Cy's Birthday Nov 24

[KathyW]

I'm not sure if I'll make it up the Skyline Trail tomorrow - I might do a shorter hike instead, but I'll be at Las Casuelas at 2 pm. I'm looking forward to the party.

[Cy Kaicener]

Here in Rialto the wind is howling. If conditions are bad on the trail, I may only go up to the 4000 ft level. See you on the trail or at Casuelas.

[Cy Kaicener]

I am at the Palm Springs library killing time until we meet at Casuelas at 2 pm.
Doreen and I started at 4 am and hiked up to the 4000 ft level only, because of cold and strong winds. I hated to go back. On the way back we saw about twenty people, the only regulars being Zippedydude and Ellen. This wasnt enough for me, so I walked up the tram road. At about the creek at the dip Stan (Zip) saw me as he was driving down and gave me a ride back to my car. I couldnt believe he could get up there so fast in this wind. It was before 11 am. He said the winds were ferocious above Flat Rock and the temperatures were at freezing. The overnight low was 24 degrees

[Cy Kaicener]

Special thanks go to Ellen for organising and treating ten people to an excellent lunch. Thanks to Walt and Jim also for sparking the idea. I felt right at home with my kind of people. We sure had a lot of stories. Better than a campfire.
Congratulations to Zip and Ellen for making it up to the tram in adverse conditions.

Off topic - I have finally been able to find out how to tell the difference between a male and female fly. -- The female is the one sitting on the phone, and the male is the one on the opened beer can.

[Ellen]

Howdy Cy

Walt actually picked up the check while I was in the loo, though he did accept contributions from all

Thanks and credit really go to Walt and Jim for planning a surprise birthday party for you. Fortunately they weren't upset with me for exposing the secret

In retrospect, Las Consuelas turned out to be a good meeting spot. As much as we would have enjoyed Walt's barbecue in Long Valley, we agreed that we would have frozen our butts off.

Both Walt and Cynthia have kindly offered to host Skyline parties at their abodes in the near future.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Ellen]

Howdy All

I started from the museum at 5:40 AM in shorts and tee-shirt. The temperature was brisk with the wind chill but quite refreshing.

The sun rise was the most spectacular I've ever witnessed on Skyline. As the sun started to break above the mountains, a shooting star with a tail appeared directly above it. The sky was extremely clear and the sunrise reflected beautifully off the water of the Salton Sea. Definitely a special start of the day to honor Cy.

Of course I got turned around before Shade rock Thankfully, Z-dude was going up (the right direction) and I had not lost too much elevation. This is the third time Z has been there to set me straight At least this time I wasn't leading anyone else astray

I ran into Cy and Doreen above Shade rock -- they warned me and other hikers of the ferocious wind and cold temperatures. I continued on as I enjoy cold weather, especially when I don't have to contend with ice or snow. I also have significantly more body fat and had a fleece jacket, gloves and pants in my daypack.

As I climbed the never ending ridge before Flat rock, I caught up with a group of four guys from Palm Desert who had passed me at Shade Rock. It turned out that I'd met one fellow before -- we both hiked Skyline last year on a treacherous day when snow covered the trail above 7000 feet. He remembered me due to my shorts and scratched legs

We enjoyed a short break in the shelter and sun at Flat Rock, then made our way up through the manzanita. Once we hit the pine trees and started along the ridge towards Coffman's crag, the wind and cold temperature became brutal and I donned my fleece jacket. On the positive side, the cold weather and icy wind was an incentive to not dally up the final steep switchbacks

We popped up over the notch into Long Valley at 11:40 and ran into Kathy In spite of the frigid temperature, the beer at the tram bar tasted wonderful The Palm Desert group kindly took me to my car at the museum and I headed to Las Consuelas.

It was terrific to see Walt and Kathy again and be introduced to Jean, Jim, Michiko and Grandmaster Perry. This was also the first time I've conversed with Cynthia outside of the museum parking lot We enjoyed fine food and fellowship and got to know Cy a little better.

In short, a perfect day
Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[KathyW]

Cy: I hope you had a great birthday.

It was really nice meeting everyone.

I didn't even attempt the Skyline yesterday - instead I ran/walked the 4 mile loop from Long Valley out toward Hidden Divide then to Round Valley and back to to Long Valley. The weather wasn't too cold until I got to Round Valley - it was really cold and windy at Round Valley.

Kathy

[Cy Kaicener]

This is a birthday I will never forget. I am looking forward to celebrating future birthdays if they are like this. Thank you all for coming and making it a day to remember. Sorry that I had to leave early.

[magikwalt]

Its always great to sit and chat with hikers from this board. It helps to put the human factor back into the chats. Its also great for catching up on whose been doing what.

[Hikin_Jim]

... He remembered me due to my shorts and scratched legs

Well, Ellen, to be honest that's how I knew who you were when I drove into the parking lot.

That was a lot of fun, and honestly Las Casuelas was a way better idea than gathering at the top of the tram like we did last time. People's teeth would be chattering so much we'd never understand each other. We'd have to use sign language, and I'd be a little afraid as to what sign people would give me since it was my idea.