Hiker’s route perilous, pals say

Leslie Charles Merrell loved the outdoors and breathtaking views, and enjoyed hiking up mountainous slopes weekly in Hawaii, friends said.

Merrell, 48, a Hono­lulu carpenter, was on a perilous, narrow, steep ridge called "Bear Claw" on a hike from Wai­ma­nalo to Kuli­ouou on Sunday when he slipped off an edge and fell 150 feet to his death.

"The rock is volcano. … The whole ridge can fall apart," said David Concepcion, a friend who has hiked with Merrell. "He’s not the type to do that. I was actually surprised he was out there."

Friends said Merrell, an organizer for a group called Oahu Hikers and Adventurers, emphasized safety in leading his hikes, but that this hike to Kuli­ouou was extreme and potentially dangerous.

Honolulu Fire Department officials said a group of 12 hikers including Merrell planned to cross Bear Claw Ridge and come down a Kuli­ouou trail.

Fire Department officials, who received a distress call at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, said that as Merrell was climbing, he grabbed onto a boulder that dislodged, and he and the boulder went over the edge.

A Fire Department helicopter airlifted Merrell’s body off the mountain about an hour and a half later.

Concepcion said the hike to Bear Claw was the first for Merrell, who usually selects safer crossings.

Concepcion said he’s climbed Bear Claw twice and that there is no trail, only rugged rock terrain.

William Lee said the ridge has ribbons indicating the way to traverse the ridge and that Merrell was capable of doing the crossing.

"It’s something that extreme hikers do. … The rocks are brittle on that side. … He was just unlucky," Lee said.

Merrell, a widower, leaves behind two teenage daughters, one of whom participated as a musician in the Hawaii All-Star Band in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade last year, Lee said.

"He was so proud," Lee said.

State Department of Land and Natural Resources spokes­woman Deborah Ward said Bear Claw is not a trail and is in a risky area. "They’re just climbing up the side of a mountain," she said of hikers who attempt it.

Ward said the state maintains a number of safe trails that can be found at hawaii­trails.ehawaii.gov.

"Our recommendation at all times is to please use these trails," she said.