Skyline this week?

[DavidM]

This past Friday I did my first trip on Skyline, in the DOWNHILL direction, descending via the first 10 am tram, and arriving at the Museum around 4:30 pm. To my surprise, I found the trail easy to follow, and spectacularly beautiful, especially the upper half. Ran into Bluerail and half dozen or so very nice folk that encouraged me to do it the correct direction. Never expect to see this many people on a weekday in January.

I'd love to go back -- even one day this week before we get snow/ice on the upper part -- and climb Skyline. My pace is slow and steady, and I expect it would take me 9 hours or so to make it from the Museum or Ramon Rd TH to the Mountain Station. So I'd like to leave around 6:00 am to make sure there is plenty of time for a leisurely pace, lunch break, etc. We can even drop off a car at the Valley Station if Tramway Road opens early enough. In any event, I don't want to start up the mountain any later than 7:00 am.

Anyone around my pace interested in joining me for Skyline one day this week? Also open to dates in the future so long as the upper part remains free of snow and ice. I'm retired and can be available with a couple of days planning.

[cynthia23]

Actually, your pace downhill was fairly good, and it may not take you as long to get up Skyline as you think, since you did quite well on the downhill, which many people think is really quite difficult in its own way. I usually find my downhill time is pretty much the same time as uphill, although of course they're exhausting in quite different ways. I think it's likely you will get uphill in seven to seven and half hours.

Btw, although it turned out fine for you, IMHO it's not at all a good idea to make your first Skyline downhill. As I said most people find it to be just as hard as going uphill, and last year someone had to be rescued who attempted a downhill Skyline because he thought it would be 'easier'. Remember, what's the Plan B if the person doing the downhill Skyline gets exhausted halfway? Obviously they can't walk back up, so the only solution is to call for a rescue. Novices should always start going uphill.

[kenbenoit]

I agree...going downhill is harder on the legs, knees and feet whereas up hill requires more lung capacity