Konahuanui Windward Attempt
Posted by Pete Clines on 14 June 2004
My other plans fell through on Saturday, so I got a chance to return to Oahu trails following my Kauai hiatus. I decided to check out the windward ridge from Konahuanui (between Piliwale and Pali Lookout) that Ed Gilman and Scott Villiger recently explored.
I started from the hairpin turn just before 10:00 and followed the connector trail between Maunawili and the Pali Lookout. I went around the desired ridge until the "notches" ridge came into view, then found the most doable way to reach the crest of the desired ridge. Lots of slipping going up the steep grade, but was soon at the ridgeline where I encountered a few old orange ribbons.
I followed a swath that remained almost entirely on the ridgeline, and I believe I owe thanks to Scott and Ed for their work on the portion of the trail. Passed a pile of large boulders, and then came upon a horrible stench at a section with ti plants. Looked like a pig convention was held there that morning as turds were ripe and abundant. Got past that spot in a hurry, and reached the eroded section.
Ed and Scott were right about the crumbly nature of this rock, and if that wasn't bad enough, the winds were incredible at this spot. The wind was being funneled in such a way as to literally blow me around.
I hunkered down low and tried to climb up the right side of the dirt slope until almost reaching the top.
At this point I made the mistake of looking down...and quickly realized there was nothing to catch my fall if accident occurred. My handholds had turned into loose grass and dirt, and the angle had gotten too great. I did a controlled fall to the only shrub that lay below me, and managed to plant a foot on its root as I slid.
Yikes! If things weren't bad enough, I was stung by bees twice in the hands while climbing. Seems they like to gather on the rock here...right where you need to grab for safety! Still determined, I slabbed left carefully from this spot until reaching a vein of more solid rock that I was able to follow to the summit of this eroded section.
Up here it leveled of briefly, but the ridge was still very narrow with extra steep drops on either side. I carefully got to the next uphill and then began climbing, stopping halfway from the top of this one. It went from bad to worse here, with the rock feeling like a damp sponge in my hands. I'm confident I could have summitted this section, but coming down was a different story as there was nothing secure to hang onto. In a moment of realism, I knew I WOULD have to descend this section if I had gone further, since the section higher up looked too steep and exposed to even attempt. (At least that was my impression form this angle, though I believe Scott and Ed also commented about a vertical section higher up...the ridgeline seemed absent form this section until higher up where it meets the notches ridge.)
So it was at this point that I soaked in the views before making my way back. (I also stuck a laminated copy of my business card in the rock here - curious if anyone else would be up here and might drop me a line.) Coming down I attempted the steep ridge that Ed and Scott noticed - the one that tops out above the eroded section. No good...rock is too loose, even descending with rope seemed foolish. Ended up roping to a strong bush and came slowly down the eroded pitch instead. Returned down the same ridge, until following Ed and Scott's trail down to the opposite side that I had initially come up.
Lost their trail in the forest, but was soon at the Maunawili connector and on my way back to the car. On the way, four full size pigs ran across the trail in front of me...probably the same ones from the "convention."
Car intact, drove home. I think I can call this one unclimbable from the bottom...but I may be able to work up the nerve to try a rope-descent from the summit some time in the future. We'll see.
-Pete
Author: Pete Clines <peteclines@yahoo.com>
Comments
Post a Comment