Snowing on Skyline

[Ellen]

Howdy All

The predicted weather looked nice and cool, which gave me a chance to "sleep in" until 4 AM. I said "hi" to a cute cotton tail bunny in the museum parking lot before heading out. It's been quite a while since I've started Skyline without needing a head lamp -- nice way to hike, actually

Temperature was nice but I was constantly mopping my face with my bandana due to humidity. The breeze above Shade Rock felt heavenly. Once I was high enough to see San J, I noticed the extensive cloud cover. Hmm... I'd worn shorts and tee-shirt but had additional clothing just in case. By 5 K, I noticed the breeze was definately cooler and felt sporadic rain drops. However, conditions were still quite pleasant as I started up the Never Ending Ridge.

It started to snow at about 5.5 K. I was surpised -- it didn't feel THAT cold. None the less, I was grateful for the protection offered by the ridge and preferred snow to cold, driving rain or hail. By the time I reached the manzanita above Flat Rock, it started to snow in earnest. I stopped and donned my hat, fleece and gloves. Decided to forgo lunch until the tram --hiking in cold weather is a great incentive to keep moving

The temperature dropped when I reached on the traverse but there were no problems finding the trail. My pace slowed significantly due to the cold and/or residual fatigue from yesterday's Skyline. I was very happy to reach Grubbs notch in five hours. Long Valley was shrouded in fog and the ground was almost covered with fresh snow. Loved the expressions of the tourists as I headed up the concrete switchbacks in shorts

I enjoyed my ritual beer at the tram bar and marveled at the snow coming down. It was becoming a white out -- I was very happy to be off the trail. Met a very nice, fast guy named Bret from San Diego in the boarding area and we shared a tram back to the museum. He started at 7:30 AM and said that the snow had covered the trail by the time he reached the traverse

Headed home to eat leftover Las Casuelas -- surely you guessed I would mention my favorite Mexian restaurant somewhere in this post
A wonderful weekend and the perfect antidote to being stuck in a hotel room in Chicago last weekend.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Lcpl Hughes]

I am thoroughly jealous

nothing is better than hiking in incliment weather

[zippetydude]

I am thoroughly jealous

nothing is better than hiking in incliment weather

...Well, nothing but hiking in inclement weather with good friends. Wish I coulda been there. Thanks for the TR

z

[halhiker]

Looking up at the mountain from work in Indian Wells it looked it was going to be bad up there. I talked to some people who drove in from the coast and they said it was sleeting in Cabazon.

I bet it was nasty for anyone who started late this morning.

[Lcpl Hughes]

I am thoroughly jealous

nothing is better than hiking in incliment weather

...Well, nothing but hiking in inclement weather with good friends. Wish I coulda been there. Thanks for the TR

z

me too!!

but instead I was under my hood trying to figure out this alternator..bleh

[Sally]

Hi Ellen, What a great day for a hike! I prefer hiking in brisk temps. Glad you got to enjoy the rare conditions.

[tinaballina]

Pain sister, nice work....coming down with something so i guess its a good thing i didn't join you yesterday, although i was tempted.

[SDathlete]

im so jealous too! I love hiking in miserable weather!

[lightgy]

I went up around 7:00AM not intending to go all the way but at 4000 feet I felt good and decided to go for it. I had enough water and had the sense to bring my jacket.It was the first time I had ever had to use a jacket at the lower levels. It was a pleasant change from the normal temperatures. Around "tombstone rock" I began to be pelted with rice size ice particles. The tram was shrouded in clouds, but did not seem to be of any concern. I took a breather at flat rock and noticed the intensity of the "rice" had increased and decided I needed to hurry up through upper sections and get home.
Traveling through the manzanita section the rice changed to actual snow and I began to worry if I would be able to find the trail as the snow was beginning to pile up.
I am not as seasoned as some of people on this board, I rely on my vision to find the trail. My vision was limited by both the snow and fog. Nearing
the top of the manzanita section I could not make out the rock formations in front of me or ridges behind me. Any tracks had been filled in. Not wanting to be 'that guy in the papers' I reluctantly decided to turn around and have a painful walk down. I descended about 100 yards when I ran into a group of hikers who were headed up. My mood brightened. I hoped they were more familiar with the top of the mountain than I am. Turned out the group of hikers had never been up the mountain,in fact one of the hikers was on his first hike! I told the hikers that I was turning around because I could not find the trail and suggested they do the same.
The group insisted they were going up. I doubted "the first time" hiker would be able to hike down. He had to use both arms to push down on his legs to even move up the mountain. So I decided to throw my lot in with them and head up.
My initial concerns proved true as we ascended the trail was unidentifiable. It was like an old girlfriend you haven't seen in years vaguely familiar but kinda twisted. Land marks were not visible. In fact Coffman's Craig was not even visible when we reached the cliff edge. Luckily I knew the vague direction we were headed, remembered information I had gleaned from this blog over the last year, and occasionally found barely perceptible tracks at key junctions in the trail.

I now have better appreciation of how people get in trouble. The stubborn determination to get to the end by people who are completely unaware of what faces them.

As we climbed the ramp to the tram. I noticed Search and Rescue heading out.

Thank God it wasn't for me and "First time" hiker friends.
Thank God for the info posted on this blog.
Thanks God for the occasional tracks of a hiker with a funny Gait.

[zippetydude]

lightgy: I can see why you were torn, and it's nice the SAR mission wasn't for you. Conditions change so suddenly sometimes out there that even experienced people find they have to make a decision that isn't 100% positive:

1)Turn around and take the safe, though long route back, leaving a group of first-timers to fend for themselves, or

2) Take the faster route on up and risk getting lost due to rapidly changing conditions with snow and fog.

Either way, you were faced with a mix of good and bad. As so often happens, things worked out fine, but you just can't see the outcome from the point of decision making, and that's tough.

By the way, it wasn't just you yesterday. If you read Ellen's post, the snow was getting a little tricky for her too. I was over mountain biking by Oak Glen, and a cloud came over with that hail you spoke of, which then turned to snow. I was in biking shorts and a t-shirt. I considered turning around, but decided to hang with it just a little longer. 5 minutes later the clouds broke and I was riding in beautiful, warm May sunshine. You just never can tell.

Thanks for your post. I'm glad everything worked out in your favor. And thanks for helping the first timers to get through safely!

z