Thessa joined me to explore a new trail on Schofield Barracks, as Kolekole Pass was open to the public this weekend. Many thanks to Jared Nakahara for throwing this idea out, where I promptly picked it up.

Kolekole Pass Road

We broke away from the clustered crowd at the trailhead to walk down a less traveled road.

The Forbidden Mountain

The winding road hugged towering cliffs, where it soon opened up to reveal our destination.

Going up

We left the road to bushwhack up a cacti infested finger ridge to get to the steep base of the mountain. Photo by Thessa Bugay.

Looking back down

Thessa climbing up one crumbly rock at a time.

Makai view

The howling wind raced down from the ocean and buffeted us on this isolated mountain in the valley.

Where did it go?

The wind snatched Thessa’s yellow bandana clean off her head and sent it sailing down the mountain.

Hairsock

Thessa hanging onto a tree as the winds pushed us around the mountain. Winds at 40 mph gusting to double nickels. Or at least that’s what her hair said.

Crumbly

I had read this mountain was actually rubble piled against the old caldera wall. Explains a lot.

Mauka view

The rugged Waianae Mountain Range.

Ka’ilio notches

A small step and it was all over. Photo by Thessa Bugay.

Steep?

From afar, the mountain looks somewhat less than statuesque. Up close and personal, it was somewhat intimidating as it looked like a huge hot mess of rocks just waiting for the inopportune time to come crashing down.

Hang on

Thessa cresting a small rocky hump.

Who’s that?

Find Waldo. Photo by Joshua Keoki Versola.

Scrambling

It was slow going up the mountain, as the rocks were very loose and brittle. Not to mention the windy conditions.

Contouring

We interrupted our straight up climb to contour a particularly steep and crumbly section.

Almost there

It’s not that bad!

More scrambling

I can see the summit! Photo by Thessa Bugay.

Final push

Thessa making her way up.

Panoramic view

Click here for the larger image.

Panoramic view

Click here for the larger image.

Panoramic view

Click here for the larger image.

Pu’u Ka’ilio

Thessa and myself at the 1,940′ summit. Consideration of dropping down the other side of the mountain was dissuaded by high winds and crumbly conditions. Back another day.

Pu’u Ka’ilio

The view of Pu’u Ka’ilio from Pu’u Hapapa. Photo by Joshua Keoki Versola.

Zoom zoom

I think somebody is on that mountain. Photo by Jake Kunukau.

Going back down

Time to head back down. Photo by Thessa Bugay.

Clear

I scrambled down a safe distance in case an errant rock came my way.

One step at a time

Kicking it on the mountain.

Footwear options

To shoe or not to shoe?

All pau

We ran into a lot of familiar and “heard of you” fellow hikers at the trailhead. Impromptu meet and greet.

Mild or spicy?

Post hike meal at the most famous Korean eating place in Wahiawa. You say meat jun. We say meat chun. Group photo standing left to right: Ryan, Pip, Erik, Allison, Melita, Darren, Gary and Eric. Sitting left to right: Katie, Agnes, Thessa, Bernice, Janice and Carol.

GPS Tracks

The short, crumbly and gusty hike covered a measly 1.91 miles, but afforded spectacular views of the Waianae coastline and mountain range. Definitely want to pay a repeat visit to finish the other side.