Yet another rescue of Skyline

[Ken]

There has been a lot of discussion about the Outdoors Club, and what they should be doing.

I've led over 300 trips for them, and have had extensive discussion with their webmaster, and my attorney, about the issue of liability and the waivers.

Actually, ODC is pretty judgment-proof. It is a limited liability corporation, with no assets.

There are those who think that they should have a level of proficiency, to allow a person to lead. NO! As soon as you do that, you have given an assurance of proficiency of every leader. This is what the Sierra Club does (I'm a leader for them, also), and they take on significant liability because they DO certify leaders. The ODC purports to only provide a mechanism for people to communicate with each other, and to arrange trips with each other. In this situation, it would be like having an auto accident because the auto was defective...and suing the LA Times, because they printed the ad.

But as always, caveat emptor!

[donnie]

Perry--about the ODC: outdoorsclub.org
ODC hikes are very popular and fill up fast. When posting a hike, a trip coordinator can e-mail his trip to his select group of ODC friends before his event has been published to the ODC event board (it usually takes a few days for ODC to preview before publishing the event). That is why some hikes are full from the outset.
Your friend could also watch the message board on ODC for upcoming events instead of waiting for an email. New events are posted on the ODC message board before email.
Your friend could sign up for an event and she will automatically be put on the waitlist and she could be added later, there are always people cancelling. She could also e-mail the trip coordinator information about her experiences and desire to hike on his/her hike.
Another thing to note about ODC. The first three outings are free, then if you like the club, you pay the yearly fee of 35 dollare IF you live in the southern california counties of Riverside, SD, La, Orange, and Ventura.

If you sign up with an address outside of these counties, there are no membership fees.

[Perry]

Thanks, Donnie. I did notice that after my post. On the web site it says upfront that it's free to start, so it does sound like a good deal. Presumably, by the time somebody has to pay, they have already made some friends in the club. Could my friend just start her own hikes and invite people? After all, they don't screen leaders.

[donnie]

Perry, More about the outdoorsclub.org ( ODC)
Your friend can post any type of outdoors event she wants on ODC. I would suggest she post a hike with the details of where and when she is going, but leave out the trailhead information or meeting place for the group. Once people sign up, she can e-mail members of her hike with specific updated information. I usually print out a topo map for each person, and highlight where we plan to hike. The most simple hikes are out and back, it is easy on the trip coordinator to be certain all hikers return. It's a good idea to have the group wait at all trail tees or junctions and regroup. I usually start in the back to check the rated of travel of unknow hikers, then usually one of the slower hikers becomes sweep, leaving no one behind to get lost. She should state if the hike is easy, moderate, or hard and the rate of travel she will be hiking, slow, medium or fast.....
If she has any questions, she can e-mail me or post onto the ODC mesage board.

What is interesting about ODC is that everyone has a profile. The profile lists all the trips that they have participated in or Led. Suppose you want to sign up for a trip led by me. You could click on my profile and see all the hikes/events I have led and participated in. If you see that six other people are signed up for my hike, you can click on their names to see their profiles and hikes/events that they have participated in. You can also look at previous hikes I have led and see what comments or photos have been posted about the trip....

So, if you see a person who has participated in NO hikes or events and is leading a trip, I would think twice about going with him or at least calling him and speaking to him..... He should give you his phone number...

I think the ODC website is the most informative and dynamic of any outdoors sites. Tim Bui is the Guru, a great guy who is also an outdoorsman.

[lee]

It's probably a record no one wants but it's good to know I still have my 14-hour Skyline record/ordeal

( Had I known the helicopter ride was fun and free... )

I have since returned to the "crime scene" twice when passing through the area. Just poking around a little bit behind the museum and the area just below Long Valley. Will try to see if I can trim about 4 hours off my "record" in the Fall.

Perry, I will have pictures of the hike from the tram up to SJ peak posted by August 5th so there is more truth to "2000 photos".

This is probably too much to ask but ...
My wish:
1) take pictures of Cy going down to Flat rock and back
2) take pictures of Cy or one of the regulars here doing a full Skyline during the day (a cool Fall day?)
My problem:
1) would you let me ?
2) if you let me, I may not be able to keep up

[Cy Kaicener]

Lee - You just might get your wish. Are you sure that is what you really want. There are some good looking women on this trail. You could get some pictures of some of the regulars by hiking down and snap them as they dart by. The best place is half way between Long Valley and Flat Rock or just above Coffmans Crag. I am getting half an hour slower every year, so I figure that by the time I am eighty, it should be taking me 14 hours minimum. You on the other hand should get faster.

[magikwalt]

Don't let Cy fool you. He is the King of Pace. The only reason his time is slowing down is there are so many of us wanting to talk with him.

I know I certainly appreciate everytime I get the chance to spend time with him.

[zippetydude]

"There are some good looking women on this trail."

There may be other reasons Cy is adding time to his Skyline trips...

z

[Hikin_Jim]

Checking out Ellen's legs no doubt.

[Perry]

Thanks, Donnie. I'll let her know.

Lee, I guess I didn't count them, but it did seem like less than 2,000. I remember wondering where the Round Valley/Peak Trail photos were. I probably figured they were on a separate page. But still, 1,000 skyline photos ain't bad.