I joined Brad, Marcus and Scott today to hike another Windward ridge. Marcus picked me up from my car on Alani Drive in Manoa and we met the others at the hairpin turn on Pali Highway.

Maunawili Demo Trail

The trail is popular with hikers, trail runners, mountain bikers and pigs. We didn’t run into any of them today on our hike to the ridge.

Last stop for water

Unfiltered water, straight from the tap.

Ko’olau Mountains

Scott had researched and scouted the trail earlier based on Dayle Turner’s ascent in 2002. Pete Cline’s group also made the climb in 2011.

Warm up is over

The group taking a break after hiking four miles to the base of the ridge. Can I get some sunscreen?

Uluhe hell

Long sleeves and long pants highly recommended.

Plunging in

Scott had cleared the lower portion of the ridge earlier, leaving a swath for us to climb up the ridge. Photo by Scott Bowling.

Bushwhacking

We eventually contoured to the right to avoid a steep section, skirted the gully and resumed our climb. Brad stayed on point for the hike, plowing through the thick flora. What a beast.

Pink ribbon

A faded and tattered pink ribbon hung from an overhead branch. A confirmation from the past that we were on the right track.

Scenic view

Today was a good day to be on the mountains.

Burrowing

Tunneling through the thick uluhe ferns. Photo by Scott Bowling.

Looking back

We enjoyed a respite from climbing as the ridge leveled off to a flat spot.

Almost there

Caveman. Da mountain! Da mountain! Photo by Steve Bowling.

Watch the drop offs

Break time over. Resuming our climb up the ridge. Photo by Scott Bowling.

Getting steep

Deep rooted clidemia plants, uki grass, ohia trees and other flora covered the crumbly dirt and rocks on our steep climb up the ridge.

Ko’oko’olau

We found this native plant near the top.

Your pic…

The top was a stone’s throw away. Or was that a webbing drop away?

…for ours

Looking back at the ridge we had climbed up. Photo by Marcus Griego.

Contouring

We contoured to the left to avoid another steep section, before heading straight to the summit. Photo by Scott Bowling.

Steep

Any more vertical and we would fall off the ridge.

So close, yet so far

A vertical section with few handholds and crumbly footing halted our climb. Marcus contoured more to the left to find a better spot, despite Scott’s objections that it was a death drop on that side. I was game as I had no desire to go back down the way we came from. Then something amazing happened. Photo by Scott Bowling.

All smiles

Quiet! I hear voices!

Trail angels

By a stroke of luck, Nick and Angie happened to be traversing the ridge on top of us and they had webbing. Christmas came early!

Waiting our turn

Brad climbing his way up. Photo by Nick Kalanakilaokalahui.

Thank you

Scott making his way to the top of the saddle between Ka’au Crater and Mount Olympus.

Don’t use the rope

Code word. Inside joke. Photo by Scott Bowling.

Olympus Windward

Group photo left to right: Marcus, Scott, myself and Brad. We gave our thanks to Nick and Angie as they continued on their way to Ka’au Crater.

KSRT

No rest for the weary, we resumed our climb along the Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail towards Mount Olympus.

Final push

Marcus and Scott climbing towards the summit of Mount Olympus.

Panoramic view

Click here for the larger image.

Mount Olympus

Rare to see the summit dry and not cloaked in clouds.

Awaawaloa

Group photo with Olomana, Awaawaloa (Mount Olympus) and Ka’au Crater behind us.

Waahila ridge trail

Marcus making his way down the eroded trail.

Looking back

Leaving behind the 2,486′ summit of Mount Olympus.

Four legged hiker

The dog and her owner wisely decided to turn around after they found out how much more ground they had to cover to the summit and their water was running low.

Kolowalu Trail

We took the Kolowalu junction that dropped us down into Manoa and my car.

Manoa Valley

Caveman take tree for firewood. Make lots of firewood.

All pau

Many thanks to Scott for organizing, scouting and clearing the hike, Brad for being on point and Marcus for not using the rope.

GPS Tracks

The hike covered 7.1 miles. Of that mileage, roughly half a mile was for the Windward ridge. The hardest and shortest section of the hike. Post hike meal at Brick Oven Pizza. Burnt pizza. Extra charge for olives. No love.