Question about Skyline geographic points of interest

[ngatel]

I see many people post about Flat Rock and other landmarks. Could some one describe where they are?

I never use a GPS, so waypoints won't help me. I am familiar with the trail, i.e. picnic benches, 4300' rocks, location of the water cache, scrub oak grove, manzanita swtichbacks, etc. So pointing a a landmark in reference to any area would make sense to me.

[Florian]

"Flat Rock" is the not very flat rock drainage area you cross at about 6000' before you go under some oaks and up the chaparral area.

-Florian

[halhiker]

About twenty years ago we used to call the place where you went through the oaks, "Sherwood Forest" but I haven't heard anyone call it that for a long time. Of course, Coffman Crag is the big rock near the top.

[ngatel]

Ah... would never have guessed that the drainage is flat rock.

[Florian]

Ah... would never have guessed that the drainage is flat rock.

Some people call it lunch rock as it's a good place to take a break and eat something before the chaparral climb.

-Florian

[lightgy]

Is "the never ending ridge" the section of trail from "tombstone rock" till flat rock?

Where is "shade rock"? Is it group of rocks that line the trail as you pop out of the canyon onto the ridge before 4000 feet?

Thanks,

[guest]

Hi Nick,
Many of us came up with our own names for sections, (I like Sherwood forest!), of the trail, some have kinda stuck.

Some of us call the area facing north (towards Techevah / Dry Falls) @ approx. 2,800 ft. the Shady Slope, (it's shaded most of the year)
& actually a series of fairly steep switchbacks.

As Florian mentioned, many folks call "Flat rock", lunch rock, but I recommend eating any slow digesting food Before this spot, since, as you know, the trail gets steep, and you need your body spending energy on propulsion, not digestion.

The area before this some (like Ellen) call the never ending ridge), it can work you, since you've already done about 5k ft. of climbing, you're beginning to feel the altitude, and it can be hot here.

Then, after the Manzanita (6-7k), it what a few of us regulars call the Rocky Ridge, the trail is still heading towards (west) the mountain & beginning of the trees.

Finally, the Traverse, where you head across (north) towards Coffman's.

There's my 2 cents, and, as many here have already advised, save this hike for the fall.

scott

[vbmatloff]

Here are a few of the waypoints, I don't have the Oak groves or the Manzanita. The elevations may not be "exact" due to differences in calibration but should be pretty close, here's what I have.

Trailhead N33.82509 W116.55028 elev. 479'
Picnic Benches N33.82641 W116.55746 elev. 1269'
Flat Rock N33.81539 W116.61817 elev. 5870'
Water Cache N33.81842 W116.61378 elev. 5682'
Tram N33.81307 W116.63863 elev. 8424' (downstairs)
Coffman's Crag N33.81404 W116.63598 elev. 8080' (the peak)
I did not mark a waypoint here, so I'm guessing from the topo.

Maybe someone else has the Oaks & Manzanitas?
Victor

[Florian]

I have a landmark of my own that i've never heard anyone mention. At about 3800' a bit above the Shady Slope you are headed west and come through a little gap. Straight ahead of you is a conical peak crowned by a large boulder. Another 100 feet you make a 90° left turn and then pass south of the peak. This is Wrong Way Rock. I named it this from the old days when the trail was much less traveled and much harder to follow. I would always miss the left turn and make my way around the north side of the rock. I used to camp there too sometimes.

Here is a photo from last year .. http://flic.kr/p/6oxETK

-Florian