Two Seperate Rescues On The Tram Hike Today

[magikwalt]

Boy this is just the type of media we don't need.

http://www.desertsunonline.com/apps/pbc ... E/70623008

I'm sure RMRU loved going up at 1:30pm today.

[guest]

Hey Magikwalt,

I guess it's that time of year, the lows only getting into the 70's.
I'm sure there many reason's why folks hike Skyline in this weather, but my guess is ego!
Sure, some do it unscathed, a regular did it today & ( according to one of the tram employee who I know well) passed a group at flat rock who were not doing well, surprise!

Well, I hope all are well, San Jac peak is such a great hike this time of year, maybe 60 at the top today, and a good workout until the fall.

ss

[magikwalt]

Hi SS,

You're right, the top of San Jacinto is perfect right now. I am finding the clockwise loop coming away from the tram a great workout. The initial up, over and then down hike does a nice job of warming everything up and stretching it out. Then its nice to turn up the energy level coming out of Saddle Jct for the just under 3 mile climb to Wellman's Divide.

Next weekend I'm going to give Perry's Big Loop a go. I'm debating about throughing Law's Camp into the mix since there is still water there. I hate coming down from Wellman's under lamp though. My depth perception isn't what it used to be and the section under the trees kills me at night.

Walt

[Cy Kaicener]

Its a good thing that we managed to talk that big Orange County group OCHBC
out of their hike. They were slow beginners who wanted to start at 5.45 am
I saw two cars opposite the museum at 3.30 am but decided not to go because I thought it was too late and it was very humid with not even a slight breeze. There was not even a breeze on the tram road which is very unusual.

[Cy Kaicener]

I heard that a missing hiker reached Long Valley at 7.30 pm on Saturday. I dont know if this was the missing hiker that search and rescue was looking for. There is nothing on rmru.org yet.

[magikwalt]

Have you noticed Cy that RMRU isn't posting anything for 2007? Am I just missing it since they redesigned the site?

[Cy Kaicener]

I noticed that, but everything new is posted under Recent Events. Missions 2000s is an archive so it wont be posted until 2007 is over.

[guest]

Hi Walt & Cy,

That loop is a good one Walt, I haven't done the Big one in years, I do prefer doing the Saddle Jct one counter-clockwise, as you get the big elevation done by Wellman's, and only have that 6-700 ft. climb back to Divide peak area (high tr. sign) to do at the end.
Cy, you know how big a difference a few extra degrees, and especially humidity, even it's it's just 10-15% more, can make on Skyline.

It's just not worth it, even if we know we can finish the hike, my last one was 2-3 wks ago for the season I think.

I wonder if I should go stick a little sign on the Museum sing that says
" Danger, Too Hot! wait till fall!"

ss

[cynthia23]

re: TWO rescues on Saturday ....I hate to say I told you so ... but ... THIS is why I don't think we should lightly pass out info to newbies, who just don't understand at a bodily level how difficult and how hot Skyline will be. I agree with SS that ego plays a role in making the (extremely foolhardy) decision to try Skyline for the first time in the summer months, but I also think in part it's because newbies simply don't fully understand the dangerous nature of the trail and actually believe they are adequately prepared. Two weeks ago I was up at the tram and tram employees told me they were waiting for yet more Skyline newbies who had started at 5 a.m. (it was now 5pm.) with only three liters of water--I heard nothing in the news, so I guess they made it somehow (they were surely hiking the last four hours without any water whatsoever.) For every rescue in the news there are probably five groups that barely squeak by with a dangerously thin margin. On Skyline, to get yourself in a rescue situation, you only have to make a small error in judgement--in this case starting at 5 a.m. (which to most out of towners would seem prudent and plenty early.) Of course experienced Skyliners know that this time of year newbies must start by two or three at the latest--or better yet, not try it at all until the fall. From one small error in judgement, everything cascades, and you end up with a group of people dehydrated and in need of rescue. I'll say it again: SKYLINE IS DANGEROUS. We need to remember that when we talk to newbies, to emphasize it repeatedly, and to strongly discourage people--whether it's Regular Joe or Lance Armstrong--from trying it for the first time in the summer or winter months. It is simply too dangerous. I did it one year during the summer months, several times, and had a couple of close calls--one time I got very sick. It was scary as hell. No hike is worth your life. SS is right--there are plenty of great hikes up on top.

[magikwalt]

This message board is filled with "cautions" and advice that any sane minded person might make use of if they found it. To assume that the folks being rescued made use of this site is a stretch to my mind. When Hikin_Jim contacted the Orange County group they weren't even aware this site existed. After reviewing the info they cancelled their hike.

This site discusses far more than just the hike to the tram, although I will agree that "we" do get a little myopic. Anyone I have ever talked with about the hike has always described it as a serious butt kicker that is filled with hazard and highly prone to failure. Heck just a review of RMRU's website shows the missions come in from all over San Jacinto and not an inordinate amount of them concern this trail. Bad luck and bad preparation happen all over the county.

The C2C hike is larger than just this site. It's now in the latest release of Philip Farranti's 120 Great Hikes it's in Robinson's book and it's been written up in Backpacker Magazine. Maybe all those sources should reference this site.