Another Connector to Kuliouou Middle Ridge

Another Connector to Kuliouou Middle Ridge

Posted to OHE on 13 November 2001 by Jason Sunada

Yesterday went to check out the side ridge just mauka of "Oh-my-God" ridge that Mabel had pointed it out during refreshments at the October 21 Puu o Kona TM. Plenty of cars parked on Kalaau Street, including several along the turnaround at the end. Had to park waaay down.

Started walking at 1:30 pm, passing a mob gathered by the hunter/hiker check-in station getting ready for their hike. Took a left side trail 5 minutes beyond the valley/ridge trail junction. Crossed the dry streambed to the base of OMG ridge then went upstream to start up the target ridge. Plodded up a faint trail overgrown with christmasberry, strawberry guava and ulei.

Soon after thinking "Hey, not bad!" I reached a rock dike with a steep front and sides. After a half-hearted attempt on the left side I climbed straight up the front with the help of a lama(?) tree but stopped halfway. Retreated and contoured right along a path at the base. Within a minute climbed up to the ridgeline and on the left found a wide forest of more strawberry guava and lauae fern.

Stepped out into an open grassy area just before topping out at 3 pm and walked a few steps mauka to Meditation Rock at the top of the puu before the big dip. Room for one to sit and enjoy the view and the cool "winter" air. Clouds had settled over the middle ridge summit. Across the valley two hikers in white were descending into the pine forest.

Planned to descend OMG ridge but, 8-0, looks worse from the top. So instead continued down the middle ridge to exit via Dayle's Trail to the Board of Water pump house. Reached the DT junction in the ironwoods at 3:40 pm. On the way down I noticed that the "K"'s were still legible. Trail's in great shape but still steep near the top.

Carefully looked into 2 or 3 shallow caves for the pig seen by some of the trailclearers on October 21. No sign of him. One cave appeared to have skinny white bones. Oodles of ribbons mark the trailhead near the pump house. Been up or down 5 middle ridge connectors now (not counting the waterfall route). Back at the car by 4:15 pm. Plenty of parking!

Jason