I met up with Matt and Thessa deep in the heart of mini-marsupial country.
Trailhead
Matt and Thessa going down the electric road. Thanks to David Kwong for dropping off us in style. German style.
Kalihi Valley
Route 63 slicing through the edge.
Sunrise
We caught a nice sunrise sandwiched between the clouds and mountains.
Deja Vu
Back in the saddle. Again. It was cold and windy. Time to put my beanie and sweater on. Safety first.
Kalihi Saddle
We left the power lines to contour around the knob.
Kalihi Saddle
Matt and Thessa making their way up the hump.
Kalihi Saddle
Thessa and myself on the hump. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.
Kalihi Saddle
Making my way up the saddle. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.
Kalihi Saddle
Thessa coming down Witch’s Hat.
Kalihi Saddle
It was a nice and breezy day to be on the saddle. The wind could have been dialed down just a tad.
Kalihi Saddle
Matt and Thessa coming down Sailor’s Hat. I just made that up.
Kalihi Saddle
Hey, is this rope clear? Photo by Matt Vidaurri.
Kalihi Saddle
Matt making his way up.
Kalihi Saddle
The photographer being photographed. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.
Kalihi Saddle
Where? There! We saw two hikers coming up behind us on the saddle.
Kalihi Saddle
Matt brushed past me to answer the call of nature. The fermented smell of kim chee and bolgogi hit the air like a taekwondo kick. Sucked to be downwind.
Kalihi Saddle
The last known sighting of the saddle “wave.”
Kalihi Saddle
Matt shooting the curl.
Kalihi Saddle
Thessa closing out the wave.
Kalihi Saddle
One step forward. Two steps back. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.
Kalihi Saddle
Spikes and upper body strength recommended on this crumbly section.
Kalihi Saddle
In the brown room, before somebody *ahem* closes it out. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.
Kalihi Saddle
Thessa coming around the last crumbly section.
Panoramic view
Windward view.
KSRT
Traversing to Pu’u Kahuauli (Bowman) summit with Tripler Ridge and Haiku Stairs in the background.
KSRT
Looking back at one of the false peaks that eclipsed our view of the saddle.
Bowman summit
Group photo at the top looking down towards Bowman Windward, left to right: myself, Matt and Thessa.
Bowman summit
The two hikers that were trailing us, happened to be part of a larger group. They were the “goats” of the group. Group photo by Matt Vidaurri, left to right: myself, Steve, Paul and Thessa.
Bowman trail
We had a short lunch at the summit sunning ourselves. When it was time to leave the summit, Paul and Steve decided to join us going down the Commando trial.
Bowman trail
Thessa in the bog.
Bowman trail
Switch backing down the mountain.
Bowman trail
A clear day on the Waianae Mountain Range.
Bowman trail
Matt and Thessa coming down the “face” of Bowman.
Commando trail
Paul and Steve heading down the Commando trail, a spur ridge pioneered by HTMC. Thanks to Lonnie Hammack for the information and tracks on this trail.
Commando trail
The trail was a nice shortcut from the Bowman trail. Probably shaved at least five miles.
Commando trail
Looking back at Kalihi Saddle as we made our way down to the valley floor.
Commando trail
Civilization sighted. Matt and Thessa were still off in the woods, trying to find those elusive wallabies.
All pau
We parted ways with Paul and Steve who had their own arranged pick up. Mahalo to David for picking us up again.
GPS Tracks
Our saddle hike covered a scant three miles. Post hike meal at Au’s Garden. It was the least we could do to eat at David’s restaurant since he dropped and picked us up. Craving Chinese food? Chow down at Au’s Garden in Kalihi. Then crave again 30 minutes later.
Note: I have been made aware the 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 }
Glad I didn’t have to smell the “aroma” of days old bulgogi from Matt.. Lol
Yup, you were extremely lucky! I almost hurled that day! Thanks Matt!