C2C this Sat, 5/24

[Tim Le]

Thinking to myself here... To climb a mountain, one must climb back down, correct? I'm just wondering why people are not encouraged more to do C2C2C. Just a "purist" mountaineer thought.

Probably because C2C2C would be 34 miles. That would be an awfully long day. Of course, there are even longer day hikes but this is all beyond extreme territory.

Although I understand the purist POV and could see C2T2C being encouraged if it's not a hot day.

[Rick M]

FIGHT ON left this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkEvy-9yVyQ Doing a Gortex commercial or is it hypothermia? Obviously a SAR candidate:lol:

kevin trieu

I'm just wondering why people are not encouraged more to do C2C2C.

Hi Kevin. Let me think, I once, and I say once, hiked from near Bad Water to Telescope Peak and back but would not encourage doing that...I have since suggested people instead go from West Side Road/Hahnapah Canyon to Telescope (if they're fit and experienced) and then down to Mahogany Flats for pick up...saves the knees. I also skied up Mt.Whitney from above the Alabama Hills and return ONLY because snows blocked the road, would rather have done it from the Portal parking lot. You could also go up Mt San Antonio from Upland and return. Or even s2s2s on the Big Island. I'm not against challenging one's self. I did that for years with my students. We're doing that with getting our sugar powered rocket into space. But I don't think c2c2c is something to encourage people to do.

I've never done c2c2c so I can't speak from experience but I know a few on this board have. I'm thinking it's a long way, a lot of vertical gain and LOSS. I would have trouble now-a-days with that much descent on my knees and you face coming down into the heat (if done this time of year). I think if more were encouraged to try it we would have a lot more SAR incidents. Comments?

ps For you young tigers, take care of your knees so you can still hike later

[KathyW]

Thinking to myself here... To climb a mountain, one must climb back down, correct? I'm just wondering why people are not encouraged more to do C2C2C. Just a "purist" mountaineer thought.

I think the heat down in Palm Springs is the big reason people don't hike back down.

C2C is a tough hike, but it is not equal to a 10,800' gain hike where the hiker has to go back down to where they started. It's probably more like hiking up 8000' and then going back down to where you started because of the tram ride down to Palm Springs.