Somebody was not ready to finish the KST today, but Roger was ready to take the open slot. You snooze, you lose.

Pali Lookout

Some drove, some carpooled and others got dropped off to start our hike this morning.

Pali Lookout

Quick, let’s take a group photo before the wind knocks the tripod over.

Pali Notches

Tackling the first of two man-made notches that were reputedly cut out of the mountains by Ka’iana of Kauai.

Pali Notches

The notches housed British canons that Kalanikupule, ruler of Oahu, had planned to use against the invading army of Kamehameha in 1795.

Pali Notches

Those original plans were thwarted when Kamehameha sent his scouts down from Konahuanui to take out the cannons.

Pali Notches

The last known sighting of Santa’s beard.

Nu’uanu Saddle

Checking out the Windward views and the planet’s rotation toward our heat furnace.

Sunrise

We didn’t have the erupting Kilauea vent to watch, but we had the spectacle of a fiery sunrise.

Nipple

Taking the direct route instead of the contour trail.

Nipple

Stacked and staggered.

Nipple

Akira climbing up the single rope that has replaced the previous web of ropes and webbing. Bravo to whoever did the replacement.

Chimney

Dragging my sushi belly up the slabs of rocks was especially taxing on this climb. Too much ono Japanese food from my recent vacation. Chico saw us off and turned around due to his wobbly equilibrium. We need Santa to show up on Christmas Day.

Chimney

CB testing his balance and his luck with the winds.

Nu’uanu Saddle

Scrambling up and around rocks of assorted sizes and stages of erosion.

Contour

Aileen making her way up the spot where Agnes Bryant fell roughly 300′ and lived to tell the tale on September 18, 2012 in the company of Laredo Muredo and Marvin Chandra. Something best to repeat after the section and not during the climb.

Nu’uanu Saddle

Pushing ahead on the steady climb up the ridge line.

Nu’uanu Saddle

The group contouring around the boulder, in the not so distant past, the boulder would have been directly climbed.

Mud Wall

Going up the steep wall that time and traffic have changed the climbing profile to make it more user friendly.

Konahuanui

Approaching the highest peak on the Ko’olau Mountain Range where a trail runner soon turned around after finding out the trail conditions were less than hospitable.

Konahuanui

Group photo at the 3,150′ summit. Typical conditions. No views.

Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Traversing between the cloud soaked Schweddy Balls.

K2

Nothing to see. Passing through.

KSRT

We dropped in elevation and left the two large testicles and the cloud canopy behind us.

KSRT

Hiking down the ridge line as the distinctive fluted flanks of the mountain popped into view.

Manoa Middle Summit

Group photo at the grassy clearing whose side trail leads down into Manoa Valley.

KSRT

Resuming our hike as we had places to go and people to meet.

KSRT

Climbing on the rocks, kicking tires and looking for that sedan model.

KSRT

Going up one of multiple hills to reach the summit of ‘Awa’awaloa or Mount Olympus.

Mount Olympus

Group photo at the stand-in summit that sits at an elevation of 2,486′.

Mount Olympus

The water droplets hanging in the clouds soon became heavy enough to fall on the mountains which forced our early departure from the sixth highest summit on the Ko’olau Mountain Range.

Ka’au Crater

We soon were looking over one of three tuff cones on the island, this particular one was tucked right against the mountain range and the crater was filled with a marsh that feeds the three waterfalls below it.

Ka’au Crater

Taking a breather after we climbed up the rutted trail and to the top of the ridge line.

KSRT

No rest for the weary. Another BFH was coming up. I’m pretty sure you can figure out what the acronym stands for.

KSRT

We definitely got our cardio workout for today. No question.

Pu’u Kainawa’aunui

Taking a well deserved break at the grassy summit.

Wiliwilinui Trail

Meanwhile, down in the gated community, the reception committee assembled while waiting for a certain individual that was working on her volcano reel. Luckily, there was an Uber hiker at work today.

True Lanipo

Giving up the pipe dream.

KSRT

Looking ahead to the last summit for today.

KSRT

Are we there yet?

Wiliwilinui Summit

Our arrival at the finish line where we waited for the rest of the group to make their way up to the top.

Wiliwilinui Summit

We spotted several mongoose at the top, descended from the original 72 invasive animals that were introduced to the islands in 1883 from Jamaica. They were introduced to control the rat problem that was plaguing the sugar industry. One small problem. Rats are active at night and mongoose are active during the day, and never the twain shall meet.

Wiliwilinui Summit

#25 – My traditional champagne dousing on the finisher. Congratulations to Roger on completing the last segment needed to finish the entire 52 miles of the Ko’olau Summit Trail that extends from Pupukea to Makapu’u.

Wiliwilinui Summit

Now they both have another thing in common, KST finishers.

Wiliwilinui Summit

Group photo at the 2,480′ summit along with the latest bag charm fad, Labubu.

Wiliwilinui Trail

Leaving the summit as we made our way down the 2.3 mile trail.

Wiliwilinui Trail

Something miraculous happened on the descent, as somebody seemed to have lost their fear of heights. Will wonders never cease. What’s next? The saddles?

All pau

We arrived at the parking lot, some changed, wiped and freshened up and then piled into the cars to take our leave.

GPS Tracks

Our memorable KST finish hike covered 7.58 miles with an awesome group and thanks to everybody that came out to help celebrate Roger’s finish. Post hike meal at Gyotaku, where the early bird specials only apply on weekdays. Congratulations again Roger on your KST finish!

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Aileen Agustin, Allison Banks, Akira Suzuki, Chico Cantu, Chris Bautista, Jeremy Cannone, Kenny Lui, Mari Saito, Marilyn Bermudez, Roger Schiffman, Susan Katz, Tessa Bugay, and yours truly. Not necessarily in order.

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. One should also always let somebody know of your hiking plans in case something doesn’t go as planned, better safe than sorry.