Over 20,000 people were participating in the 36th Great Aloha Run today, while the three of us decided to spend it in the mountains. Thanks to Ivy for dropping Barry, Krissy and myself off at the Pali Lookout to start our hike.

Pali Puka Trail

We started from the deserted Pali Lookout and made the short and steep climb up to the Pali Puka, which we skipped and contoured around the imposing rock edifice.

Trail

Krissy climbing up the flank of the ridge that were littered with blowdowns.

Nu’uanu Saddle

We soon gained the ridge line and started our hike on the crumbly saddle.

Nu’uanu Saddle

Leaving the breaking sunrise over Olomana behind us.

Nu’uanu Saddle

Passing the tree that was bent by the gusty winds. As long as it didn’t bend us.

Nu’uanu Saddle

Barry about to climb around the tooth shaped rock. Photo by Krissy Eizenhoefer

Nu’uanu Saddle

To climb or to contour?

Nu’uanu Saddle

Barry making his way down the crumbly rocks. One rock at a time.

W

Looking ahead to the cloud soaked Donkey Kong.

W

Barry hanging off the side of the cliff looking for the trail.

W

Climbing up the sliver of a letter. Photo by Krissy Eizenhoefer.

W

Question of the day. Who is Mario and who is Donkey Kong?

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The winds were blowing something fierce as we climbed down.

Anvil

Barry dropping down from the lost puka of the Pali.

Anvil

The contour trail after the anvil has eroded to almost nothing. Photo by Krissy Eizenhoefer.

Nu’uanu Saddle

Pushing our way through the thimble berry thorny bushes on our way back to the ridge line.

Nu’uanu Saddle

Barry climbing up the severely eroded section of the saddle that was once easily climbed.

Nu’uanu Saddle

Hikers in the mist.

Lanihuli Summit

We took a short break in the swirling heavens.

Kalihi Saddle

Leaving the summit behind us to go down another saddle.

Kalihi Saddle

Dropping from the summit where the clouds soon cleared to reveal the Windward views. Photo by Krissy Eizenhoefer.

Kalihi Saddle

Barry taking advantage of the woody climbers that carpeted the crumbly ridge line.

Dirt Dragon

The dragon that Krissy slayed. Photo by Krissy Eizenhoefer.

Dirt Dragon

Taking our leave of the crumbly and rotten rocks. Photo by Krissy Eizenhoefer.

Kalihi Saddle

Sliding and scooting was the par for today’s hike.

Kalihi Saddle

Barry staying focused on the ridge and not so much the views. Photo by Krissy Eizenhoefer.

Lanihuli Wall

We left the ridge line to scoot our way down the grassy flank.

Lanihuli Wall

Going down one at a time to avoid raining rocks. Not a good forecast for hikers. Photo by Krissy Eizenhoefer.

Lanihuli Wall

Barry making his way down the longest tier of the wall.

Lanihuli Wall

The iconic view of the can opener framed by the backdrop of Stairway to Heaven.

Lanihuli Wall

Contouring our way back to the ridge line.

Kalihi Saddle

Semi-group photo with Kalihi Saddle and points beyond.

Can Opener

Leaving our crumbly break spot.

Kalihi Saddle

Approaching the start of our colorful climb up all the different rock faces. Photo by Krissy Eizenhoefer.

Pimple

Contouring around the crumbly rock face. Don’t pop the pimple.

Doorstop

Barry climbing up the biggest rock face on the saddle. Photo by Krissy Eizenhoefer.

Bunny Ears

Climbing down one ear …

Bunny Ears

… and going up the other one. Photo by Barry Lau.

Shark’s Fin

It was still safe to be hiking on the dorsal shaped ridge line. The bark was worse than the bite.

Kalihi Saddle

Looking at Heaven in the distance, our original destination. Photo by Krissy Eizenhoefer.

Kalihi Saddle

Are we there yet?

Kalihi Saddle

We soon saw the powerlines that marked the end of our hike. Photo by Krissy Eizenhoefer.

Powerlines

Climbing down to take a break where somebody had to roll over to get back up. It doesn’t pay to sit for too long.

Service Road

Getting off the mountain and back to civilization. While we didn’t get a medal and T-shirt, we did get good company and fresh air. Not a bad deal. Photo by Krissy Eizenhoefer.

Likelike Highway

Thanks to Ivy for picking us up on the wrong side of the road.

All pau

Barry paid his nickel fee for the saddle hike which slowly put me on the road to financial independence. Post hike meal at Pampanga Kitchen where I was finally able to sample their Filipino food that I had heard so much about. It did not disappoint.

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.