Bear Claw to MOAW Loop -- Pete Clines

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Partway down Mauna o Ahi Windward, looking back to the summit ridge
 

Hike date: August 2003

I've thought about doing Bear Claw again lately, but wanted to descend via a different route.  Since I usually hike alone, traverse options can be difficult to arrange as far as transportation.  Dayle and Scott's adventure on Mauna o Ahi Windward gave me a good solution.
Since I climbed the right claw last year I decided to try the left one this time.  It turned out to be less exciting, fairly dense in places, but a good workout due to the angle of ascent.  I rested on the mushroom rock to have a snack and ponder which car I will buy this week since my Civic has seen better days.  (Anyone want a steal on a '90 wagon?)  Reached Puu O Kona in the clouds, with some light rain and stiff wind.  Continued along the KST, reaching MOAW summit in less time than expected.
Coming down, I took time to clear the ridge some more in places where I could safely swing a machete.  Good job to Scott and Dayle who marked the trail very well.  There was a lot of butt-sliding on the way down due to the steepness and slick nature of the soil underneath me.  This plowing through opened up the trail even further.  No scary sections, and I never had to employ the rope that I had brought along.  I was able to follow the ribbons all the way to the valley floor before losing them among a number of old trails/swaths.  Got back to my car by heading towards the left claw, over it, and down to the watertank.
Dayle, I never saw your ring, but it might comfort you to know that it now has company.  As I was heading out the valley, I realized that my machete was gone.  I believe the cheap sheath tore from my belt as I was sliding down one of the fern covered slopes at the base of the ridge.  I had ignored a few of the switchbacks, opting instead for a controlled "fall" down the slick slope.  (This is as close to surfing as you can get in the woods!)  That's three machetes lost this year - two stolen, one abandoned.  Was not worth the effort to go back uphill and search for it.
A good hike to be sure, but I paid the price in cuts, scratches, and ruined clothes.  Had to toss out the shirt - well ventilated with holes from all the branches it snagged.....and the dirt-covered pants will probably not be salvaged either.  At least my car was unmolested upon my return.
Thanks Dayle for a good description of this trail.
-Pete





































Comments









  1. The HobbitMay 19, 2011 at 7:15 PM
    Pete your the man! Much respect to you! thanks for planting them seeds for us!
    ReplyDelete











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