Ramon Road Trailhead

[Brian]

Hi,

I've been wanting to hike Skyline Trail starting from Ramon Road. I searched this board and found a few comments about break ins and better to park on a residential street. I can understand if you start at 3-4 AM there is opportunity but what about 6-7 AM on a Sat. I am guessing many folks are not thur hiking to the tram and are coming back out so there is some activity, but what do you hikers who live locally think of this TH for a 6-7 AM start when doing the Skyline and returning to the cars at about 3-4 PM.

A lot of us come out to PS the night before so we do have some stuff in our cars from the sleep over. I personal never leave anything of value in my car and usually rent a car so I am not too worried but I'm thinking of those that are more accustom to starting at the Art Museum area and use their own cars.

I am not posting this for controversy just a little friendly advice based on current experience or local knowledge.

Many thanks,
Brian

[Wildhorse]

The City of Palm Springs posts crime information at crimereports.com

Although your logic seems sound, I think it is hard to assess the risk. It is low, but still the burglaries happen. The crime map shows a recent car burglary at that trailhead on Friday, August 7 around 1PM.

I have not yet been burglarized that trailhead, but have heard of the problem for years. At a similar trailhead in Palm Desert, a friend's car parked her car around 8AM and returned around noon to find her window smashed. There were lot of cars at the trailhead. A couple had smashed windows when she returned to her car. Although your logic makes sense, it seems that burglars take big chances. I guess it takes them less than a minute or two to smash and grab.

Burglars hit my home in Palm Springs three times within a couple of months last summer. The windows they smashed displayed alarm stickers. The alarm went off each time, they fled, the cops came. We suspect it was the same burglars - just very stupid burglars, or dope heads. Of course, the police never caught them. Twice the cops never even bothered to record the crime.

[zippetydude]

I'd use the same work-around that I use over at the San Bernardino trail head. If you park on Hwy 111 at 6:00 and just walk the extra 1/4 mile you car will be highly visible and very safe from being broken into. It's the seclusion up at the trail head that makes it an attractive site. For the peace of mind I'd just add that little bit of distance...you'll save a little off the return cab fare!

z

[Ed]

I worry about parking on Ramon Road and tend to favor the museum, though I am not sure why I think the garage across from the museum is much safer.

Burglars hit my home in Palm Springs three times within a couple of months last summer.

Our house in Rancho Mirage was broken into last year, while we were away. They broke in through the front door! Busted out the paneling on the side of the door, reached in and opened the door from the inside. We don't have an alarm system, according to the cops they spent quite a bit of time inside drinking and doing drugs. Fortunately, we don't keep much of value in that house that is portable. Replacing the paneling is amazingly expensive, we haven't done it yet.

I grew up in a small town where people did not lock their cars or houses, except when they went to bed. Not the same there now. Not everything about the old days was good, but some things were.

[cynthia23]

Leaving aside the issue of break ins at the Ramon trailhead (I believe they happen all throughout the early morning, i.e. up to 7 or 8--no one is around in late August.) I'm more concerned that you are planning to hike Skyline this weekend, i.e. in late August. Have you ever done the trail before, or done it during the summer? It's very dangerous to do during the summer months (see our numerous posts on this issue). Also, a 6 a.m. start time is very late. To be safe(r) you would want to leave by three or four a.m at the very latest, and two a.m. would be best. Actually, what would be best would be to reschedule your hike for late October or early November. What you're doing is quite risky, especially with multiple people involved--that has often led to a rescue. Inevitably, one or more people don't have the fitness levels of the rest of the group, overexert themselves to keep up and/or deny they're having a problem, then bonk and/or get left behind. I've seen it over and over and over. Rethink this. RMRU will thank you. Personally, I would never, ever take the responsibility of organizing up a group hike up Skyline during the summer. Too many (terrible) things could go wrong, and then it would be my fault. We had two heat stroke deaths just last month.

[Brian]

zippetydude, that's sound advice. Is Highway 111 the same as Palm Cyn. Drive when in town? Park nearby businesses and walk up to TH?

Ed, so true the garage is not much better considering how quiet it is with the mall gone.

cynthia23, I did not state I was doing the hike this weekend in my message, I know better and have done Skyline and C2C before, but welcome back for another season!

Last time, Dec. 2013, I stayed at Motel Hell downtown I had a druggy hanging around my door, when the cops rolled in he laid down flat on the second floor so he could not be seen. I called the police and gave his location and they found him. I left the place at 10:00 PM, got a refund, and slept in my car on north Palm Cyn. Drive.

Brian

[cynthia23]

Brian, I am (really) relieved to hear you are not hiking this weekend! You're right, you don't say in your post when you are hiking. My bad. I'm glad to hear it will be later in the season. re: Zip's point of parking on 111--that might work too, but actually, what I usually do is just park in front of one the houses on the two residential streets just before the TH--I think the name are Calidad and Fern Canyon. No guarantees there either but so far I have not had a problem (i.e. a break in) doing that. Granted, few are tempted to break in to my 2001 Toyota Camry.

[Hikin_Jim]

few are tempted to break in to my 2001 Toyota Camry.

Well, you're screwed now ... the word is out. Hey, everybody, SCORE! A big time 2001 Toyota Camry is just sitting there waiting for you! Yes! A 2001!

HJ