New Skyline warning signs

[Perry]

Agree: # of deaths, # of rescues. Also, elevation signs along the way. It would give someone an "oh shit" moment without being too pushy. If they've used up half their water and only climbed 2,000 feet...good time to turn around. If they think they're halfway, then they would probably keep going. Actually signs with an elevation profile and marking "you are here" and marking the museum at the beginning and the tram at the end would really bring the point across.

While the hiking club signs might be distracting, I'm thankful for all the work they did. The trails have greatly improved. I'm guessing they were unable to get permission to work on the museum trail.

[Ed]

Also, elevation signs along the way. It would give someone an "oh shit" moment without being too pushy. If they've used up half their water and only climbed 2,000 feet...good time to turn around. If they think they're halfway, then they would probably keep going. Actually signs with an elevation profile and marking "you are here" and marking the museum at the beginning and the tram at the end would really bring the point across.

What a great idea! Some people will never pay attention to any signs, but some would, and calibration might be more effective than lecturing. And why not add a thermometer? Elevation signs would be nice anyway, particularly for first-timers. Better than the rescue boxes, I think, the problems with which have been well-discussed on the board.

[cynthia23]

I think elevation signs every two thousand feet or so are an excellent idea. The trail has a kind of optical illusion, in that the top seems much closer than it is. I once was hiking near a guy and as we crested the top of the big ridge (the spot that is around 4000 feet), he looked at the upper ridges (which is the first time you can see them) and excitedly exclaimed "Oh! We're only about an hour away now!"

re: why the Desert Museum trail continues to be in total disarray--I actually spoke to someone connected to the group of volunteers who cleaned up the Ramon trail. They were considering cleaning up the Desert Museum, but I told them that frankly I thought it was a complete waste of their time--the group of PR-obsessed Skyliners who have so trashed and destroyed the trail with their stupid shortcuts, would simply ignore their improvements and go right back to using/creating their asinine (not the word I'd really like to use!) shortcuts. Because it's SO vitally important to cut thirty minutes off your time! Until this group of jerks is penalized or fined or (I can dream!) imprisoned for their selfish and destructive behavior, volunteers trying to straighten out the trail are simply wasting their hard work. The Ramon trail has stayed 'clean' because the PR-obsessed jerks never use it (you lose ten whole minutes!!!) Three months after the Desert Museum was cleaned up, it would be totally wrecked again.