First Skyline Trip

[magikwalt]

Yesterday I had the pleasure of hiking with my wife Jean on her first Skyline. Previously she had been to 4300' to see how much more laid beyond. This time we prepared for a hike to the top. I was there to be the rattlesnake bait and give her a pace. Before we let the house I told her to try and remember that I loved her and that everything I would say or do was only in an attempt to help her reach the top.

We started about 3:10am and I kept it really slow through the picnic tables. At 2250' we took a break after which she said she felt like she hadn't even started hiking yet. Okay...I picked up the pace through the shady area and we pulled in to 4300' about 10 minutes faster than her previous trip. More refueling (thank you Ellen) and off we went. Somewhere around 4500' she saw headlamps coming through 4000'. As we moved through the flat area I heard "We could shuffle run this part." Damn newbies. We had the pleasure of seeing the Salton Sea in the most beautiful state. Sunrise glow lighting it and totally clear skies. As we were coming into Tombstone Rock we chatted with Cy and Maria before pushing on. Deer tracks were all over the trail from here until the traverse.

After 4.5 hours we arrived at Flat Rock. Now the newbie wants to know where the rattlesnake is. Its okay, the wicked Skyline surprise is just above you. We fuel up again and off we go. Much to my surprise Jean keeps a very steady pace right up to the tree line and beats my best time in that area. We enjoy the traverse and then start the final gully climb. The miles and elevation gain have taken their toll as Jean finds the loose slope not appealing. "Are you sure this is the trail?" "Shouldn't we be going up over there?" Welcome to Skyline. She finally hikes through the notch in 6:20. Way better than my first time up.

We hung around to see Steve and Mike come up. These guys are crazy strong hikers. We were cold and finally headed to the bar to wait. In came more of the crazies...Tina, Mark, Ellen, Robert (new crazy guy) and we got to hear and share the adventures. As we head down Kathryn caught the car with us. The story of her adventure had Jean and I in stiches. We joined Ellen, Lance, Kathryn at Las Cas for lunch. Next thing I heard was Jean talking about how she needed to go faster...Oh Hell.

[bluerail]

Yea Walt, I have a feeling your going to have to pick up the pace if you wanna keep up with Jean. You could tell by the look in her eyes yesterday she's ready for more.

another junkie....

[rggibbons]

Hi Walt - It was really nice meeting you and Jean at the bar yesterday! Yeah, I think Steve's right - you could tell Jean was ready for more! It sounds like you both had a great hike. I actually gained twenty minutes on mine, from last week, since I didn't have Lance to push me It was also nice meeting Brad at Flat Rock, and seeing Mark again, before the final misery, and later seeing Ellen as she zoomed by me, as well as Tina and Mike. I hope those three guys made it up - man, they looked more tired than me.

And it was really great to meet Cy on the traverse! Your website, Cy, was one of the things that got me interested in Skyline when I first found it. I especially enjoyed that article you re-posted from the L.A. Times.

http://www.hiking4health.com/SkylineTrail.htm

Still hoping I can make it down for the 7th!
~Robert

[magikwalt]

Brad was the first guy over to the bar after me. Sorry I forgot his name and didn't want to hazard a guess. Thanks for the reminder Robert.

[Ellen]

Howdy All

Congratulations to Jean on her first Skyline Unlike me, she looked fabulous -- didn't appear to have even broken a sweat. I'm glad the fueling advice was beneficial. It was great to see the fire in her eyes when she said she wants to break 6 hours -- watch out Walt

Thanks to Walt for the beer at the tram bar -- next time it's on me.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Cy Kaicener]

Here is another well written trip report by a young lady called Noriko who did Skyline last Sunday for the first time.
http://norikonakagawa.blogspot.com
http://norikonakagawa.blogspot.com/2009 ... intro.html
The second link mentions Ze in the comments.

[magikwalt]

Hi Cy,

This lady writes so well the trail sounds like it meanders through Indian Canyon past the Trading Post. And then adds a quick jaunt back down the way she came. Shame she hadn't been training!

[Hikin_Jim]

Hi Cy,

This lady writes so well the trail sounds like it meanders through Indian Canyon past the Trading Post. And then adds a quick jaunt back down the way she came. Shame she hadn't been training!

That lady is in some kind of shape!

Assessment: The trail is similar to Mt Wilson in terms of steepness, but longer.

Hunh? I don't think so (unless she's talking about some route up Wilson I've not heard of).