C2C for 1st Time on 10/27 - Ice at traverse? Finding Route?

[mikekostura]

Hi All,

Thanks for this great site. I'm looking forward to hiking the famous Cactus to Clouds trail for the first time on Mon, 10/27. I'm a relatively strong hiker - I do Mt. Whitney in a day every summer, which I hope means I'm in good enough shape... My friend and I are hoping to hit the trail around 4:30am.

I have 2 questions:

1) Has anyone gone up in the last day or two? I'm concerned about ice forming in the rightward traverse before Coffman's Cragg... I'm not so great at Winter mountaineering. Has ice formed yet??

2) How hard IS it to follow the route for a first timer? With a good headlamp and previous nighttime trail finding experience, should I be OK, not having done this "trail" before? Or am I likely to wander off the trail easily? Any good step-by-step guides out there for keeping on the route (without GPS)??

Thanks! Hope to see you guys out there!

[KathyW]

If you have some experience hiking and are used to following trails, you shouldn't have any problem finding the route. There are a lot of "shortcuts", but they all typically hook back together up the hill. It helps to have an idea where the trail is in respect to Coffmans Crag up in that area. Check out this site for a map of the route an other info:

http://www.geocities.com/cactus2clouds/skyline.html

I kinda of doubt that ice will be an issue - it's been pretty warm since we were up there a couple of weeks ago.

It's important when the weather is warm in Palm Springs, which is often, you should be prepared to be able to make it up the 8500' of vertical gain to Long Valley because going back down in the heat might be a pretty difficult task.

Also, watch the weather - a 4:30am start on a hot day might be a little late if your body isn't conditioned to hike in the heat.

[drndr]

I think for a first timer, in the dark especially, the bottom portion is the hardest to follow. Cutting the switchbacks and using shortcuts has almost made it impossible to follow the main trail. The best info I had been given is to keep to the right when in doubt.

At the picnic tables I have also seen people head more of a north route. You still need to be ging west.

Just my opinion and seems to work.

Good luck and have fun

[mark2812]

I was on the trail last Saturday. There was no ice on the traverse. It was
very warm all the way to the tram. Brings lots of water.
As for trail, I agree that the lower section can be a bit confusing. There are white dots as markers which help a bit. Also, when you come to a small pyramid of rocks after the picnic benches, go right, not left (as this leads back to Ramon rd). Otherwise, the trail is rather straightforward.
Good luck - it is a great hike.

[Zé]

I would just like to say that I know a few Kostura's and they are good people. There's not many Kostura's! Good luck going up the mountain!

[mikekostura]

Thanks guys! I really appreciate the tips. Good stuff.

Ze: You must know some different Kostura's than I do!! Ha Ha.