Caution: Sleeping Beauty on Skyline

[Screerider]

I usually try to stay out in the open when approaching female hikers. Anybody for that matter. I usually do have that homeless appearance and am more often then not found wandering in a daze

[Sally]

Ellen, Heather, and I came upon a rather scruffy questionable looking guy with a dog at the stream crossing on the lower part of Bear Canyon trail on our way to Baldy on Wednesday. I didn't know whether to be more concerned about the man or his dog. They both turned out to be harmless, and the dog wanted to follow us up the trail.

[cynthia23]

Hm, not sure if my point is coming through. I feel like people are taking this the wrong way (as a critique of disheveled people!) That's not my point--indeed, I'm majorly disheveled myself. My concern is specific to Skyline, really. On Skyline (versus most other trails) you are actually quite likely to encounter people who are not hikers (i.e. drug users, the mentally ill) because a significant portion of the trail is IN, or adjacent to, an urban area. This is not something you're going to run into on trails that require a car to get to the TH, which, in SoCal, is nearly all of them. When you're on the lower portions of SKyline at 4 a.m., it's as if you're walking through a deserted, not-that-great urban neighborhood at 4. a.m, just after the bars close. I've run into guys who were stark naked, people having sex, people getting stoned--you name it. I'm just saying--be aware of this issue on this trail, esp. if you're alone.

[Screerider]

Just having fun with it...I.m not always at my prettiest out there.
That does kind of explain the cigarette butts on the trail.
I really do try to make myself visible to others on the trail. I feel that it is not only a courtesy, but that it also makes the creeps easier to identify.

[KathyW]

There is a person of similar description that regularly hikes the south Lykken trail, usually shirtless, wearing pants not shorts. If is the same person i think he's okay and just likes the trails.

-Florian

but is he usually wrapped up in Hefty bags?


Cynthia: Thanks for the warning.

[bluerail]

this did kinda look like like it was going to take the direction of a Fight On thread.

[Screerider]

Not sure what a "fight on" thread is...

It's just pretty obvious that he was just a homeless person who had a little bit of gumption to make it a little ways up the trail. Not that it wouldn't spook a person.
It is a reminder though that the trail starts in downtown Palm Springs, and is easily assessable to all sorts of people. There was a recent arrest, I believe in Rancho Mirage...some guy was hitting the cars at the trail head. There are a lot of tweekers in this area, some with internet access. Just be careful when posting start times or when out early. If you see something out of place, post it.
Not to create a scare, I can't remember of ever hearing of any problems of that sort up there.

[bluerail]

Fight on was a very colorful past member of this board for a number of years, often putting up long running threads of oddly dressed hikers in the mountain areas closer to L.A.

He brought alot of color and controversy to the board. Too much, after pushing the limit for too many years - he was finally banned.

Im sure there are a few of us that miss his antics.

[Perry]

Im sure there are a few of us that miss his antics.

He made the board entertaining. I wish I could invite him back, but I'm afraid that too many people would get mad and leave. The only realistic way would be to disable his private messages and set up a special section at the end, just for him and anybody that wants to participate in or read his discussions. Problem is, I could see him also wanting to participate in the discussions here in the main area, especially if anybody mentions the slightest hint of trespassing or consuming caffeine. But overall, yeah, I'm one of those that misses having him on the board. He would probably be a fun person to hike with also, assuming that you've researched the legality of every square foot of where you step along the way.

[cynthia23]

Off topic on my own thread, but does anyone remember the "Candy" troll? That was the troll who kept reappearing with various porny 'hot girl' names like Candy and Cherry. He was a genuine troll, but I found him bizarrely entertaining, and I kind of miss him.