Stairway to Heaven Koolau Mountains Oahu Hawaii

The hike up to the top of the Stairway to Heaven, also known as the Haiku Stairs, is spectacular, steep, and beautiful. Unfortunately it is also illegal. Yes there are guards posted and yes you will be arrested for trespassing.
You will need to start the hike by parking in the nearby neighborhood, which you are not supposed to do. By following the route highlighted here you will be able to find easy parking. Just be sure to park away from the end of the road.

You will walk to the end of the road where you should be able to walk around the fence. Since no one wants you to park here, walk here, hike here or do the stairway to heaven you will encounter obstacles and no guidance.
Once you have passed the first gate you will be on a paved access road and walking toward freeway above.
Follow the road as shown here. You will not be able to see the buildings on the picture. If you do you have gone too far. You will need to take a side trail off of the road which will lead you toward the freeway. This trail is well trodden and does not require you to go through the fence at first. Once you are on this well trodden path you will encounter the fence. The trail goes through a big hole in the fence. You need only duck and pass through. The trail will parallel the freeway and the access road you need to be on. The trail ends at the access road where you need to turn left and continue. The start of the Stairway to Heaven is not far now and you will find it well marked. After passing all of the trees and branches that have been layed across the trail (another attempt to let you know you are unwelcome) you will begin the climb.

Here are some of the spectacular views you will see.






I started the climb up the Stairway to Heaven at 4:45am. It took my 1/2 hour to get to the first platform. by the time you stop here you will have gained enough altitude that the freeway will be far below. You will still be able to see the trailhead from here. I saw the guards on the way down though they were tiny specs smaller than ants.

The stairway is steep and challenging. This picture was taken on the way down looking down at the first stop.


Be prepared for never ending, unrelenting stairs. Just when you think wow it couldnt get any steeper than that...wham, you feel like you are climbing a vertical ladder thousands of feet above the ground.


I did the stairway in the dark and wind, alone. It is a bit disorienting to feel the wind buffeting you and knowing that there is nothing but empty space for at least 1000 feet on either side of you.



You can expect to climb up into the clouds. The Koolaus are often cloud covered. The clouds will chill the air and make everything wet and slippery. Take heart for the railings will keep you solid and the stairs are in good shape. You will feel the height less on the way up than on the way down. I found the stairs easier to manage in the light on the way down then in the dark on the way up.
There are two buildings on the way. The first one is the sign that you are close. Take heart you are near the top.
When you see the antennae you will know you are near the top. There is an abandoned building that must have been used to house the electronic radio equipment (now empty). I could not see anything because it was dark, cloudy and windy at the top.

Once I dropped below the clouds I could see on the other side of the island. I could also see the lights on the way up in the dark.


The view from below the clouds was like seeing the windward side of the island with the top of my head in the clouds. Such a feeling of height and freedom.



As I mentioned by the time I reached the first platform I could see the guards at the trailhead. The landscape at the trailhead does not lend itself to alternate routes around the guards who were parked comfortably for the day. I decided to bushwack around them. I am not sure that was a smart decision. They vegetation is so thick it is nearly impassible.
This picture was taken inside of the bushwacking route I took to the left after nearing the bottom and treking to the left thought the brush.

As you can see the vegetation is so dense that it is nearly impassable. I got tired of bushwacking through it and decided to walk on top of it for awhile.


Perseverance is a tough master but I made it through and around the guards. Scracthed up, tired and dirty but rewarded with a great Hawaiian adventure.

North Fork Kings River Canyoneering 2007

Brian, Will, Nic, Justin and I canyoneered through the North Fork of the Kings River Canyon on 8/31-0/1. We started at the top of the canyon just below the
Black Dog Reservoir at the point where the utility 4x4 road crosses the river and finished at the power plant
Watch the video of our canyoneerng trip through the entire canyon.



Watch our video blog from our 2006 canyoneering trip of the top half of the North Fork of the Kings River Canyon



The top portion of the canyon (The Gorge) is challenging with many down climbs, scrambling, jumps, rappels, swims and more. The temperature of the water was warm enough for a shortee wet suit this year but last year we were grateful for our full length warmth...so canyoneer decide with careful consideration. The water level was much lower this year, which may account for the warmer water. Algee levels were much higher, also a warmer water factor. In any case we all had full length wet suits and were never over heated

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The canyon provides many long, cold swims. The water is generally deep but because it appear black underwater obstacles can not be seen. Jumper beware. This jumper hit an underwater rock and bruised/broke a couple of ribs. We met another jumper who broke an ankle. There are many stories of canyoneers who have been injured in this canyon. We rappelled on person down to check for rocks every time we were uncertain about the underwater terrain, which was most of the time. Using a body anchor this was easily done without setting up a permanent anchor.

Bouldering

Scrambling on boulders throughout the canyon make for hard work, challenging navigation and lots of fun. Justin, Brian, Nic and Will scramble down the upper portion of the canyon. The upper portion the canyon is great fun, challenging, fun but not nearly as spectacular as the lower part of the canyon

Under Boulders

Brian, Justin and Nic under the boulder on the way down the upper portion of the canyon. Call it a bit of caving, but scrambling through bolders that big enough to form caves makes it feel like a spelunking trip at time.

scrambling NF Kings River Canyoneering

After we rappelled down the 3 sided waterfall and completed a long swim we were treated to another canyon obstacle. The only way past was to span the rocks with our bodies and chimney past this part of the canyon

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Originally uploaded by emadjim

Taking a rest top/lunch break in the canyon. This beautiful spot was in the lower canyon next to a waterfall.


This canyon is filled with small and large waterfall.
Brian and Jim (Father and Son) after jimping a fun waterfall

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The Canyoneering team
Will, Nic, Jim, Justin and Brian.
This was Will's and Nic's first canyoneering trip
Brian, Justin and Jim have done Zion canyon
Justin and Jim did the North Fork Kings River Canyon the previous year.

NF Kings River Canyoneering survey
Originally uploaded by emadjim

Will and Jim survey the waterfall to determine how to get around this beautiful obstacle.

Brian on the big drop
Originally uploaded by emadjim

Brian drops down the first of the 2 part rap. Part 1 is a 50' rap, part 2 is the 150' rap. You can see the team in front of us setting up their rap for the 150' decent.

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Brian rapels the 150' waterfall. View from the top of the rap looking down canyon. To get to this rap you must rappel from the top of the waterfall to a ledge about 20 feet down and to the right (down canyon right). The ledge is big enough for 5-6 people but be sure you tie your safety tether in. This rap allows you to rappel without getting into the teeth of the waterfall

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Brian rappelling the 150 ft waterfall.

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Originally uploaded by emadjim

Often we would be swimming and see the water drop, as shown in this picture. Nic is looking over the edge at a 90 ft waterfall.

Freeze Fest #3

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Originally uploaded by emadjim.

Jacob, Will and I at Freeze Fest #3

We started Freeze Fest #3 on Friday 2/23/07. When we got to the Echo Lake Snow Park we discovered that 3 feet of fresh powder had the parking lot snowed in. Fresh, Fluffy, Virgin powder!! Miles of it just waiting for us. We found a temporary parking spot at the lodge about 200ft down the road, got out our skis and hit the powder. Skiing through powder above your knees is a lot of work but awwwsome.

Will during our practice skiing in the deep powder

Jacob getting used to the great snow at Echo Summit. While we waited for the parking lot to be cleared we traveled around the resort area

The view from the summit overlooking Tahoe in the distance was breath taking
Lake Tahoe in the distance

Jim takes in the great view near Echo Summit


Watch our video from the summit overlooking Tahoe

Joyous Powder and so much of it. This must be powder heaven. In the many years I have been Freeze Festing I have never had the pleasure of skiing in such deep powder. The snow was so light that we sunk to our knees with our skis on. It made it hard to ski through it.

Skiing the road to Echo Lake. The Snow Cat worked the road to the lake all morning and by the time we finally got the car parked the trail to the lake did not require breaking trail through deep powder.
Watch our video of skiing on the trail headed to Echo Lake through the snow, powder and winter wonderland

The Winter wonderland was glorious. The trees were decorated with so much beauty, it was breath taking.

We continued to be awed by the beauty of the fresh snow falling and dressing the trees with winter beauty

Arriving at Echo lake meant breaking our own trail across the lake. The wind was howling, the temperature was dropping and the powder was deep.

Jacob following in the trail on the lake. Staying in the trail that was broken by the lead meant easier traveling and a lot less work.

Watch the video of us skiing across the lake through the thick powder and the howling wind

We set up camp within view of the docks at the lake shore but far from human neighbors. We were the only human tracks across the entire lake. Setting up camp was a lot of work. We had to stop the powder with our skis to pack it down. After nearly 20 minutes of Jacob, Will and I stomping the snow with our skis we thought we had packed down a camping spot in the snow. When we took off our skis and stepped onto the snow we still sunk up to our shins. The snow was so powdery and cold that we began to think we would never get it packed down. As you can see we finally got a firm platform in the snow to establish a campsite.

It was a beautiful view from our camp site on the shore of the lake

Enjoying the beauty of nature in the solitude of winter is one of the wonders of every Freeze Fest. Freeze Fest was pure winter pleasure with lots of fresh powder, freezing temperatures and great companionship. I measured the temperature at 15 degrees F at 7pm. With the wind blowing and the continued drop in temperature we were in for a Freeze Fest of a night

Winter camping means living on water but having to work for it. Melting water for dinner takes a lot of snow
Getting Ready for Dinner at camp with great ambiance. I am not so sure about the quality of the food. We struggled with the stove and once we were ready to eat the food turned cold nearly before we could eat it. It is so hard to server a hot meal in 15 degree weather. But the warmth of the companionship with Will and Jacob make the meal and the adventure all the better.

Melting water in the darkness

Morning brought stories of numb and nearly frozen toes, cold sleepless nights and a desire to find some place warm. Poor Jacob only slept for 2 hours and counted nearly every frozen moment

Will was nestled in his frozen abode with frosted toes and frozen tent. Alas his enjoyment of Freeze Fest was heartfelt throughout the night as he was reminded of the plunging temperatures and frozen wonderland. I heard rejoycing for the Gatoraid bottle which prevented late night wanderings into the frozen darkness.....
Ahhhh a cup of hot chocolate on a morning like this really hits the spot

Jim breaking camp
Jacob and Jim at Echo Lake in the morning. Yes we spent the night together in the same tent.

Despite a freezing night Will regales the pleasure and beauty of Freeze Fest on Echo Lake

A positive attitude makes all the difference in the world. Instead of railing about the hardships Will is the example of seeing the beauty in the journey and cherishing the adventure with every hardship.

Skiing out of Echo lake was a lot easier. We followed the trail we broke the day before. In the places (there were many) where the snow covered our trail we had to rebreak the trail but the snow had settled and we were only sinking into the powder up to our shins



Did I say we were only sinking up to our shins? Will managed to find a hole in the snow and sunk up to his chest, skis, pack and all.

Video of Will fallen and he can't get up. Well he did but it was a lot of work.

Just 5 feet later Jacob managed to find anothe hole and sunk into the snow past his waist. Skis, pack and all.

Yes Jacob struggled to get out of his snow hole too.

Skiing up to the top of the hill leaving the lake below we were now on the downhill and an easy fun ski back to the car.

Freeze Fest #2

Ski first
Originally uploaded by emadjim.

Freeze Fest #2 was planned to be a 3 day adventure into the backcountry of Carson Pass. Josh and Bob joined me in this trek. This was Bob's first time on skis!!! Little did he know what lay ahead. Sure I prepared him and coached him along the way but that climb up the mountain and drop into the meadow valley below. The climb and descent over the mountain must be experienced for the novice first timer can not comprehend the true challenge without it. I know I should have taken him on something a bit easier for his first trip.
Still it was a sunny beautiful winter morning with the temperature hovering around 40 degrees F. The snow was a bit slushy, packed and slick. We put our skins on and headed for the backcountry

At the trailhead to the backcountry, headed for Meiss Lake 3 miles of great skiing

Behind the big tree to the right you can see the pass we have to ascend to gain access to the backcountry.


Bob and Josh headed to the pass

Saturday night the wind started howling and a storm blew in dumping nearly 6" of snow on us. Our tents were dug into the snow and buried. Here you can see the roof of my tent peeking above the snow



It was another beautiful day in the backcountry

Skiing back home in the snow

Traveling through the valley headed back to the mountain pass

Taking a break in the snow
Josh getting friendly with the local winter wildlife

Lunch break in the snow



Near the car in the fresh snow
One last look at winter wonderland before reaching the parking lot

Although we decided to cut it short by 1 day it was a great trip with all of the key elements of a Freeze Fest....fresh snow, cold, snow storm and great skiing. Until the next time!!!