Kuli'ou'ou Ridge Trail

[Update 6/26/08 - Guess we didn't do too badly on this trail. We did better than this guy: "Firefighters rescue stranded hiker in Kuliouou - Honolulu Fire Department rescue specialists reached a stranded male hiker from Colorado on the Kuliouou Trail at 10:45 tonight and are escorting him out.
The hiker, who was stranded on a ledge, is not injured, said HFD spokesman Capt. Earle Kealoha. It took the rescue specialists four hours to reach the man on foot and they are expected to bring him out early tomorrow. ..."

Article says they tried to get him with two helicopters, but the wind was too much, so they went in on foot. Poor guy. I wonder where he got stuck.]

Last Saturday, we set off to hike up the Kuliouou Ridge Trail. I'd been wanting to do this for ages, and we chose a beautiful day for it. I'd read that the tippy top has gorgeous sweeping views of the Windward side of the island, and I was determined to give it a go.


That said, Kuliouou Ridge is a challenging hike for me, for many reasons those who know me well can understand. It's an 1800 ft ascent up a craggy mountain over long narrow switchbacks strewn with large boulders and roots, topped by several almost vertical stretches at the top, and lastly, a flight of steep steps at the summit.


With my kind, patient and strong boy by my side, I made it up the switchbacks, over the rocks, up through soft carpets of pine needles, higher and higher until the wind rushed through the trees with a sound I'd never heard before. It was magnificent, an awe-inspiring exhalation like an ocean of air whooshing in incredibly loud waves. And that was just a breeze; made me wonder what it's like up there at night.



Once past the boy scout picnic tables, the steep "intermediate" section begins, with, among other goodies, a near vertical root wall that was particularly challenging for me. Once over that hurdle and on up the ridge, there's - blessedly - a little bench with lovely views. Then the trail narrows out over the ridge with more beautiful sweeping views all the way down to the ocean.


We were so close, only maybe 10-15 minutes away from the summit. But moving on up we encountered an obstacle. It's a near vertical wall of dirt about 15-20 ft high. No rocks, no roots, no trees, no nuthin' to hold on to. There used to be ropes, but a fellow hiker said they were removed about a month ago, and without them, even Kevin couldn't navigate this one.


So we left it at that, and focused on the beautiful surroundings, the views we did get to see, and um...getting down the mountain. :)




Can't say I'm not disappointed to have missed the summit, but s'okay. I'm very proud of Kevin, and myself, that we made it as far as we did. As you can see from the photos, which are chronological on the way up, it's gorgeous up there!

In short, for all *normal* people, this is a phenomenally easy five mile day hike through beautiful terrain with lovely views. :)

Aloha!