Inspiration on Skyline

[Ellen]

Howdy All

Sometimes I hike Skyline for the views and sometimes I hike it for the people who I'll see on the trail. Saturday and Sunday were people days.

I met Doreen shortly after the picnic tables. After hugging, we had a great time catching up. Her connection with the mountain is awe-inspiring and every hike up Skyline is a testimony to her wonderful, indomitable spirit.

I met Hiking Jim at 3.5 K. He has been a good friend since I joined this board in 2007. HJ is always happiy to freely share his extensive knowledge of routes, conditions and all things technical. His adventures and trip reports have inspired Sally and I to take on new challenges. He alos has a wonderful sense of humor and mastery of puns.

In the Enchanted Garden (the lovely, pretty flat area below the 5 K ridge), I was joined by Steve from San Diego. I learned that he is a decade my senior and had a five vessel angioplasty and stents three years ago. He was my companion for the remainder of Skyline but had to
slow down to hike with me

Scott2 passed us on the Never Ending Ridge and chatted a bit before resuming his faster pace. Scott visited me in the hospital after my 2008 hiking misadventure and has encouraged me during my recovery and beyond. Like Doreen and others on this board, he is a tireless advocate for conserving Skyline. He always brightens my day.

Z-dude met us in the tram. He also visited me and lifted my spirits while I was recovering in Desert Regional. On numerous occaisions, Z has abandoned his faster pace to hike with his slower friends. He and his family nurtured me in Tuolumne meadows while I was hiking the John Muir trail. He has helped me with route finding on Skyline and other trails many times Z has a heart as big as the Sierras and it was great to see him back on Skyline.

On Sunday, I went back up Skyline to hike with my friend the Craigmeister, who has worked at the tram for 30 years. Over that time, Craig has helped numerous hikers, shared his love of hiking with his fellow workers, and even hiked Skyline prior to working. Every time we complete Skyline, I collapse into a seat at the tram bar to rest whiile Craig zooms around greeting his tram family His positive energy and congeniality are boundless.

I could keep going, but the post would become a book Thanks to Perry Scanlon for creating this great forum.

From the heart,
Ellen

[zippetydude]

What a nice note Ellen! I feel the same way. When I first did Skyline, my desire was to hike a rough, challenging, little traveled trail. Over time, and having found this board, it's changed into a chance to see friends as an added bonus. Thanks for your kind words.

z

[Hikin_Jim]

A shared trail is the best trail. I don't think I'd have enjoyed my recent trip half as much if I hadn't run into so many of the good folks on this board.

HJ

[DancesWithTheMountains]

Hi Ellen,
I loved your message. I too love that part of hiking on skyline. The
people you get to meet are amazing. I cannot think of my life without
you, Steve, Fernando, Patti, Tina,and others, like Zippedy, and now Hikin Jim. There are many more over the years that I have come to know and respect and Scott and Andy are two of the original skyliners that will always be part of my fondest memories of that trail. I always tell Scott that its his
fault that I am addicted to skyline. He took me on my first skyline, and the
rest is history (lol).
Love ya my "sister" of the mountains
Doreen