Skyline TR 11/7 - first timer

[Stellar Jay]

This hike was everything I dreamed it would be! Wow, what an adventure.

My San Diego posse hit the trail at 6:14. The sun rising over Palm Springs was beautiful. For most of the day, the four of us traveled in two pairs (Ishay and Ava, and Lee and I) and met up at prominent landmarks. Along the way we met Ze, bluerail, Florian, drndr, Ellen and Umbrella Man, Tina and Jason, and several members of Riverside Mountain Rescue. It was comforting to see so many people around. I think it might have been a different experience if my group was out there alone.

The section leading up to the picnic tables was the only time it was hotter than I would have liked--after that, I was quite happy with the weather. We kept a slow and steady pace for the whole day.

There was one point around the 7,000 ft level where we lost the trail. We didn't want to descend to retrace our steps but fortunately, there was a couple above us coming down the hill. We climbed straight up in the direction of their voices and got back on the trail within a few minutes.

We pulled out the headlamps just before Coffman's Crag and did the final assault in the dark. (I did say SLOW and steady.) The view of Palm Springs lighting up through the trees was absolutely awe-inspiring. (I was delirious and totally giddy at this point so there was a lot of awe.) I thoroughly enjoyed the night navigation.

We made it to the top at 6:17 pm for a grand total of almost exactly 12 hours. On that final walk to the tram, I was high on life and desperately wished that I had the supplies and time to push on to the SJ summit. Will do that one day.

Favorite section: the transition between desert shrubbery into foresty vegetation. Also the part where you're on the north side of the red wall of rock.
Unfavorite section: the 500 feet or so climbing up to the level of Coffman's Crag.

I'm super proud of having completed the ascent. I really appreciate this forum and Perry's Skyline site which helped me prepare. I knew exactly what I was getting into and that made all the difference in the world. I don't know how soon, but I'll be back to do it again.

So anyway, what's the story behind Flat Rock? It's not very flat.

Jay

[magikwalt]

Congratulations Stellar Jay! I have had the same question about Flat Rock. We should rename the area "The Last Place To Sit Down Before Hell Begins." I am really upset that you didn't announce yourself as "Stellar Jay" when Ellen and I saw you at 4300ft. You have the best name on this board. Sure hope you got some pictures of that special day.

Magikwalt

[Sally]

Congratulations Stellar Jay! I, too, was a first timer this Saturday, and I know how elated you must feel. My partners and I turned it into a C2C and returned to the tram at about 6:15, so we must have crossed paths. Are you one of the people who got a cab at the bottom station after the 7:00 tram? If so, I was one of the three gals who was hoping we'd fit in the cab with you! Hope to meet you on the trail some day!

Sally

[tinaballina]

Congrats SJ, it was great to meet you and Lee.

[Ellen]

Howdy Stellar Jay

Congratulations!!! The first Skyline is always special I can see that you're hooked and look forward to seeing you again on Skyline.

Like Walt, I feel badly that I didn't realize who you were when we met
I also apologize for being a space cadet -- I'm generally sociable when I hike but my brain cells were fried at that point.

Howdy Sally

Congratulations! I don't believe we crossed paths on the trail but it sounds like you'll be BACK

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Hikin_Jim]

I kept asking people if they were Lee, and I kept getting these "looks." I think I must have missed you guys by an hour or so at the tram.

CONGRATS on doing a truly major hike.

HJ

P.S. And "SJ" -- what perfect initials for this board.

[zippetydude]

Hi Stellar Jay! Hi Sally! We must have met along the trail...maybe next time we'll recognize each other! Do you remember meeting a really tired looking guy with glasses and a gray tank top? That would be me.

Hey Sally, I take it you found your way just fine. I remember you had mentioned you were going to bring your daughter - did she do the trail with you?

Anyway, congrats to each of you on your accomplishment! See you out there on the trail again!

z

[lee]

Sorry I missed you, Jim. I remember our exchange of emails prior to my first time in June 2007. Thanks again for your advice in those early days. I am down to 12 hours now (from 14). A few more of these hikes with each better by 2 hours and I'll be running with the middle of the pack here :)

I took 1408 pictures on Saturday and have plenty of pictures of Stellar Jay, Magikwalt. More than she would have liked :) Plus a few pictures of you, Ellen, Tina, Jason, Jeremy, mtnmama, Florian, bluerail and Ze. I was on one of the curves when Rick, Zippetydude, Micheal, and others were going straight up so I missed them. Will try to go through them to screen out unflattering ones and post them soon. I also tried to post pictures from that failed Winter attempt in 2007 before this trip but life kept interfering.

[Stellar Jay]

Thanks everyone soooo much for all the congratulations. I'm loving it!!

Walt -- sorry I didn't announce myself. I was a little shy about that since I'm such a newcomer to the forum. But around that time, I was a bit low on energy and not awfully talkative so that also played a role.

Sally -- That might have been us because we did get a cab around that time. I wasn't there for that conversation because I was walking up and down the parking lot in anticipation of sitting on my butt for three hours...

Tina -- on the trail you really emphasized how special it was just to make it up, no matter how fast. That made me feel really good right then because we'd been seeing so many people fly past us. I couldn't get the image of bluerail out of my head, he looked like he was going up a staircase and taking two steps at a time the whole way.

Ellen -- Yes I do believe I'm hooked. Sitting here right now, I'd like to think that I can come back before the snow comes this year. We shall see... Also, I want to do some things a little differently and see how it goes.

Jim -- that's really funny because near the top, we met a couple and they were asking for Lee. They had a message from an Abby with a European accent. We had Ava and Ishay ahead of us and one has an accent so we thought we were on the right track, but it actually turned out to be another Lee! So there were two Lees on the trail that day!

zippetydude -- I think Lee said that we did miss you. At one point there was a group of maybe 5 people that was coming up behind us but they all took a shortcut (that went straight up) and we had already veered off on the "long" way.

By the way my real first and middle names are Sarah Jay, everyone calls me Jay, and I love birds.

Jay

[Stellar Jay]

Ah ok then, we did miss you z. Next time

That's right, we also met MTNMAMA. I'm sorry I left you off the list!