C2C and back

[dima]

Hi all,

My fiance and I are planning on hiking/running from the Palm Springs Art Museum to the Summit and back on Friday. We attempted to hike to the summit Memorial Weekend last year (in fact, I proposed on the hike!), but didn't get to the top due to snow. So this time, we'd like to do the whole thing. We're training for a mountain ultramarathon, so we figured we'd do the downhill as well. Reading some of the recent reports, it sounds like getting to the top is now doable without snow gear? Would love to hear any thoughts/suggestions on our plan:

4 a.m.: start, with about 2.5 gallons of water between us.
9-10 a.m: get to the tram, refill water
~noon: summit
1:30 back to the tram, refill water
get back ~4-6? depending on how the knees hold up on the downhill!

I guess we might spend more time at the tram waiting for the heat to die down before descending - we'll see.

Any thoughts?
Thanks!

[bluerail]

anyway to stash water on your ascent in the bottom 6000' might help on your descent when you will be coming down into the heat.

obviously electrolytes and lots of hydrating ...that return sucks.

btw...snow wont be a problem, what little you'll encounter towards the peak will be appreciated. trail runners are fine.

[zippetydude]

bluerail's right. Word has it he has done Skyline a couple times, so I guess he's probably right.

I agree with him on that return comment. Coming down Skyline isn't like a descent on an ultra because it's kind of a slow walk down stairs covered with sand...not really training. I do ultras too, sorry, but your heart and legs won't get much out of the downhill part...

If you really wanna train for an ultra, you might run back down the PCT, popping out in Snow Creek. Runnable, for real training, and it offers about 25 miles from the peak, with some rolling terrain (can you say uphill when you're already tired?) between Castle Rock and Fuller Ridge. Also, the trail is in great shape, and you'll be real proud of yourself crankin' out speedy per mile times after having run a bazillion miles!

I upped the pace on a downhill during a 50k at mile 29 in December: my calves went numb, and I thought I was gonna die...I rediscovered that even downhill running can be great training! Remember, you get greater muscle cell recruitment when the rest of the muscle is totally exhausted! Still, it'll be hot. Be careful.

So, what's the mountain ultra? Post and tell us which one it is! Western States? Hardrock? (JK.) But really, fill us in! Is it your first?

Here's one of my favorite quotes of all time by John Bingham:

“The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.” Good for you both. Gutsy. Have fun.



z

[dima]

Thanks for all of the great info, zippetydude and bluerail. (btw, this is the fiance writing).

I like the idea of coming back down on the pct. 11,000 ft of descent in 25 miles is still very respectable!

We are doing the Wasatch100 in September (27,000' of ascent/descent), so it may be debatable which route is better training. There are sections that are super steep, but nothing nearly that sustained. Have you done that one? we're super excited! this is our first hundred miler! we did a 50 miler in May, that was fun!

Anyways, how do you suggest getting back to our car from snow creek? is that section already included in your 25 mile estimate?

Thanks!
Sarah

[bluerail]

A cab from snowcreek to the museum is roughly $50....maybe someone on here could help with a shuttle in the beginning where you could leave your car on snowcreek road and get a ride back
around.

[davidalynn]

Agreed, coming back down the museum trail is really no fun at all... the bottom is like walking down slow mis-sized stairs. We're going up Snow Creek on saturday, but guessing that won't help with your car situation.

[phydeux]

Went up this past Saturday with a friend who'd never been to San J's summit. The Tram-to-summit trail is clear of all but a few patches of snow. The most snow will be found in the shady 'jog' in the trail between Wellman's Divide and the Miller Saddle area; what few patches are left there are small and easy to navigate around (you'll see the trail on the other side' of the patches). Summit rocks a clear of snow. Its effectively summer - lots (and lots!) of folks on the trail.

[dima]

anybody planning on hiking on friday that wouldn't mind driving us from snow creek to the start? we could be flexible on start time.

yay for it being officially summer!