Chris and Cisco met up with me in the central valley with plans to hike over and down into the valley of coral dived for or something close to that. We ended up getting something close to that.
Trailhead
Making our way down the heavily rooted hill covered with fallen leaves.
Wahiawa Hills
Going down one of multiple junctions scattered throughout the forest. Helps to know your way.
North Fork Kaukonahua Stream
Chris decided to stay dry for now and get wet later. I was just plain lazy to take my shoes off for the stream crossing. Embrace the wetness. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.
Wahiawa Hills
Squishing our way back up the hills of Wahiawa.
Ewa Reserve
Enjoying the clouds settling in the forested canopy.
Wahiawa Hills
Our quadriceps were getting a good workout this morning.
Wahiawa Hills
Breaking out into the flat and open grassy fields which afforded our legs and lungs a break.
Poamoho Hunting Area
Cisco using his imagination to add to the bullet riddled sign. Photo by Chris Bautista.
Wahiawa Hills
Pushing our way through the swath of thick, tangled uluhe ferns.
Army fencing
Coming soon to a Ko’olau Summit Trail near you. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.
Poamoho Road
Chris making his own swing in the mountains.
Poamoho Road
Making our way up the muddy road sans a 4×4 jeep, we let our feet do the walking.
Poamoho Trail
Stepping foot onto one of the shortest routes to the Ko’olau Summit. Not counting the jeep road. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.
Poamoho Trail
Making our way up the graded and muddy trail.
Poamoho Trail
Do you smell swine? No, but we did smell loads of dog poop all over the trail.
Poamoho Trail
Heading into the gulch as the rain picked up its pace.
Poamoho Summit
The summit was a total whiteout with zero visibility. We sat hunkered below the Cline Memorial, sheltered from the biting wind but not the sleeting rain. Debating what to do, what do we see? Another hiker making his way up to the summit, soaked to his wire rim glasses. His name was Eric and he was hiking down towards the Schofield-Waikane Trail.
Ko’olau Summit Trail (KST)
Forecasts of lightning throughout the rest of the day persuaded us to ditch going down the storied Pig God trail and instead we struck out towards the South to catch up with Eric.
KST
The rain continued to keep our bodies and the ground soundly saturated as we decided to bypass the cabin as being temporarily dry was worse than being constantly wet.
Waterfall
Chris taking a shower ahead of schedule. A cold one at that. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.
Pauao Junction
Passing the newly posted green sign marker. A much needed improvement over the brown and weathered sign that many failed to notice.
KST
Chris with a rare sighting of the Ko’olau Branta Bryophyta. Seen only during the frequent rain showers that wash over the mountains, forcing them to come out from their nesting grounds in the uki grass to hunt for handouts from hikers.
Random Trail Meetings
Somebody was not hiking alone anymore. Still no sign of Eric.
Schofield-Waikane Junction
Group photo at the 2,360′ summit.
S-W Trail
Time to head down and hopefully leave the rain and clouds behind us.
S-W Trail
HTMC had just recently cleared the trail last weekend and it showed.
Droning
The weather let up for a spell, so I decided to make use of the drone that I had been carrying all day.
S-W Trail
Aerial view of “Country so wild it’s hard to believe you’re on populous Oahu.” (Stuart Ball)
S-W Trail
Leaving the fence line behind us.
S-W Trail
Boning up on our scant knowledge of the trail.
S-W Trail
Trying to see the snake for the tree?
S-W Trail
Climbing out of the trail.
Trailhead
Getting the most out of my drone until a light drizzle canceled further flights.
East Range
Trading the cleared trail for the textured road that had our dogs barking. Maybe they were whimpering?
East Range
Wondering whatever happened to Eric on our way down. One of the unanswered questions of our day.
All pau
Heading back to the cars after our 16.3 mile hike through rain, clouds and sunshine all thrown together in the mountains. Post hike meal at Popeye’s. Love that chicken. Photo by Chris Bautista.
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.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Soaked indeed, Kenji. I have to keep moving from the cold wind and rain. Came out safely. eric.
Aloha Eric,
Glad you made it out safely, waterlogged like the rest of us!
Mahalo