B29 - Oba Trail

A much anticipated hike finally arrives on Sunday, February 9.  The B29 plane has been on our radar for a long time. as we have heard about it, seen in on YouTubes, planned and failed to make it happen so many times. Recently, Handy informs us that a trail has been opened from the downed plane all the way to the top of the Oba Cave trail where we can exit. Notices go out to the hikers to join this exciting hike. At 6:30 Sunday morning, we find 12 of us ready for the challenge. The catch for this hike is, most of us have never seen the plane, and those of who have, cannot remember where the trail head is. No matter, we are ready.

Gathered just outside of the Coral Isle Condo are Lee, Cutie, Thor, Rexplorer, Ewok, Sparky, Giggles, Dora, Marcia, Handy, Cowboy, and Capt. Charlie, ready for the adventure. 

Leaving Tapochau Road and going down The Navy Hill Road where part of the road has collapsed, exposing pipes and jagged concrete.  From here we go down to the first telephone pole where the Lamar trail begins.

Part of the Lamar trail. Cutie ahead, and Dora brings up the rear. Here the trail is pretty easy walking.

From the trail, we can get a glimpse of the Russian housing compound. The scaffolding between the two units is to build up the retaining wall that has collapsed during the rainy season.

Taking a brief rest on the trail are Marcia, Sparky, Cowboy, Cutie, Dora, Thor and Rexplorer. So far the trail has been fairly easy and the air is cool.

At the top of the trail is an open view of the lagoon and the pre-positioning ships. It is a glorious day for a hike. 

Looking for the trail to the plane, we walk through a well-maintained orchard of fruit trees and many pineapple bushes. We are actually not sure if we are heading to the right trail head, but the orchard is pleasantly interesting. So far we are hopeful to find the trail head around this area. Ewok bringing up the rear.

All the pineapple bushes are in good shape except this one favored by a group of snails, enjoying the fruit. After walking to the edge of the orchard, we realize that we are not on the right track. We turn back on Captive Way, where fortunately we run into Kimiko and friends biking toward the Lamar trail. She sends us back to the Lamar trail where the turn-off to the B29 trail is. We re-group and go back down the trail. Almost to the beginning of Lamar trail is where we find the turn-off to the B29 trail.

A nice lineup of hikers taking a pause on the B29 Trail. Thor and Sparky in the lead, Cutie, Thor, Handy and Lee follow.

A whole family of mushrooms.

Just as we emerge from a thicket of trees and bushes, we come upon the first piece of the B29, the fuselage! According our own knowledgeable Ewok, B29 is called the "Superfortress" for its numerous gun turrets. The "B" stands for Boeing. It is the first plane to be pressurized to allow the plane to fly over 14,000 feet high without having to use oxygen tank for the crew. 

We group around the fuselage. Ewok is not sure exactly what part of the plane it is from, except part of it could be the landing gear. CC in front, with Dora, Giggles, Lee, Ewok, Sparky, Cowboy, Cutie, Thor, Handy, and Marcia. Rexplorer is the photographer. The 69,610 Lb. plane has 4 engines of 2,200 horsepower each, a real monster of a plane!

One of the four engines. The plane crashed in 1945 during stormy weather, instruments malfunction, and bad visibility. Unfortunately, of the 10 crew, none survived. Nothing at the site should be removed.

Marcia, Giggles, Rexplorer checking out this engine with two blades bent out of shape. Ewok trying to take photos. One can imagine the impact this crash had, and what happened to the crew.

This engine still has a set of intact propellers.

Further down the trail is this engine with 18 cylinders arranged in two rows. In 1945, these are the most powerful engines made, and the plane can fly almost 6000 miles non stop. Marcia examines the cylinders closely.

Dora, Cowboy, Sparky, Handy making sure that the two rows of cylinders are all there.

Here is an old photo of a working B29.

From the plane site, we decide to continue on the trail as originally planned. We run into a section of very wet and muddy slopes. After hearing several people's obvious slip-and-slide, butt-walk seems like the right thing to do. Handy goes first, Cutie follows. 

Further down, the trail turns into mush. Sparky and Giggles hug close to the grassy edge for better footing. Here the gloves are most useful in grabbing the sword grass for balance.

 Marcia, Handy, CC, Thor, and Cutie proudly display their muddy butts for the photo op. 

After the muddy mess, the trail becomes more difficult with steep drop offs on moss covered rocks and boulders. One person at a time to negotiate carefully without falling and getting hurt.

Cowboy assisting Sparky down a rocky drop. Handy and Giggles waiting for their turn.

Handy takes a fall, and hauls himself up while Cowboy and Giggles watch and ready to assist. The jungle has a lot of vines on the ground that can catch and trip us. 

Across from the trail, we spot a cave. Rexplorer decides to check it out. Dora soon joins him. They continue on the other side of the ravine and declare later that they have found some very interesting caves and rock walls, all for future explorations. Soon we find that our trail merges with the Oba cave trail. We continue on the Oba trail and come to the upper field just off of the Navy Hill Road.

The giant bamboo forest is the sign that the end of the trail is near. After exiting the trail, we continue on the coral portion of the Navy Hill Road. It is now noon time, and it is hot all the way uphill back to the car.

From 6:30 to 12 noon, this has been one of the longest hikes, and one of the more difficult as well.