An Interesting Morning on Skyline

[Sally]

When Ellen and I met at the tram parking lot to leave a car there we learned that RMRU had been mobilized to help out some Skyline hikers who had gotten into trouble. We arrived at the museum parking lot to find the rescue guys and law enforcement staged there. They informed us that there were people up there that had started up yesterday, made it past Flat Rock, and decided to head back down when conditions got sketchy. It got dark, they had no lights, their clothing was inadequite, and a hiker had blown out his knee. Apparently the hikers got a distress call out and RMR came down Skyline with sleeping bags and such last night.

Anyhow, we spoke briefly with Rescue people, and then headed up the trail with bottles of water that were given to us to take to the group bivied up at Rescue Box 1. We did find them at that spot and they were pretty greatful for the water. We continued on.

There had been a nice sunrise and the air temp was warmish. Occasionally we were treated to a breeze. When we were on the south side of the ridge the air was still and hot. Then we would cross over to the north side of the ridge where the breeze was. We were to alternate between hot and cold all morning. We had plenty to talk about, what with the debate about the 17 hikers stuck up on the mountain on Saturday night.

We had lunch at Florian's Cache, hiked through Flat Rock and started the next leg of the trip. The ground was very moist and tiny patches of snow appeared. When we got to where the new 2 inches of snow (that fell Monday) were pretty consistant we came upon a few large newly fallen trees from Saturday's windstorm. This caused us to seek a route around the downed trees, which actually turned out to be a short cut.

The new snow on the traverse was only about 2" deep and rather sticky, so we had good traction with the microspikes. I would guess that a few more warm days and cold nights may turn the trail icy.

When we got to Coffman's Craig we noticed that the boot tracks we had been seeing became crampon tracks. The tracks were undoubtedly made by the Rescue guys. I sure wouldn't want to be hiking DOWN that part of the trail with heavy packs and no crampons!

Well, we made it to the top - no record times this time!

Naturally we had beverages at the tram station, and then headed down to Las Consuelas for a great meal.

Thanks, Ellen!

[HH8]

When Ellen and I met at the tram parking lot to leave a car there we learned that RMRU had been mobilized to help out some Skyline hikers who had gotten into trouble.

Thanks for the update

[halhiker]

http://www.mydesert.com/article/2012012 ... ted-safety

[Ellen]

Howdy All

Kudos to RMRU for another happy ending

Helping out was the highlight of our day

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Cy Kaicener]

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department has a rescue report

http://www.riversidesheriff.org/press/cab12-0124.asp

[physicslord]

It didn't say anything about an injury did it? I wonder why they needed to be airlifted out?

I think I would have just walked out and refused the helicopter.

I think they should get sent the bill for this. It sounds a little unnecessary.

[Carl F]

I had the same thought exactly as physicslord. Gosh I just love that name. I was a physics major in college, but I digress.

Why oh why wouldn't they just walk down the next day?? Afraid to get lost and disoriented, not likely. In any case thanks to all the rescuers and glad for a happy ending in that no one was seriously hurt.

My hats off to the search and rescue teams, and to Sally and Ellen for being water girls!!

[halhiker]

It didn't say anything about an injury did it? I wonder why they needed to be airlifted out?

I think I would have just walked out and refused the helicopter.

I think they should get sent the bill for this. It sounds a little unnecessary.

They probably got airlifted out so the Rescue team did not have to go out and get them again.

There is no bill for such rescues. That's one reason we pay taxes and of all the things the government spends money on, saving people from peril—even of their own making— is one of the most important in my book.

[Carl F]

Hey Hal

How many times you been rescued??

[halhiker]

Hey Hal

How many times you been rescued??

ZERO! And I don't plan on it, either. It would take something extreme like being attacked by a wild animal or being bitten by a rattler to make me call for help. But that's me.

I actually advocate areas that would be no rescue zones so that people who go there are on their own. If you get in trouble, tough! I would make the Skyline such a place and make sure people going on it know it.

However, since society isn't ready for that, I don't think we should charge for rescues. If we did, it would probably create more dangerous rescues for those who are out there hauling people out of the wilderness because people would wait to call for fear of being charged. If an area wanted to charge a nominal fee for permits and allow that money to go for rescues I don't think I'd object just so long as the money goes for that and not into some slush fund.