We decided to visit Hell and Heaven today; I met up with Alexis, Analyn, Chris and Ferlino at Moanalua Valley.

Trailhead

Too early for the chickens. Only the dogs were barking as we started our early morning hike. Thanks to Jasmin for dropping us off.

Aiea Loop Trail

Bench with city light views.

Aiea Ridge Trail

New sign. Summit Trail. No Exit. Advanced. All good to know.

Aiea Ridge Trail

Ferlino crossing the landslide area under spotlight.

Tripler Ridge

Climbing up the steady and steep ridge. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Pu’u Kawipo’o

Taking a break at the large, grassy hill top. The dolphin had “swum” over to another branch.

Aiea Ridge Trail

Approaching the power lines which sits at the base of the summit, where the clouds blocked the views but not the cacophony of civilization that floated to the mountains.

Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail ( KSRT)

Making our way along the muddy ridge, Chris slipped and a branch poked him below his eye. Mountain first aid rendered – Bactine sprayed on and medical tape slapped on. Good to go.

KSRT

Looking back at the rest of the group making their way on the cloud shrouded ridge.

KSRT

The sun was fighting through the clouds.

KSRT

The rest of the group getting off the ridge and contouring around the protected plant enclosure.

KSRT

Peeking around the corner.

KSRT

Group photo on our descent down to Hell where we ran into a friend who was ascending, left to right: Chris, Alexis, Analyn, Noah, myself, Ferlino and Shirley. Can I shake your hand?

KSRT

Chris’s face says it all. We got a view!

Stairway to Hell

The dress was on. The flag was out. Time to take our group photo.

Bunker

Chris checking to see if the tent collection had grown since our last visit. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

KSRT

Leaving the chilly haunt of Hell. Which begs the question. Why is Hell not so hot?

KSRT

Making our way to the summit of Red Hill, where we soon …

Moanalua Saddle

… dropped into the crumbly saddle. Rope? I don’t need no stinking rope.

Moanalua Saddle

Comin’ down the mountain. But first take my picture.

Moanalua Saddle

Humping over the saddle.

Kulana’ahane Summit

The running man. Going the wrong way. Medical tape is not only good for facial cuts but torn pants as well. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Moanalua Saddle

Going up through the tangled and twisted roots that carpeted the ridge.

Moanalua Saddle

The group contouring their way up the Windward side of the ridge.

Moanalua Saddle

Making our way to the main obstacle on the ridge. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Dirt Triangle

Alexis climbing up from the Leeward side. Photo by Analyn Baliscao.

Moanalua Saddle

Crawling our way up the eroded ridge.

Moanalua Saddle

Don’t touch that crumbly rock?

Moanalua Saddle

Looking back at the H-3 Highway snaking its way through Halawa Valley.

Moanalua Saddle

The group climbing out of the saddle.

Moanalua Saddle

Going up the back stairs.

Stairway to Heaven

Not going down the front stairs.

CCL Building

Throwing shakas out at the 2,720′ summit. Somebody needs to get with the program.

KSRT

Leaving Heaven behind us with views of Kalihi and Nu’uanu Saddles to our front.

KSRT

Dropping down from the MMR junction, we saw a helicopter perched on Tripler Summit ahead of us and decided to see if we could reach it before it took off.

KSRT

No climbing today. Read the sign.

KSRT

We briefly interrupted the workers on the power lines as we quickly passed underneath them. Safety first. Mahalo.

Tripler Summit

A minute late and a helicopter short. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Tripler Summit

The helicopter pilot skillfully flew the workers up and down the spur ridges, dropping and picking them up.

Tripler Summit

No, we are not being rescued.

Tripler Ridge

Leaving the summit and the helicopter ride (wishful thinking) behind us.

Powerlines Ridge

We abbreviated the long Tripler ridge by taking the spur ridge down to the power lines, passing an abundance of smashed guavas on our way down.

Moanalua Valley

Making our way out from the back of the valley.

Moanalua Valley

I think we had our fill of California grass on this hike and then some.

Kamananui Valley Trail

Does somebody need medical tape on their butt again? Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

All pau

End of the long road. End of a long day. Somebody needs to get with the program. Photo by Ferlino Carinio.

GPS Tracks

Our two for the price of one hike covered a little over 13 miles. Fun day with a great group. Post hike meal at Lilihia Bakery. Oxtail soup tastes better when a dead fly falls out of your eye.

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.

A heavy soaking the day before forced us off the ridges into a valley deep in Waianae. Met up with Chris, Ethan, Huckett, Khym, Ryan, Shirley, Tina and Yoly at the crowded trailhead. Let’s make sure everybody goes with the right group now. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Waianae Valley

Chris and Khym coming up the road that has few fans.

Waianae Valley

We dropped down from the trail and followed Ka’ala Stream like so much spawning tilapia.

Waianae Valley

Hiking through the lush and verdant valley.

Waterfalls #1

Yoly and Shirley at the first multi-waterfall. Photo by Chris.

Waianae Valley

Tina with her trademark smile, at one of many stream crossings.

Waianae Valley

Climbing and contouring our way up. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Waianae Valley

Sometimes it’s just easier to walk in the water.

Waianae Valley

The water fanning out before it hits rock bottom. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Waianae Valley

To eat or not to eat.

Waianae Valley

Ryan making his way around one of the fallen trees. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Waianae Valley

Color coded bottle caps marked the trail. Pink was the color of this trail.

Waterfalls #2

That fallen tree looks solid and sturdy. Only one way to find out. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Waterfalls #2

Time to get wet. Just add soap and shampoo. Photo by Tina Corpuz.

Waterfalls #2

Need spikes? You have to fish them out from the the stream first.

Waianae Valley

The rest of the group waiting at the top of the waterfalls.

Waianae Valley

Going against the flow.

Waterfalls #3

Pass me that webbing since you’re not going to wait for me.

Waterfalls #4

These spikes sure do come in handy.

Waianae Valley

Want your spikes back?

Waterfalls #5

Tina about to climb up.

Waterfalls #5

Ethan making his way up.

Waianae Valley

Ryan ducking under the fallen tree branches.

Waianae Valley

Does this count as a waterfall? Maybe not.

Waterfalls #6

Ryan catching up with his friend.

Waterfalls #7

Shirley sharing her shaka with the rest of us at the bottom.

Waterfalls #7

Chris scrambling up. The pool at the base of the waterfall was quite deep. Just ask Ethan.

Waianae Valley

Almost there.

Ka’ala Falls

Huckett approaching the roughly 200′ waterfall.

Ka’ala Falls

Group photo left to right: Ethan, Ryan, Yoly, myself, Chris, Tina, Shirley, Huckett and Khym.

Ka’ala Falls

Yoly standing on a ledge in the waterfall. Hiker see, hiker do. Tina, Huckett and Chris soon followed. Don’t mind the raining rocks. Best to bring a helmet.

Ka’ala Falls

The correct way to pose on a rock underneath a waterfall. Photo by David Huckett.

Ka’ala Falls

The wrong way. Photo by Shirley.

Waianae Valley

We took the fast way down the ridge instead of returning the way of the waterfalls. Looks like this is part of the Ramble Trail.

Waianae Valley

Shirley back at the sign, looking for her friend.

Waianae Valley

Some used the murky water to wash off their spikes and others drank it.

All pau

Our group count dwindled by three as shoes were wet and chores had to be done, so the rest of us drove to the other side of the island.

Mokuleia

It was hot as heck as we made our way over the concrete pilings. Which begs the question. Why is Yoly wearing her jacket?

Mokuleia

Transitioning from concrete piles to boulders. All we were missing was the water.

Mokuleia

Rustling through shoulder high grass. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Mokuleia

Hello from the top.

Mokuleia

I think we go that way. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Mokuleia

The rocks up here were surprisingly wet from the water seeping from the top. Why is Yoly still wearing her jacket in the blazing sun?

Mokuleia

Shirley and the sun.

Mokuleia

We’ll be back to get all up in that crack.

Mokuleia

Khym making his way along the edge of the cliff.

Mokuleia

Half a cave is better than no cave.

Mokuleia

Shirley passed her chili cheese fritos around as we had a cave side seat to a whale that was breaching offshore.

Mokuleia

Look down in the water! It’s a … boat. Photo by Chris.

Mokuleia

Chris and Shirley making their way between the contrasting sheared smooth and cracked crumbly rocks. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Mokuleia

Hey there’s a rope around the corner. Photo by Khym Ansagay.

Mokuleia

Climbing and crawling up and through the crack.

Mokuleia

Shirley perched on the rocks, looking out all the way to Pupukea. Photo by Chris.

Mokuleia

Time to make our way back down.

Mokuleia

Yoly and the sun.

Mokuleia

Chris and Khym making their way down.

Mokuleia

Enjoying the shade while it lasted on our way back down.

Mokuleia

Some of us sought shelter from the sweltering sun and the stalking paparazzi. Others looked for their phone. Photo by Yoly Bedford.

Mokuleia

Yoly sought shade under a parked car.

Mokuleia

You guys go that way and we’ll go our way. The bushwhacking way.

Mokuleia

Wrong gulch. It wasn’t a total bust. We got to see a coconut tree. No coconuts. Well, maybe it was a bust. Photo by Ethan Clavecillas.

Mokuleia

Passing by one of several camouflaged bunkers that dot the foot of the cliffs.

Mokuleia

Maybe the gulch is that way?

Mokuleia

Group photo at the bunker.

Mokuleia

The way back to the road was a whole lot easier than going in.

Mokuleia

Half of the group went scouting. Thanks for the invite.

Mokuleia

Making our way back on the muddy road.

All pau

Fun day exploring both sides of the island with great and special friends. We made our way to the bustling and commercialized town of Haleiwa where we spotted Bu La’ia out of retirement and a jumper on the bridge. Both did not look successful. Post hike meal at Haleiwa Joe’s. Chris finally got his prime rib.

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.