Extreme Hiking Hawaii

Day 3 (03/27/12), Poamoho-Kipapa Sugi Pines, 5 miles, 5 hrs  Total Pack Weight: 30.6125 lb. Enjoy today! This is one of the quicker days so I would suggest the trip’s only warm breakfast. Enjoy yourself and make sure you refill all water containers. Leave by 9 a.m. after cleaning up, signing the log, and boarding the place up. I did not find any water after the cabin to Kipapa. If you find it, take it. You will arrive at the Pauao terminus within 30 minutes of leaving the cabin. Enjoy the beauty around you! This is the most enjoyable section of the KST. Around you is Kahana Valley. The S/W junction comes too soon as you know a long leeward stretch is coming up from Waikane to Waiahole Uka. Don’t forget to look for the pink ribbon rusty pole on the right. If you ever look up and see a contour, turn around and find the junction. Remember the set up on the side ridge to the right. Reach sugi pines and decide if want to continue 20 minutes up the landslide to reach true Kipapa terminus. As

  Day 2 (03/26/12) Kawailoa-Poamoho Cabin -- 6 miles, 6.5 hr Total Pack Weight: 28.2125lb This is the section with the Poamoho Cabin! Water will be located at the stream near the Cabin and the catchment. The day begins almost immediately following an army made fence for ~15 minutes. There are often 6ft wide clear swaths. The ground is rocky and slippery care is required. The fence will end and the KST nature will return for another 20-30 minutes until coming upon the Kahuku/Koloa Cabin now being rebuilt. You will see the wood structure and supplies all over the site. Continue around it and then turn right to contour correctly. Remember the pig trail. The KST will continue as it does until you reach the Castle trail marked with a metal pole. Got here by 11:30am last time and had lunch. You will reach the cabin fairly early so an early lunch is a good idea. After Castle you will reach the fenced bog, KST signs and army built fences (do not take the steps over the fences unle

Chapter 4:  The Trip Day 1 (03/25/12) Pupukea-Kawaiiloa -- 8 miles, 7.5 hr Total Pack Weight: 34.6125lb It took me 7hrs from 9am-4pm the first time, 8 1/2 hrs the second time, and 7 the third time. Water is located at the falls windward of the camping area, but needs to be filtered because of the crap it is flows through (rusty metal and such). Be prepared for mud up to your knees when going down to the water hole. When it is raining, various small flows could allow collection of water instead of descending to the water hole. The cabin is still there, just try to get there before nightfall for the sunset. Remember the camp at Laie if ever needed. Pupukea-Malaekahana 5-6hrs   Malaekahana-Laie 30-1 hr   Laie-Kawailoa 30min-1hr Camp at the leeward Kawailoa campground or in cabin. Bail: Malaekahana, Laie.

  Chapter 3:  Gear Base Gear List   Pack System   -- 3 items --  18.105 oz. Modified Gossamer Gear Gorilla (1)  13.505 oz   Trash Compactor Liner  (1) 2.2 oz.   Zpacks Multi-use front pack (1)  2.4 oz. Shelter System -- 20 items -- 26.045 oz. Zpacks Hexamid Solo Tarp (1) 4.805 oz Groundhog Stakes (8) 4.415 oz Linelocs (8) 0.225 oz Suluk46 Padded Ground Cloth (1) 3.00 oz Borah Custom Bivy (1) 6.10 oz BD Distance FL Pole (1) 7.50 oz Sleep System -- 4 items -- 36.23 oz. Kooka Bay Pillow XL (1) 2.370  oz Kooka Bay Mummy Pad (1) 14.06 oz WM Summerlite 6’ (1) 19.00 oz Outdoor Research UL Stuff (1) 0.80 oz Cooking System -- 15 items -- 10.51 ozs  Razor blade (1) 0.1 oz Sleeve (1)  0.06 oz Cone (1) 1.48 oz Gram Cracker Hexamine Stove (1) 0.42 oz Esbit Tab (9) 4.5 oz 600 Evernew with lid (1) 3.3 oz Vargo Ti-Folding Spork (1) 0.645 Water System -- 39 items -- 5.06 oz Aquamira tablets (36) 0.81 oz Nalgene Wide-Mouth 96oz (1) 2.25 oz 1L Gatorade bottle (2) 2.00 oz   Clothing System (worn) --

Chapter 2: Preparation My desires to backpack the entire summit of the Koolau Mountains could be manifested in a variety of ways. I decided early on that I did not want stash food and water and attempting to make the entire trip fully self-contained. This would mean collecting water only from natural sources only the trail and carrying 9 days of food from day 1. In order to make this possible I had to: 1) Learn all of my water sources along the trail and my water consumption needs; 2) Learn to reduce my pack weight and bulk to allow for the food; 3) Learn how to make meals that required little water and little bulk that provided enough calories to keep me going.  Conversion of a typical backpacker to an ultra light weight backpacker When I first began backpacking in 2008, I went out and purchased every bit of conceivable gear one could think of for a trip. Solar powered battery chargers, collapsible sinks, and a stainless steel trowel are just some of the many absurdities

Chase Norton   Warning and Disclaimer:   This trip has been put together from years of solo backpacking trips on the summit of the Koolau Mountains. I do not encourage anyone to repeat this hike as the dangers and risk level are very high. I am providing a very detailed account of my trip, but do not take it as a guide. Information on water locations, cabins, weather and trail conditions can all change in the blink of an eye. The gear list provided is what I have learned to work for me in the environment I enjoy backpacking in. As you will read, it has taken me years to learn how to get to a sub 10lb pack while maintain comfort, functionally and safety. This list represents a philosophy and mindset that one must understand in order to best use this gear. Also, most all the gear listed has been modified after purchase or been custom built for my needs. You must have a complete understanding of the hiking environment and conditions for which your gear will be used in. All times and miles

 Hiker Mike Bowen's survival skills were tested to the limit — he drank sweat wrung from his clothes — when poor weather and visibility turned a five-day hike into seven on the Koolau Summit Trail. "Conditions were so harsh, I was not sleeping nights for the most part," said the 30-year-old Kalihi man. "Dealing with the heavy winds and the cold made things very hard. Each night just wore on me." Carrying a 100-pound backpack, Bowen and his little dog, Marley, set out on the Laie Falls Trail at 7 a.m. March 13 and planned to return Sunday, but low clouds, torrential rain, 50 mph winds, knee-deep mud and the loss of his tent posed challenges, including getting lost when he couldn't find an exit trail at the Kua­loa end. Bowen kept in contact with friend Scott Wong by texting on his cellphone, provi