens for small favors.

Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Looking back at the Western half of the ridge line that I had just came down.

Kulana’ahane Summit

Quick selfie in the middle of the saddle.

Moanalua Saddle

Contouring around the most famous obstacle on the saddle, the Dirt Triangle. I had startled two feral pigs in the bushes earlier on the ridgeline. First time I have ever seen pigs on the saddle.

Moanalua Saddle

Looking down at the original Naval Radio Station that was built in 1942 from one of the antenna anchor sites, the bomb proof building is now known as the Omega Station after the US Coast Guard took it over in 1975 until it was decommissioned in 1997.

Moanalua Saddle

Climbing up the ladder that connects to the lesser known Stairway to Heaven.

CCL Building

I had the top all to myself. I saw a couple hikers descending down the 3,922 metal steps that are now slated to be dismantled as the city could not find a common ground between the various parties involved to save the stairs.

Moanalua Middle Ridge

The rain followed me down the scarred ridge, where slats installed by Ted Calvero and friends have helped to retard the erosion.

MMR

Checking out the Manono tree which has survived largely due to the efforts of Ted Calvero and friends. Before their timely intervention, the tree was being used to pull and lower hikers down and it was slowly being strangled and eroded to death.

MMR

Slippery slope.

MMR

This is the picture of over trafficking by hikers on the ridge line. Believe it or not, most of the ridge was actually flat with vegetation on top at one time. Now it’s a wasteland of deeply rutted trenches that scar the topography. And it’s only going to get worse as the stampede to see the Stairway to Heaven intensifies as news of its impending removal circulates among the international community.

MMR

Looking into Moanalua Valley, the original site of the planned H-3 highway until a court ruled in 1977 that the area was a National Historic Landmark and exempt from any construction.

Kulana’ahane Junction

Dropping off the ridge and crossing the parched stream bed as I made my way back out on the Kamananui Valley Trail.

All pau

I met up with Tessa in the park who was my ride if I had continued my mountain traverse, but she was nice enough to drop off a cold carbonated beverage and freshly baked goods for my consumption. Mahalo!

GPS Tracks

My solitary day in the mountains covered 10.7 miles that was covered with a mixed bag of inclement and sunny weather. Not a bad way to spend the 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. One should also always let somebody know of your hiking plans in case something doesn’t go as planned, better safe than sorry.

Met up with Aida, Ani, Katie, Laredo, Margaret and Quan at Moanalua Valley Park to hike to heaven. The harder way.

Trailhead

Did everybody brush their shoes?

Paws on the Path

Can I take you home?

Kamananui Valley Trail

Hold my hand. I’m not quite sure who said it first. Photo by Margaret Wilson.

Kamananui Valley Trail

Group photo without holding hands, left to right: myself, Ani, Quan, Katie, Laredo, Margaret and Aida.

Kulana’ahane Junction

The sign and junction that will continue to baffle and befuddle many hikers looking for heaven. What you are seeking is 30 feet to your right. Photo by Ani Lagpacan

Kulana’ahane Trail

Going through one of many stream crossings.

Kulana’ahane Trail

Huffing and puffing our way up the short and steep spur ridge.

Moanalua Valley

Imagining what the H-3 would have looked like slicing through this valley. Not a pretty thought. Photo by Margaret Wilson.

Kulana’ahane Summit

We reached the summit with clear views all around.

Kulana’ahane Summit

Picture time.

Kulana’ahane Summit

One more selfie and then we can go.

Moanalua Saddle

The usual brisk winds blowing from Windward to Leeward kept us company.

Moanalua Saddle

Gaining elevation on our way up. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Moanalua Saddle

Ani spotting Quan as she climbed her way up the rocks. Photo by Margaret Wilson.

Moanalua Saddle

The human anchor at your service. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Moanalua Saddle

Webbing? I don’t need webbing where I’m going. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Moanalua Saddle

Katie contouring up the Windward side. Watch the drop.

Moanalua Saddle

Slow and steady was the theme for the day.

Entrepreneur

Saddle to Heaven Tours. Five cents. Pictures and meals not included. Tips are appreciated. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Moanalua Saddle

Selfie on the Leeward side. One can’t have enough selfies. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Dirt Triangle

Ani approaching the tree that she would soon break in half. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Dirt Triangle

Katie pulling herself up.

Dirt Triangle

Aida climbing her way to the top. Photo by Margaret Wilson.

Moanalua Saddle

Back on the crumbly ridge line. Photo by Margaret Wilson

Moanalua Saddle

Katie climbing over the rocks.

Moanalua Saddle

The rest of the group making their way up. Photo by Margaret Wilson.

Moanalua Saddle

Katie going up the last crumbly section on the saddle. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Moanalua Saddle

Quan looking for her next handhold.

Moanalua Saddle

Taking in the views as all the hard parts were behind us.

Moanalua Saddle

Just straight up ridge hiking from here to the summit. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Moanalua Saddle

A couple eroded sections here and there. Photo by Margaret Wilson.

Moanalua Saddle

Arriving at the A-frame remnants that once hung five suspended antenna cables across the amphitheater shaped valley. Quite the engineering marvel. Photo by Katie Bingham

Moanalua Saddle

We took a short break on the solid concrete. No need to watch your footing for now. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Moanalua Saddle

“There’s a lady who’s sure that she’s hiking the backway to stairway to heaven…” Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

Moanalua Saddle

“…When they get there, she knows…” Photo by Aida Gordon.

Moanalua Saddle

“…If the stairway is closed…” Photo by Aida Gordon.

Moanalua Saddle

“…with Laredo’s help, she can get out…”

Stairway to Heaven

“…Oh oh oh oh and she’s hiking up the backway to stairway to heaven.” Paraphrased from Led Zeppelin. Photo by Quan Haberstroh.

Stairway to Heaven

Group photo at the storied stairs. Lunch break in heaven.

Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Traversing the muddy rutted and crowd packed trail as we left the smoky views.

Pu’u Keahi a Kahoe

Leaving the 2,820′ flat summit.

KSRT

Passing a wind swept grassy meadow. Photo by Aida Gordon.

KSRT

Making our way down the steep hill to the defunct radar station. Photo by Margaret Wilson.

Pinch test

Aren’t you cold? Let’s find out.

KSRT

Leaving the radar station as we were getting cold. Well, maybe not Laredo. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

Panoramic views

Sweeping views of the Windward side. Photo by Ani Lagpacan.

KSRT

Approaching the power line tower for the grassy knob.

Tripler Summit

Margaret safe and sound at the 2,760′ grassy summit. Double shaka.

Tripler Summit

One shoe is not like the others. Photo by Aida Gordon

Tripler Summit

Going down the “classic Leeward Ko’olau ridge” as Stuart Ball described the trail.

Moanalua Middle Ridge

Looking for hikers on the well trafficked ridge.

Tripler Ridge

Making our way down the last steep section of the ridge before it leveled off.

End of Road Junction

Parting ways with Laredo who decided to continue on the ridge towards the hospital.

End of Road Ridge

Dropping down to the valley floor.

Moanalua Valley

Getting turned around in the towering yellow ginger patch. Look for the power lines.

Moanalua Valley

Finding our way out and going through a white ginger patch.

Moanalua Valley

Pushing our way through the insufferable corridor of itchy California grass.

Moanalua Valley

Back on the main trail. Photo by Aida Gordon.

All pau

Let’s make like a tire and hit the road. Don’t forget to leave your nickels on the way out. People have to make a living in paradise. Photo by Aida Gordon.

GPS Tracks

Our saddle and valley hike covered 10.65 miles. Great introductory hike with a fun crew. Post hike meal at Alley Restaurant where during the wait, they ran out of oxtail soup. Just when I thought the day was ending with a bang. Whimper.

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.

Bereft of hiking buddies for today, I decided to visit one of my favorite haunts on my own. Rules were meant to be broken. Sometimes, not all the time. I managed to snag an empty stall in the Moanalua Valley parking lot where a constant stream of hikers could be observed heading into the valley.

Kamananui Valley Trail

A harbinger of things to come. A trickle of water down the road …

Kamananui Valley Trail

… that was fed by miniature land locked reservoirs that reflected the forest canopy as I skirted around them.

Kamananui Valley Trail

Getting our feet wet in the shallow end of the road. Never play in the deep end.

Kamananui Valley Trail

Sharing the road with others.

Kamananui Valley Trail

Overflow from Moanalua Stream coursed and eroded its way down the trail as I met up and tagged along with the three iron ladies of the trail otherwise known as “entertainment.”

Kamananui Valley Trail

Joy making her way through the bowed branches of a hau tree.

Kulana’ahane Junction

Crossing the ankle deep stream to the other side of the bank.

Moanalua Middle Ridge

Leaving the valley floor as we began our steady climb up the ridge.

Heart Rock

I left my heart in Moanalua Valley, at the very bottom. Shattered and broken into a million pieces.

Moanalua Valley

Looking back into the valley that barely escaped being turned into a corridor for the H-3 Freeway back in the 1970s.

Moanalua Middle Ridge

Passing the wild orchids that populate the lower section of the ridge.

Moanalua Middle Ridge

The grass is greener on the other side of the rope. Photo by Gunner SB.

Moanalua Middle Ridge

Sugar getting ready to out-run the rain showers that were heading our way as the ridge took on a more eroded character.

Moanalua Middle Ridge

Walking in the rain clouds and mud as we made our way to heaven.

Pu’u Keahiakahoe

Group photo left to right: Sharon, Joy, Sugar and myself. We parted ways after they sang a rousing rendition of sugar sugar.

Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Closed to climbing but apparently not the clouds.

Tripler Summit

Rain, rain go away. I still haven’t learned that nursery rhymes don’t work up in the mountains.

Bowman Summit

I was debating going down the Bowman trail if the rain didn’t let up. It will stop. The power of positive thinking.

KSRT

The rain soon left, but the clouds stayed to keep me company for a little while as I headed down into the saddle.

Kalihi Saddle

The ridge line and stiff winds kept the clouds at bay on the Leeward side.

Dirty Slide

Sliding my way down the flank of the ridge, I discovered that a series of mini-landslides had broken the continuity of the trail going back to the ridge line.

Rock Triangle #1

The grass had really overtaken certain sections of the ridge and even buried some sections of the ropes. Pays to pack your own webbing, never leave home without it. Where are those trail clearing crews when you need them?

Lanihuli Waterfalls

Looking across the valley towards the waterfalls cascading down the side of the mountain known as swirling heavens.

Rock Triangle #2

I couldn’t find purchase for my feet climbing down the slick rocks, so I scrambled back up and slapped on my spikes. Didn’t want to be on the six o’clock news.

Kalihi Saddle

Looking back at the rugged character of the saddle. Never fails to disappoint.

Witch’s Hat

The most storied section of the ridge in terms of “take my picture spot.”

Witch’s Hat

Scrambling down the backside of the last obstacle on this side of the saddle.

Camp Centipede

Taking care not to kick over any rocks and send an errant hundred footed arthropod scurrying my direction as I made my way down towards the power lines and into Kalihi Valley.

All pau

Thanks to Shirley for picking me up and dropping me back to my car, where I was re-united with my hiking “entertainment” group. Post hike meal at Ruby Tuesday, where the dinner theme seemed to be vegetarian.

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.