My first skyline trip

[drinkbrew]

Took my first hike up skyline this last saturday http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=814485&code=77619fe71462dc509f8c7498986005b4 to get a taste of the c2c. I was hurting pretty good by the time we got back down to the bottom. I just started getting back to the gym a couple weeks ago so I have some more training to do before doing the full c2c. For those of you that have done this many times based off the point we made it to and back down, would getting at least to the tram be any worse then the up and down trip we made? We were originally scheduling for the 3rd but from a few other posts I read the tram won't be open on time, so we are going to have to go the next weekend.

thanks for the advise
Jason

[bluerail]

going to 5000' and back down is more work than going to the tram.

[Florian]

The 5000' level is about half way timewise for the Skyline. I would say it might be a bit easier to walk down from that level than to continue to the tram. But once you get to Flat Rock at about the 5900' level you're 2/3 of the way and it's less work and time to continue up than to turn around. (Flat Rock isn't very flat but it's the only solid rock drainage the trail crosses so you shouldn't have any problem recognizing it.)

°Florian

[zippetydude]

Actually, I'd say it's a lot easier to turn around and go back down from 5k, but the time and boredom factors come into play. Also, as far as soreness, going down would of course add more of that than going up does. Still, as bluerail often says, the trail doesn't actually start until you get to Flatrock. That's where you really begin to notice the effort you're having to put out, as it's steeper and you're already tired.

z

[drinkbrew]

thank for the responses, it pretty much confirmed what i wanted to hear. I am still training so by the time the tram is open again I think I should be able to at least handle cactus to the tram.

thanks
Jason

[bluerail]

i happily go up from 5000'

turning around and going down, that throughly sucks.