Pali Lookout to Kalihi Saddle ( Powerlines )

Some folks wanted a taste of the saddles, I just wanted to get to Bowman. Somewhere in between was a happy compromise.

Met up with Charlie, Chris, Clayton, Ferlino and Kimi at the Pali Lookout. The sign marks the spot.

Chris enjoying the fiery sunrise with his morning wood. Photo by Kimiyo Bowlby.

Brief stop at the hole in the rock.

Contouring our way up to the ridge line. Photo by Charlie Antonio.

Always interesting to see how the wind has shaped the flora on the ridges and mountains.

Charlie playing King of the Hill. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Kimi swinging her way around the toothy rock.

Climbing up the next chossy hill. Photo by Clayton Takemoto.

Making our way up as the clouds slowly started to envelop us in a mass of minute milkiness.

Headed higher into the clouds. Who needs the views? Photo by Charlie Antonio.

Leaving the views behind us.

Scrambling our way towards Donkey Kong. Photo by Clayton Takemoto.

Dropping off the hill to contour our way to the triple diked formation. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Somebody yelled “I’m not crazy. I’m cute.” It wasn’t the girl.

Threading our way through the odd assortment of webbing, wire and ropes.

Charlie playing King of the Hill again. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Dropping down from the “lost” puka of the pali. Electrical cable is so yesterday. Photo by Kimiyo Bowlby.

Ferlino preparing to climb down and contour around the ridge.

Climbing our way back to the ridge.

Passing a few lehua flowers with thinning, dew dropped salmon stamens on our way to the summit for a lunch break. Hikers have to eat.

Leaving the socked in summit for crumbly ridges.

Cramping and spiking our way down the steep ridge.

Chris keeping a tight leash on the dragon.

Sitting room only. Odd man standing.

Dropping down from the cloud soaked mountain.

Going down the flank of the uki populated ridge. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Everybody waiting their turn to come down the multi-tiered wall.

The flank of the ridge may appear steeper than it actually is. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Kimi coming down the last tier.

Charlie and Ferlino dropping off the wall. Photo by Kimiyo Bowlby.

Group photo left to right: Chris, Ferlino, Kimi, Clayton, Charlie and myself.

Leaving the crumbly base behind us.

The pimple had popped off the old rope that used to dangle on the side.

Chris and Ferlino climbing their way up to contour at the top. Photo by Charlie Antonio.

Going up the high water roped rock. Photo by Chris Bautista.

There were a lot of backseat hikers directing Kimi on her climb up.

Traversing in between the not so fluffy lop shaped rocks.

Leaping Bunny, otherwise known as Ferlino. Photo by Charlie Antonio.

Finning the shark.

Anybody hungry for Chinese food?

Panoramic view of the Windward coastline.

The group coming down the last hill on the ridge.

Some of us still had energy to burn after reaching the bottom of the saddle, by pole hugging and upside down sit ups. Me, I was just hungry.

Kimi showing us that gymnasts can also be pole huggers as well.

Dropping off the trail and finding a recently cleared swath around the substation leading us straight to the road. Big thanks to Anne and Jasmin for picking us up on the side of the highway and Anne bringing us cold drinks and French fries. Nothing like fast food to pick you up.

Our Saddlebowl Sunday hike covered a scant 2.73 miles as the mynah bird flies. Fun hike with an amazing group. Post hike meal at Mexico Restaurant, where they still have stuffed heads on the walls and dish out free salsa and chips with your meal.

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.

Tagged as: anvil rock, bunny ears, donkey kong, doorstop, incisor rock, kalihi saddle, lanihuli, lanihuli wall, nuuanu saddle, pali lookout, pali puka, pimple, sharks fin, w