What are the chances of doing C2C a week from now?

[bluerail]

I wouldnt go without the spikes and axe

[Rick F]

I will be attempting a C2C on Saturday, January 2nd. I will be with a group of maybe 5 other hikers (if everyone who told me that they're going actually shows up). The hikers in my group are all in good shape but have varying levels of experience. I have briefed them on the likelyhood of encountering ice & snow before reaching the first easy bail-out opportunity at the top of the tram. They know that they may need to turn around and descend via the Skyline Trail if they are not prepared to make it through the traverse and up to the notch. We are planning to leave the museum at 3:00 a.m. If a storm hits the day of, or even the day before, we will change destinations or re-schedule for another day. So far the forecast is indicating that the weather will be good for our date.

I have been watching the posts hoping to find new information on the conditions at the upper sections of the Skyline Trail. But there haven't been any new reports for Skyline since Bluerail's December 12 trip. If anyone has current information on route conditions please post.

Thanks, Rick

[KathyW]

It's icy out there - you should see how fast the children on sleds are going down the little hills in Long Valley near the upper tram station.

If that traverse above 7000' on the Skyline Trail is icy, and I'm sure it is, it will be pretty difficult to arrest a fall. Also, remember that going up is easier than coming down, so don't push on up the hill if it's icy because you might find that retreating isn't easy to do and then you'll be in a pickle.

[bluerail]

a few of us went up and practiced self-arresting in long valley yesterday, it was so icy that after going maybe fifteen feet, you were going so fast it was very hard to stop. it IS icy on skyline, i would say if they arent really good on the ice...dont go.

[OtherHand]

The two individuals rescued Sat night/Sunday morning were at the east end of the traverse at around the 7,500 foot level. To safely get across the traverse and up to Grubbs Notch, crampons and an ice axe are necessary. Microspikes are very marginal in the current conditions there. The rescue was performed by setting up temporary fixed belay lines the length of the traverse and up to the notch. If you don't fully understand what this means, it's that the conditions were judged treacherous enough that even after the subjects were given crampons, it wasn't deemed safe enough for them to proceed without them being attached to fixed lines.

The snow in some areas tends to have a very hard, icy crust which crampons barely bite, but if you break though you posthole above your knee. Snow coverage varies, from at least a foot to several feet.

In summary, the traverse is very dangerous at the moment unless you are wearing crampons, carrying an ice axe, and know how to QUICKLY self-arrest.

Plan accordingly.

[Nick-SJM]

I was one of the two State Park personnel to first reach the stranded hikers on Saturday evening. They were on the south-east end of the traverse at 7,000 feet. They had no idea what they were getting into. One was wearing shorts and the other had on cotton jeans and tennis shoes. The temperature was in the 20s. Nice guys, but definitely got in over their head. Skyline in the winter (and the summer) is NOT something to be taken lightly. As has been said above, full (10 or 12 point) crampons and ice axe are often necessary in the winter. Owning these items is not enough. You have to really know how to use them. Misused they can get you killed. I don't want to have my next trip down Skyline be a body recovery.

First timers have no idea how far and difficult Skyline is. When you get a chance, please discourage first timers from going up in winter or the middle of summer without someone with a lot of experience on Skyline.

Nick

[bluerail]

even someone who does it in 6 or 7 hours in good weather is really, really putting things at risk during bad weather. i think going up in the winter and the summer is stupid. period.

[Rick F]

I do appreciate the words of caution shared in the previous posts. I'll pass the information on to the other hikers in my group.

Assuming that the conditions on Skyline are as extreme as recent posts have speculated, its amazing that the two guys in shorts and tennis shoes made it from the top of the tram to the east end of the traverse.

[Nick-SJM]

The two hikers came up from the museum. It is amazing how much bad information is contained in early reports (including the media).

Nick

[Perry]

It's a right traverse, so you have to hold the ice axe with your left hand and flip it with your left wrist if you start slipping. Another thing to consider if you prefer using your right hand.