Nu’uanu Pali Lookout to Kalihi Saddle (Powerlines)

by kenji SAITO on August 30, 2020

It was time to help another friend finish her last section of the KST today. Thanks to Sally for dropping Aida, Cisco, Somphet and myself off in Chinatown to start our hike. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Pali Lookout

Pali Lookout

Scrambling up the steep and rooted climb under the cover of darkness.

Pali Puka Trail

Pali Puka Trail

Somphet making his way on the narrow trail bordered with thick growth on one side and steep cliffs on the other.

Pali Puka Trail

Pali Puka Trail

Aida approaching the towering rock edifice. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Pali Puka

Pali Puka

Outside looking in.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Climbing and contouring our way up through the scattered blowdowns.

KSRT

KSRT

Cisco pulling himself up to the ridge. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Looking back at the sunbeams streaming through the clouds as they scattered across the valley floor.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Making my way down the first hill on the saddle. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Looking back at Olomana framed between the ridge line and the Pali Notches.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

The distinctive summit of Lanihuli in the background, our halfway point. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Somphet leaning in the same direction as the tree. Being one with nature.

Incisor Rock

Incisor Rock

Climbing up the tooth shaped rock. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Incisor Rock

Incisor Rock

Contouring around the narrow edged rock.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Making my way up to the Leeward side of the ridge, where the winds were absent and the trees in abundance. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Aida cresting at the top of the ridge with verdant views of the Windward side in the distance.

W

W

Approaching what I now call “little Olomana.” Photo by Aida Gordon.

W

W

The crew contouring and climbing down the backside, mindful of the drop.

True Pali Notches

True Pali Notches

Climbing up and over the middle “tooth.” Photo by Aida Gordon.

Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong

The rest of the group coming down from the skinniest and tallest of the three “teeth.”

Anvil

Anvil

Dropping down from what some people think was once a puka or hole in the ridge. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Anvil

Anvil

Aida’s turn at descending the steep and concave wall.

Nu'uanu Wall

Nu’uanu Wall

Contouring our way up the thimble berry infested trail that took us back to the ridge.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Climbing up the steep and eroded section that was once easily passable. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Nu'uanu Saddle

Nu’uanu Saddle

Somphet pulling himself up the ridge line. Photo by Aida Gordon.

KSRT

KSRT

You can’t pay me $20k to do this again. Can I quote you on that? Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

KSRT

KSRT

The group traversing over a couple false peaks to get to swirling heavens.

Lanihuli Summit

Lanihuli Summit

We lucked out with clear views from the 2,700′ top. Group photo left to right: Cisco, myself, Somphet and Aida.

KSRT

KSRT

Leaving the summit as we climbed up our last false peak before dropping down into the saddle. Photo by Aida Gordon.

KSRT

KSRT

Dropping in elevation as we slid down the grassy ridge line. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Following the curvature of the ridge line.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Parts of the ridge were smothered in woody climbers which provided a help and hindrance at often the worst possible times.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

The other parts were bald of vegetation and often were cracked, crumbly and eroded.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

A solitary lehua flower clinging to a well weathered ohia tree. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Dirt Dragon

Dirt Dragon

Making our way down to a part of the ridge that was particularly skinny, eroded and crumbly more than any other section. And we were going to sit on it. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Dirt Dragon

Dirt Dragon

Angles.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Traversing on another patch of exposed ridge line. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Scooting was the main mode of movement on the ridge coming down.

Lanihuli Wall

Lanihuli Wall

Dropping off the ridge line as we contoured the suicidal descent down the Can Opener. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Lanihuli Wall

Lanihuli Wall

The group controlling their descent coming down.

Lanihuli Wall

Lanihuli Wall

Looking for those footholds.

Lanihuli Wall

Lanihuli Wall

Waiting for those footholds. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Lanihuli Wall

Lanihuli Wall

Cisco coming down from the multi-tiered climb down the wall. Photo by Somphet Chanhpheng.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Aida contouring her way back to the ridge.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Group photo at the scenic spot that stretched all the way to the summit of Kahua’uli and Heaven.

Can Opener

Can Opener

Slowly making our way down the crumbly and shifting rocks, lest we tumble and fall off.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Climbing down to our next set of obstacles. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

The blowing winds threw dirt in our face and made sure we kept our center of gravity low to the eroded ridge coming down.

Pimple

Pimple

Playing human anchor again. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Pimple

Pimple

Somphet and Cisco scrambling their way to the next obstacle. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Doorstop

Doorstop

Spotter at the top. Hiker in the middle. Spotter at the bottom. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Doorstop

Doorstop

Aida pulling herself up to the top.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Coming down from the doorstop and making our way towards the bunny ears. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Bunny Ears

Bunny Ears

Aida coming down the crumbly bunny ear. Nothing soft and fuzzy here.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Perched on the arch. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Bunny Ears

Bunny Ears

Aida between the last bunny ear and the mushroom rock.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Somphet and Aida hiking over the loose rocks and scattered tree roots on the ridge. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Some enjoyed the spectacular views, while others seemingly concentrated on the trail views. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Kalihi Saddle

Kalihi Saddle

Traversing the skinny ridge to the dorsal shaped rock face. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Shark Fin

Shark Fin

Aida downclimbing the last obstacle on the saddle.

Powerlines

Powerlines

Descending towards the middle of the saddle which also marked the terminus for our hike today. Photo by Cisco Quintanilla.

Powerlines

Powerlines

Payment for services rendered. A shiny nickel. And I wonder why I’m still not financially independent. Photo by Somphet Changhpheng.

All pau

All pau

Traditional dousing of top shelf champagne on the willing victim. No expenses spared. Congratulations to Aida for completing the KST in its entirety. Photo by Somphet Changhpheng.

Post hike meal

Post hike meal

Mahalo to Sally and Ed for picking us up on the side of the highway, reeking of alcohol. We retired to Lilyn’s driveway where Aida got lei’d and snacked on baked goods. No venue was spared for Aida’s celebration.

GPS Tracks

GPS Tracks

Our saddle traversal covered roughly 3.28 miles that marked the end and completion for Aida’s KST journey. Congratulations again!

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 October 13, 2020 at 7:57 pm

Love the write-up! Remember to send me your pics :-). Thanks so much for your guidance and encouragement on my KST journey. Didn’t really think of finishing it until you showed me it was possible.

Reply

kenji SAITO October 13, 2020 at 8:53 pm

Aloha Aida,
Glad you liked it. Congrats to you for your perseverance which paid off! Anything is possible once you put your mind to it, your body will follow!
Mahalo

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