Skyline

[Backwoods]

I completed the PCT on 09/27 report and videos coming soon. I hiked over to the tram from Idyllwild on Friday to spend the weekend with my son in yucca he's giving me a ride to skyline on his way to work in the morning I'll be there around 7 am Im carrying a backpack and useing a knee brace so i'll be a slow I'm going to spend the night on the Mt somewere then home to Idyllwild in the AM.So as a few of you know I have never done Skyline and I have alot of respect for the Mt. Should I be good to just start at the bottom with no map's and not knowing the trail? If ya feel like a slow skyline I'll be ther at 7 I PR'd Devils Slide on fri in. 48 min's but I was trashed for the rest of the way to the tram. I'm still recovering from the PCT and this was my first hike since finishing hopefully I'll be loosened up tomorrow.so I'm chillen my first time up skyline it's been a long time coming and I'm excited!

[Hikin_Jim]

By backpack, I assume you mean full overnight gear. Carrying full overnight gear up an 8000' incline sounds like a really non-fun idea to me, but if that's your cup of tea, good luck.

HJ

[Backwoods]

Actuly I'm walking home that way and I just carried A much heavyr backpack 2650 miles on the pct and it was a lot of fun. I was just wandering if the trail was easy to follow?

[Hikin_Jim]

Congrats on doing the PCT. That's one *heck* of an accomplishment. Sounds like you should be able to do Skyline from just a fitness perspective. I was keying in on your bad knee and how much weight you'd be carrying up what is essentially five Devil's Slide Trails back-to-back. Just didn't sound like fun to me.

As for the route itself:
Originally the Skyline trail was truly a trail built by the CCC in the Great Depression. It then feel into disuse and became more of a route. In the last 10 years it's become popular as sort of the ultimate hiking challenge of Southern California. The path is now a lot more well worn, but there are a lot of short cuts and such.

I read about people getting off on the wrong path and getting confused. I also read about people who say that the route is pretty straightforward. I'm not sure what to advise someone looking to try the "trail," but for sure don't expect a well marked, well maintained trail like the PCT or Devil's Slide Trail. Skyline is unmaintained and is just kept alive by the passage of feet. Yeah, indefinite answer, I know, but that's the best way I could respond.

Hope that helps,

HJ

[Ellen]

Howdy Backwoods

Congratulations on the PCT

When I hiked Skyline with the Craigmeister yesterday, we ran into several backpackers at Grubbs Notch around 9:45 AM who had come up Skyline. Was one of them you?

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Backwoods]

Hi Ellen I started at 7:00 am and i'm not shure were Grubs noch is I ran into only 3 people all maby a mile or 2 from the bottom the only femail was wearing white not hiking shoes had the body of a 20 year old runner but was closer to my age 55 ( carefull Ken you been around long enough to not mention anything about a ladys age) and said she goes up the trail a way's in the morning to wake up. Anyways if you were up there and we dident get a chance to talk I'm bumed you have deen with me on the foram from the start of my little wirlwind 1 year I think I'm a hiker now thing. Anyway my first Skyline was great it's alot easyer than I thought it would be I hiked on to my secret little campspot by saddle Jct and then hiked home in the morning. I was realy happy yesterday YEE HAA I finely did skyline I only have 2 short trails left and I will have baged all the trails on the san jacinto wilderness map and a few more little trails like skyline and a PCT thru hike in my first year of learning to hike. I'm begining to wonder what's next for the shorter adventures I have a feeling If I want a challenge it going to involve a helmet and ropes. Skyline rock's

[Hikin_Jim]

Sounds like your knee didn't bother you then? Good for you. Way to go on Skyline.

HJ

[Sally]

Congratulations on your PCT AND Skyline, Backwoods! I had no doubt that you could do Skyline after thru-hikin' the PCT!

I ,too, often feel like I need a new challenge after I accomplish something crazy, but I don't think it will ever be anything involving ropes. I like the feeling of having my feet planted firmly on the ground or snow!