Met up with Ben, Chris, Dale and Shirley at the Pali Lookout, to help somebody put a notch in their hiking belt.

Trailhead

Right off the bat, it was a steep little climb.

True Pali Lookout

The winds were blowing pretty hard above the lookout.

IG Photo Shoot

Which way is the wind blowing? Thanks Shirley. Photo by Dale Yoshizu.

Pali Notches

Dale and Shirley watching Chris climbing down the second notch.

Nu’uanu Saddle

Single file shuffling to the chimney. Like lemmings, but going up a cliff. Photo by Dale Yoshizu.

Leaning Chimney of Nu’uanu

Webbing retrieval in progress. Photo by Dale Yoshizu.

Chimney

Dale making it look easy.

Chimney

Group photo left to right: Chris, Dale, Shirley, myself and Ben. Rolling backpacks gather no moss.

Nu’uanu Saddle

Shirley had an extra bounce in her step with no pack on her back and a twinkle in her eye. Wait, that was her contacts.

Contour

Clustering around the contour rock.

Nu’uanu Saddle

Time for another photo shoot. Might as well sit down for a spell.

Nu’uanu Saddle

Back to our regular program of hiking on the ridge line.

Trail snacks

Thimbleberry bushes framing triple peaked Olomana.

Junction

Coke tastes better with company and in the mountains. Photo by Dale Yoshizu.

Nu’uanu Saddle

Carbonated and sugared up, we were ready to continue the hike. Photo by Shirley.

Mud Wall

Dale and Shirley making their way up the slippery slope.

Nu’uanu Saddle

Approaching the mud soaked summit trail.

Konahuanui

Champagne was flowing on the highest summit on the Ko’olau Mountain Range. Congratulations to Shirley for completing the entire KST. We met a couple other hikers who arrived at the summit later and kept a wary eye on our alcoholic festivities.

Lulumahu Ridge

Celebration time was over. We still had to get off the mountain. The burning question asked by Dale, of who was older went unanswered as we left the summit.

Lulumahu Ridge

The ridge soon slackened off after the somewhat steep descent from K1.

Lulumahu Ridge

Looking to the “other” side. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Lulumahu Ridge

Time for another group photo and multiple photo shoots.

Lulumahu Ridge

The skinniest section of the ridge.

Lulumahu Ridge

Everybody showing their best side to the camera.

PSA

Arrive Alive. Don’t Text & Hike.

Lulumahu Ridge

We can hear the waterfalls! Just hear but don’t see.

Lulumahu Valley

Mingling with the two-way traffic on the trail as we exited the valley.

Lulumahu Valley

A still from the Patterson-Gimlin short video of an unidentified female hiker.

Snoopy

My wife’s favorite beagle.

Long live the IG Queen

Looking for somebody’s contacts on the ground as we drew curious stares from passing hikers. Photo by Dale Yoshizu.

Lulumahu Valley

Striding down the hill to the hunter’s check-in station.

All pau

Great hike with an amazing crew and awesome accomplishment for Shirley. Thanks to Daryl and George for shuttling us back to our cars. Somebody was in the mood for burgers. Post hike meal at Teddy’s Bigger Burgers.

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.