Pali Puka to Stairway to Heaven

I had wanted to do this particular route for awhile, but always had to abort due to weather, lack of time or lack of will. I was determined to finish it this time around. Thanks to Jasmin for dropping Art, Ferlino, Lilyn and myself off. Photo by Barry Lau.

We ran into two other hikers who had come up earlier to enjoy the sunrise. Photo by Art Young.

Lilyn climbing over one of the numerous blow downs that littered the side of the ridge as we made our way up.

Our short cardio climb was soon rewarded with relatively clear views of the saddle and the coastline. Photo by Art Young.

The breaking sun washing over the ridge line.

Art trying to keep his balance. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

You guys can either climb or contour. Choose wisely. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Art making his choice. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

There were many gnarled and twisted trees blockading the trail. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Lilyn against the scenic Windward background.

I think the alphabet letters are out of sequence. Photo by Art Young.

The group threading their way through the triple diked formation.

Lilyn watching Ferlino climb down the 23rd letter of the alphabet.

Trying to get the Captain Morgan pose down. Not quite there yet. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Art dropping down the near vertical rock face. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Lilyn contouring her way back to the ridge line.

Climbing up the heavily eroded section that has seen better days. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

No views at the swirling heavens summit, so we all sat down for our group photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Coming down from the 2,700′ top.

Following the ridge line as it curved away from the ocean. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

What happens when one leg stops and the other keeps on going. Pop. Not a good sound you want to hear while hiking.

The new social hiking.

Using my kung fu death grip as I climbed down a crumbly section. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

The group getting off the ridge line as forward progress was halted by severe erosion.

Going down the near vertical flank. One has to see it from a distance to appreciate the vastness and steepness. Photo by Art Young

Lilyn coming down from the longer and first tier of the wall.

Ferlino against the dramatic backdrop of the saddle and coastline. Photo by Art Young.

Going down the second and shorter tier of the wall. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Lilyn contouring back to the ridge.

Group photo left to right: Hawaiian Flag, Ferlino, Art, Lilyn and myself.

Taking our leave of the bulging rock behind us as we climbed down the crumbly base.

Lilyn climbing up without popping the pimple. Photo by Art Young.

Contouring around the crumbly rock formation.

Lilyn approaching the biggest climb on this side of the saddle. Photo by Art Young

The group coming down the backside of the wedge shaped rockface.

Art still trying to maintain his balance. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

Ferlino watching his footing as he climbs down. Photo by Art Young

Lilyn going up the sharp and angular hill. Photo by Art Young.

Art and Ferlino coming down the dorsal shaped rockface. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Stuck between a rock and a hard tree. Photo by Art Young.

The group making their way down the last steep rock climb this side of the saddle.

We unfortunately lost Lilyn who decided not to press her luck and bailed down the powerlines trail. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Group photo with the reconstituted crew left to right: myself, Analyn, Barry, Tessa, Art and Ferlino.

Art practicing leave no trace behind.

It was time to resume our hiking, in staggered spurts it would seem.

Making our way towards the backside of the conical shaped rockface. Photo by Barry Lau.

The group climbing up at staggered intervals to minimize falling rock exposure.

Ready to come down, with or without a broomstick.

Is it hump day yet? It is on the saddles. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Art and Ferlino making their way across a particularly eroded section. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Analyn climbing in the mountains despite just getting off from working night shift. Beast or crazy mode.

Art climbing up from the Windward side. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Making our way on the Hot Wheels Track as we approached another climb. Photo by Art Young.

Barry climbing up from the Leeward side.

The broken wave is no more.

Tessa scrambling up the grassy flank of the ridge. Photo by Art Young.

Barry pulling himself up the slippery slope. Some would claim this was the hardest part of the saddle.

Contouring our way around the crumbly rocks. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Climbing up the sliver of a ridge that widened as we approached the summit.

Are you tired? Funny guy.

Practicing our social distancing. Still need to work on it.

Hiking over a couple more hills to the next summit.

The painted rock was still sitting pretty on the markers.

Leaving the 2,760′ summit using the HECO installed safety ropes as we made our way down the rutted trail.

Approaching the now defunct radar station. Photo by Barry Lau.

Are you tired? Still trying to be funny.

Barry approaching the cloud soaked graffitied WW2 structure.

Panoramic view inside the building.

Who was talking sh*t? Not us! Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Group photo on the stairs. The original plan to descend down the ridge was scuttled by somebody’s injury so we had to take the shortest route down.

Making our way down the 3,922 steps, give or take a few. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Leaving heaven. Photo by Art Young.

Approaching the roof-less hoist house. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Is anybody counting? Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Climbing the stairs down to the last landing. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Analyn coming down the final steep section of the stairs. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

Walking our way out. Photo by Tessa Bugay.

The 6.1 mile path to heaven was paved with crumbly ridges, cloudy and heavenly views and great company. Mahalo to Jasmin for picking us up and thanks to Analyn for making the delicious oxtail soup that we had for our post hike meal. Oxtail soup to go please.

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, bowman summit, bunny ears, can opener, dirt dragon, dirty slide, donkey kong, doorstop, incisor rock, kalihi saddle, koolau summit ridge trail, ksrt, lanihuli summit, lanihuli wall, nuuanu saddle, pali lookout, pali puka, pimple, powerlines trail, puu keahi a kahoe, rock triangle, sharks fin, stairway to heaven, tabletop, triple summit, w, witch's hat