Koolau Summit Complete

Koolau Summit Complete

Posted to OHE on 14 February 2014 by Keith Palmer for author Ryan Moss 

As for my journey... I would first like to thank anyone whoever cleared a trail, tied a ribbon as a trail marker, pioneered those saddles and just wasn't afraid to go out and explore. I owe a huge thanks to first off my family for always being there to support me throughout this journey. Kris and Martina Harms for always making me feel at home and giving me a place to stay every time I flew in to attempt this journey. Not only taking me in, but helping me through the healing process as I had to lick my wounds a few times. Windy Purdue for dropping me off at the trail head in Pupukea on December 27th at 7am and being there to pick me up at 6pm on January 1st 2014. The same goes for Kris and Martina who greeted me with a champagne shower on that final day. I need to also thank Francis Joy, Marcus Greigo, Laredo, Jeremy Kreis, Thomas Engle, and Katie Ersbak for helping me out with trail knowledge, checking up on me, making sure I was always making rational decisions and just sending messages to brighten my days. Thank you to Elizabeth Barney for helping me face some inner demons and appreciate being in the moment along those final 5 and a half days.

I need to thank all my friends back home especially Eric Mehlberg, Ryan Marcus, Rob and Chelsae Donegan, AJ Purdy, Ricky, Bek, Alese, Kathleen, Ugis, Mom and Pop Lesser. I would like to also thank many of the people who I never have met who supported me through social media. I would also like to thank Chase Norton for having documented and opening the possibility of this amazing journey to the rest of the dreamers like myself. To the HTMC members and all the people who take the time to document, maintain, promote in a positive light and preserve these special places, thank you. I believe that is everyone I wanted to thank. If I forgot to mention you, I am truly sorry and I do reach out with the warmest possible thank you I can give from the bottom of my heart.

As for the journey itself. It can best be described as a mental chess match the entire way. I have learned from spending now roughly a month in total on the Koolau summits that you can always count on the weather being unpredictable, unforgiving, and not really caring what you want it to be like. Even when you think you have the perfect conditions for the traverse some wrench will be thrown into the mix and your plan will be taken for a spin. Knowing this taught me how to learn to control the aspects and challenges that are within my control and let everything play out the way it should or was meant to.

Pupukea Boy Scout Camp to Koloa Cabin: 11.38 Miles. First part is pavement, then really really muddy and overgrown. Be prepared to have a warm change of clothes and dry pair of socks by the end of the day to help lift your morale. All in all though it's a really enjoyable hike and goes by a lot faster than you think. The views from the helipads, the cabin itself and certain parts of the traverse are amazing. I chose to carry in 6L of water so that I wouldn't have to filter from any streams. I drank 3L that first day and saved the remaining 3L for the next day's trek to Poamoho.

Koloa Cabin to Poamoho: I believe this is around 7.8 Miles. Once again expect wet conditions more often than not and it to be extremely muddy. The trail has some holes in it on your way from Koloa to Castle as well as a landslide if I remember correctly. All in all I remember this day passing by quickly as well. I had time to enjoy the views that overlooked Kahana Bay. I always enjoy Poamoho for many reasons, but mostly because of the incredible view you can get from watching the sunset at the helipad.

Poamoho to Waimano: I'm guessing somewhere in the 15-16 mile range. This day started off as what I thought was going to be where I was going to quit. I finally got out of the cabin around 7:30am and as I started out towards Waikane I was greeted with the most amazing sunrise I have ever witnessed up there. This alone motivated me and gave me my first sense of hope that this would be the journey that I finally reach the finish line. The rest of the day after you reach Kipapa is filled finally with ridge walking. You leave behind all the contour trails and embark on a 2-4 ft wide ridge for the rest of the journey. Once again the moment you start to really feel the burn and think about how much pain you are in, you have reached a beautiful campsite and get to enjoy the sunset on the summit.

Waimano to South Haiku: Roughly 11.2 miles. I fell asleep to clear summit skies and woke up to a light rain and low clouds. Today would be the day that was ultimately the defining moment in the trip at least for me anyway. I sat there in silence and in peace for several moments visualizing the clouds lifting and watching myself summit South Haiku. As I reached the midway point of the Moanalua Saddle the rain had stopped and the clouds were parting. I reached the stairs that mark you're out of harms way around 3:15-3:30. I was tired but not exhausted. I was relieved to know I had a concrete shelter to camp in to protect me from the winds.

South Haiku to K2: I can tell you exactly the amount of years this section will take off your life expectancy due to your nerves being tested. It's not the safest section, but I feel comfortable enough now having solo traversed this section 3 times to say that there is a safe manner that it can be completed. I powered through Kalihi in 3.5 hours and was ecstatic to summit Lanihuli around 11:30 or so. I made my way down to the Puka and safely to the Pali Lookout by 2pm. I summited K1 and crossed over to K2 and set up camp. I texted everyone to let them know I was safe. I pitched my tent and did not sleep a single hour that entire night.

K2 to Makapuu: I met and ran into several hikers who were doing new years day hikes. It was a warm welcome from the solitude that I had previously spent along most of my journey. To make it official somewhere around 5:30pm that evening I swung my body around the fence at the lighthouse and slapped the lighthouse wall. The overwhelming feelings of joy and accomplishment of my journey began to lift off my shoulders. 5 days 11 hours. I didn't become a hiking celebrity or authority. You may however find yourself up there somewhere. You may find peace, serenity, and pure bliss. It's just a long journey. You should do it for yourself and whoever else you invite along your journey.

-Ryan