Kalihi Saddle (Powerlines) to Kulana’ahane Trail

by kenji SAITO on October 18, 2020

Somebody’s apiphobia with well stung reasons found us back in the saddle again.

Trailhead

Trailhead

Thanks to Quan for dropping Katie, Lilyn and myself off on the side of the highway.

Powerlines

Powerlines

The kid gloves are off. The $5 safety gloves are on for what some claim is the hardest section of the KST. The jury is still out on that.

Powerlines

Powerlines

Looking ahead to the saddle whose summit was sheathed in clouds. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Starting our day off right. Forget the waterfall hikes. This is where it’s at. LOL.

Witch's Hat

Witch’s Hat

When a hat doesn’t look like a hat. From the backside. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Witch's Hat

Witch’s Hat

Climbing up our first obstacle of the day. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Witch's Hat

Witch’s Hat

Katie making her way to the top.

Witch's Hat

Witch’s Hat

What goes up, must come down. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Witch's Hat

Witch’s Hat

When a hat looks like a hat. From the frontside.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Panoramic view from the iconic spot. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Looking ahead to our climb up the saddle.

Tabletop

Tabletop

Climb or contour. Go big or go home. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Walking on a tightrope of a ridge.

Rock Triangle

Rock Triangle

Katie going up the Windward side of the rock face. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Rock Triangle

Rock Triangle

No time to check out the jaw dropping views behind us.

Hot Wheel Tracks

Hot Wheel Tracks

Now we have time.

Rock Triangle

Rock Triangle

Katie spotting me with her GoPro. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Rock Triangle

Rock Triangle

No elevator services required. It warmed the cockles of my heart.

Broken Wave

Broken Wave

Katie scrambling up the hill whose small rocks and dirt constantly move underfoot. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Broken Wave

Broken Wave

Putting one foot in front of the other and you will get to the top.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Contouring in the grassy fields.

Dirty Slide

Dirty Slide

Going up the slippery and sliding hill that requires upper body strength in abundance. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Dirty Slide

Dirty Slide

Lilyn coming up the saddle that she described as her favorite hike. Still feel the same?

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Making our way around the Leeward side of the heavily eroded ridge line.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Climbing our way out of the dusty saddle.

Ko'olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Traversing the several false peaks before the summit of Kahuauli. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Bowman Summit

Bowman Summit

Congrats to Katie for completing the three saddles of the KST. We were going down the backside of another as a bonus. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

KSRT

KSRT

Going down the rutted trail also used by HECO workers as marked by their heavy duty ropes.

KSRT

KSRT

We are not climbing. We are not trespassing. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

KSRT

KSRT

Going up towards the peak that towers above the Windward neighborhoods and valleys.

Puu Keahi a Kahoe

Puu Keahi a Kahoe

Making our way up to the eerily deserted CCL building. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Stairway to Heaven

Stairway to Heaven

We were not walking down the flight of 3,922 steps. We were taking the easier way down.

Stairway to Heaven

Stairway to Heaven

Going down the backside.

KSRT

KSRT

Checking out the views from one of several platforms that once housed antenna wires that were strung across the valley. Engineering marvels of its day. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

KSRT

KSRT

Lilyn coming down the overgrown stairs.

Jump

Jump

Photo bomber. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

The candid face hiking.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Perched at the scenic overlook. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Why climb down when you can jump down.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Going down the most eroded section of the saddle. Which is not saying much; as the whole saddle is slowly falling apart, rock by rock, dirt by dirt. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Katie spotting Lilyn with her GoPro.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Scooting our way down the crumbly ridge line. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Lilyn mindful of her footing coming down the rock pile after Katie dislodged a rock. Rock by rock. Piece by piece.

Dirt Triangle

Dirt Triangle

Contouring our way down the ridge line. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Dirt Triangle

Dirt Triangle

Trying to take a photo and not get hit by falling rocks. Multi-tasking at its finest.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Looking back at the biggest and most well known obstacle on this saddle.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Contouring down the Windward side. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Katie making her way along the narrow strip of dirt that passed for a trail.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

What are we looking at here? Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Human anchor pressed back into service. Photo by Katie Bingham.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

The candid face at rest.

Moanalua Saddle

Moanalua Saddle

Leaving the saddle behind us.

Kulana'ahane Summit

Kulana’ahane Summit

All smiles. Done with the saddles. Time to head down. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Kulana'ahane Trail

Kulana’ahane Trail

Going down into the valley that are home to five distinct forest types and nine miles of streams. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Kulana'ahane Trail

Kulana’ahane Trail

Nobody kept track of the stream crossings. It was hard enough to keep track of the seven bridge crossings.

Kulana'ahane Trail

Kulana’ahane Trail

Heading into one of many hau tree groves that dotted the trail. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Moanalua Valley

Moanalua Valley

End of the trail. We still had that seemingly never ending road to walk out. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

All pau

All pau

End of the road. We piled into my truck and headed to our KST party.

Post hike meal

Post hike meal

We met up with Aida, Allison, Analyn, Anne, Ed, Janell, Laredo, Quan, Sally and Tessa at the not so secret spot to have our celebration to thank everybody for their support during our KST one shot hike. Thanks to everybody for cooking, coming out and putting up the makeshift tent.

Post hike meal

Post hike meal

Despite the fact that it literally rained on our parade, it was good times with fun company and scarfing down the chicken and papaya, oxtail soup, pancit and cheesecake.

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

Our saddle hike covered 7.8 miles that had us passing through heaven and ended with good friends and ono eats. Not a bad way to spend the day.

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.

Leave a Comment

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Aida Gordon November 18, 2020 at 3:33 pm

You 3 had a “fun” time on the saddles that day! Congrats to Katie for finishing the saddles. Also, great 1-shot party!

Reply

kenji SAITO November 23, 2020 at 12:24 pm

Aloha Aida,
Thanks. Yes fun day all around.
Mahalo

Reply

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