Helped a friend to finish a ridge and another to celebrate her birthday today. It was also a nice day to be alive and hiking as we all managed to survive the false missile alert that gave everybody a pause yesterday.

Trailhead

Met up with Daryl and Mia at the parking lot as Amber, Anne, Clayton, Jan and Robin had already pushed off on the trail. Chris was running late.

Kamananui Valley Trail

The construction bees have been quite busy in the back of the valley. Unsubstantiated rumors that the concrete roads are meant for soon to come paying tours to crowd out the free loading hikers from these trails filled the air.

Kamananui Valley Trail

The stairs? Where we’re going, there are no stairs.

Marker 12

Passing the traditional short cut to Tripler Ridge. We were not being traditional today.

Kamananui Valley Trail

Met up with the rest of the group at the start of the spur ridge we called Pueo after the sign that marks the trailhead.

Pueo Ridge

We followed the clearly trodden trail through knee high uluhell ferns until …

Pueo Ridge

… the trail took on a steeper pitch packed with strawberry guava trees.

Pueo Ridge

Group photo as we gained the semi-exposed ridge. Photo by Anne Fai.

Pueo Ridge

Looking out towards Moanalua Valley with her cloud puffs.

Pueo Ridge

The point where Clayton turned around on his prior solo hike. Time to push forward.

Pueo Ridge

Making our way under and over the twisted trees. Photo by Clayton Takemoto.

Pueo Ridge

Rotten rocks and questionable trees laid ahead of us.

Pueo Ridge

After a short stretch of raining rocks and voices in the valley, we soon scrambled to more solid footing on the ridge.

Pueo Ridge

Sometimes I think a pair of knee pads belongs in my pack. Photo by Clayton Takemoto.

Pueo Ridge

Anne threading her way through the barrier of strawberry guava trees to step foot on Tripler Ridge. Photo by Clayton Takemoto.

Tripler Ridge

Group photo left to right: Chris, Daryl, Clayton, myself, Amber, Jan, Mia, Anne and Robin.

Tripler Ridge

We bumped into members of the HTMC group on the ridge.

Naupaka Kahakai

Passing the happy half of the flower in the mountains.

Tripler Ridge

We ran into Rich Bailey who was videoing the group on their hike.

Tripler Ridge

Pushing up the last hill on the ridge to the summit.

Tripler Ridge

Waiting for our lunch to be delivered.

Tripler Summit

A visual feast for the eyes.

Max’s of Manila

Thanks to Anne for making oxtail soup, Filipino spaghetti, and kalua pig and cabbage. We had a fully loaded feast on the summit. Talk about a kanak attack. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Cake Couture

Blowing out the candle and making a wish. Photo by Clayton Takemoto.

Tripler Summit

Group photo by Rich Bailey.

Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

Leaving the summit behind along with Amber and Clayton who went down Moanalua Middle Ridge.

Bowman Summit

Mia passing the 2,740′ summit of Pu’u Kahuauli.

KSRT

The group scooting their way down the grassy ridge.

Kalihi Saddle

Hiking by the seats of our pants.

Kalihi Saddle

Robin contouring on the Leeward side of the cracked ridge.

Creeping Corner

Mia making her way around the sliding dirt area. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Dirty Rope Slide

One at a time going down. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Kalihi Saddle

Looking back at the others climbing and cramping their way down.

Coca-Cola

The pause that refreshes. Photo by Robin Farr.

Saddle Orientation

We are going down there. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Kalihi Saddle

Jan making her way down past the broken wave.

Kalihi Saddle

Mia scooting along the narrow ridge. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Kalihi Saddle

Jan climbing down the first rock triangle with rope that was a tad short from the bottom.

Kalihi Saddle

Daryl, despite advice given and not taken, took the butt express slide down. Mia and Anne took the belly express slide down. Chris sticked his landing and then fell flat on his face. Fun in the mountains and we didn’t even have to pay for it. Photos by Robin Farr.

Kalihi Saddle

The weathered tree had finally withered away.

Kalihi Saddle

Going down. Photo by Robin Farr.

Kalihi Saddle

Going down the Windward side of the second rock triangle to avoid the hanging, clustered ropes on the Leeward side.

Kalihi Saddle

The group passing tabletop rock on their way down.

Kalihi Saddle

Everybody taking their turn to scoot over the hump.

Kalihi Saddle

Daryl spotting the rest of the group making their way down.

Majestic Mountains

As we were dropping into the saddle, a familiar red jacketed individual appeared at the top of Witch’s Hat. Photo by Derek Potter.

Kalihi Saddle

Eye in the sky. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Kalihi Saddle

Coming down the mountain.

Witch’s Hat

Climbing up the hat. Photo by Chris Bautista.

Kalihi Saddle

Panoramic view from the top.

Witch’s Hat

Which way do we look? Photos by Anne Fai and Derek Potter.

Kalihi Saddle

Jan on her way to the knob.

Kalihi Saddle

Dropping down the backside of Witch’s Hat. Photo by Chris Bautista.

All pau

It was lights out as Mia had the last cupcake that was meant for the other birthday boy who couldn’t make it to today’s hike. Photo by Chris Bautista.

GPS Tracks

Our birthday hike covered a little over six miles that was filled with ono food and fun company. Mahalo to Clayton and Richie for picking us up on the side of the highway. Post hike meal was satisfied on the spot thanks to Clayton bringing us tasty beverages to wash down the still warm chicken sandwiches.

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.