As noted on the trailhead sign at the parking lot, this is the starting point for both the Three Pines Pass and the Hao Tupuna trails:
Charlie on the early part of the trail during our second hike on Moorea:
Much like the neighboring Three Coconuts trail, this hike is all about the plants and trees:
A thick canopy above blocks out much of the direct sunlight:
Two examples of Tahitian chestnut trees along the downhill part of the trail:
Reaching an early trail junction. Most all trails in Opunohu Valley are clearly marked like this, so the only reason for getting lost would be not understanding the trail markers or symbols:
A huge tree has fallen over the trail, creating an obstacle to crawl under:
While looking up, take note of the great variety of leaves from different trees:
The next three pictures show a grove of very tall trees which we entered into. These treetops towered up into the sky:
A Tahitian Chestnut tree with a very wide buttress extending out on one side:
This Tahitian chestnut has multiple buttresses extending out in all directions:
Passing by one of the snail reserves that have been created on Moorea. Read my introductory paragraph for more information about the snail reserves:
A giant mass of aerial roots emerging from the ground:
After a long downhill portion, an equally long uphill portion begins:
This way to Trois Pinus, also known as Three Pines Pass:
There are areas along the trail where massive boulders have rolled down the hillside from above, as seen in the next two pictures:
Checking out this Banyan tree is one of the highlights of the forest portion of the hike:
Charlie and I both got pictures next to the photogenic Banyan tree:
The extra-large trunk base of the Banyan tree:
A closer look at the aerial prop roots of the Banyan which become secondary trunks:
Two pictures showing ancient foundation and wall ruins located along the trail. There is quite a bit of archaeological history in Opunohu Valley which brings researchers from all over the world:
There was only lightly flowing water at the stream crossings:
Tahitian chestnut trees can grow quite tall in the forest:
A natural branch tunnel to walk through along the trail:
The shape of this tree is so irregular and thin as it extends up from the ground:
The sheer rock walls of this mountain became visible through the brush:
African tulip trees with their beautiful orange-red flowers in bloom:
The trail had switchbacks during the last portion which climbed steeply up the hillside:
Elevation was gained quickly through this area:
Arriving on the pass ridge. A walking path continues along the top:
The narrow path shortly arrives at a lookout point with three tall pine trees:
This is Three Pines Pass, which has an elevation of 1,014 feet:
A closer look at the three pine trees which have branches covered with pine cones:
View to the south from Three Pines Pass showing the mountain with a sheer rock face that we had spotted earlier:
Just to the right, this is Mount Tohivea (3,960 feet), Moorea's highest peak. The upper half of Mount Tohivea was completely covered by clouds:
Continuing along to the right, this peak is the one directly next to Mount Tohivea. It is a very prominent peak when viewed from Three Coconuts Pass:
Three Coconuts Pass would be located to the left of the rock outcropping seen on the left side of this picture:
Now looking to the southwest, Mount Mouaroa comes into view:
Mount Mouaroa pictured with the green landscape of a heavily forested slope below it:
A close-up of the summit block of Mount Mouaroa (2,887 feet):
The buildings of Opunohu Valley's agricultural school are faintly visible in the center of this picture:
A very unique view of Mount Rotui (2,949 feet) as seen from Three Pines Pass:
From this angle, the two triangular peaks on the summit of Mount Rotui really stand out:
To the left of Mount Rotui is Opunohu Bay:
And to the right of Mount Rotui is Cook's Bay:
Cook's Bay contains a beautiful sheltered cove. We stood on the docks seen extending into the bay on the right side and watched reef sharks and tropical fish swim by:
View of the long ridgeline seen to the northeast:
Mount Mouaputa (2,723 feet) is also visible from Three Pines Pass by looking to the east:
A picture of Charlie standing at Three Pines Pass. With that, we wrap up our hiking pictures from this day:
Our bonus snorkeling photos start out with Bluefin Jack (or Bluefin Trevally), which are the larger blue fish seen here. The smaller black fish are Pinktail triggerfish:
I captured a picture of a beautiful Vagabond butterflyfish (fish with a yellow and black tail seen beneath the anal fin of the large fish above it):
This colorful fish is a Sixbar wrasse (or Six-banded wrasse):
The colorful Peacock grouper is a very pretty fish. It is seen next to the white coral and is blue-colored with white spots all over and yellow stripes at the back:
Two pictures of an Orange clownfish (also known as an Orange anemonefish):
The next two pictures show a Sixbar wrasse which was very playful and kept swimming around me:
A Banded Sergeant swimming by the coral:
This is a small Lemonpeel angelfish:
Spotting a Convict surgeonfish swimming by. These fish can be slightly dangerous as they have a blade-like tail in the spine:
A group of snapper fish, but I'm not sure what specific type:
A Porcupine fish that was moving in and out of its hiding spot to watch me. It had not yet opened its dangerous body spikes:
An unidentified fish swimming past some coral:
Two pictures of a large school of Convict surgeonfish that I swam along with for a while:
Being swarmed by Flutemouths:
Sting rays were also swimming through the area:
Two close-ups of Bluefin Jacks:
A variety of fish swimming right in front of me in the water:
Swimming with Blacktip reef sharks in the water:
Anyone who wants to snorkel in Moorea needs to get used to having Blacktip reef sharks swimming around them:
Blacktip reef sharks will swim really close to you. Blacktip reef sharks feed mainly on reef fish, such as the ones seen here:
Check out the left eye of this Blacktip reef shark:
I can count 7 Blacktip reef sharks in this picture. At one point, I counted 18 swimming around me:
This picture captured the heavy current and waves coming into the lagoon:
