East Coast hiker doing C2C

[MikeB]

I'm an experienced hiker living in VA, and have for years wanted to hike C2C. Finally opportunity (business trip with a free day) and calendar are in sync, and I'm preparing to step off at 4 AM on Oct 2nd. I've read many message board postings and trip reports online and am cognizant of the heat, navigation, and conditioning issues and consider myself well prepared. Are there any recent trail conditions related to fires, floods, etc that might impact my hike that I should know about?

Thanks for your help!

PS great message board -- you guys are a hoot!

[Nick-SJM]

I am a big believer that the first time someone goes up Skyline they should accompany someone who has done it several times. Ask on this board if anyone minds someone tagging along on that date. Unfortunately, it is a lot to ask someone to take an implied responsibility for a stranger. I've spent ten years in the San Jacintos in a SAR and "Hasty" SAR capacity. On just about every rescue I have been on, the hiker said they couldn't believe how difficult it was. Assume it is ten times more difficult than you think it is going to be.

[MikeB]

Thanks for the cautions believe me I take them seriously. Won't bore you with my hiking resume but I'm used to long hikes and big elevation gains - last big one was Presi Traverse in NH in mid Aug - 9k up, 8.5k down over 20 miles of extremely rough trail. C2C brings different challenges, like heat, no water on the trail, continuous elevation gain, and commitment, that I'm looking forward to experiencing.

I would love to have company but wouldn't want to ask that mid-week. If anybody is interested and is good with a 5 1/2 to 6 hour pace for the Skyline portion please let me know.

[bluerail]

where in VA are you from? just curious. I may be going on the 2nd

[Ellen]

Howdy Mike

Some of us do hike Skyline mid-week I am happy to go up with you provided it isn't terribly hot in Palm Springs that day. Anything above a starting temperature of 70 degrees is too warm for me.

Speedy Blue (Bluerail) is much faster than I am, handles the heat well and is a great guide for Skyline. However, I carry rootbeer barrel candy

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[MikeB]

Hey Ellen and Bluerail,

I live in Fairfax Station (near DC), tho not a native -- settled here after 20 yrs USMC. Hiked San Jacinto several times from Idyllwild when I was at Camp Pendleton, but never from Palm Springs. I would enjoy company if it works out! Going to shoot for the whole C2C -- at least that's my plan, unless my body tells me otherwise when I get to the tram......

[bluerail]

Mike, keep us posted send a pm if you want.

Ellen, I'm headed to skyline right now with a pocket full of root beer barrels.

I found them !

[Sally]

Hi Mike, it was a real pleasure to meet you and hike with you yesterday.

Hi y'all, for the record, Mike flew past Perry A, Marilyn and me as we rested at Florian's cache. Then we bumped into him at Flat Rock and we made introductions before he sped off. We figured that we probably missed seeing Mike on our way to San J Peak as we had taken an alternate route up. But soon after we reached the Peak, up popped Mike, who was a little surprised to see us. After the obligatory pictures at the missing sign, the 4 of us hiked back to the tram together.

Congratulations, Mike, on your 1st C2C!

[Leon]

Hello,
I and four others are planning to hike the trail this weekend, Oct 5, 2013.

Would you share some details of the hike? What time did you start? Where did you start? How were the trail conditions? Were there any places where we may lose the trail? How much water did you carry? How much gear did you carry?

We are experienced hikers (one recently summitted a 19,000+ ft peak) in excellent shape.
We plan to start at the Palm Springs Art Museum, taking the Museum Trail to the Skyline Trail.

Thanks.
Leon

[MikeB]

Sally,

it was a pleasure to meet you Perry and Marilyn! Thanks for the camaraderie and for showing me that great alternate route down from San Jacinto.

Thanks to all on this blog particularly Perry and Hikin Jim for the excellent commentary and advice on their websites that allowed a skyline neophyte like me to complete his first c2c successfully.



Leon,

I departed Ramon Road instead of from the museum because I had read that the trail was easier to follow from Ramon Road. I will verify that it is - it is very well marked. I departed at 430 with 6 liters of water and Gatorade, had one liter left when I got to the top which was perfect. my goal was to get to Grubbs Notch by 10 a.m. and I hit it almost exactly. I carried about 20 pounds including liquids food and 10 essentials. Hat sunglasses sunscreen and trekking poles are essentials. I did not know the way but I am good with GPS and downloaded a track from Perry's website. I followed it and was fine.

Read Hikin Jims blog and Perry's website and heed their warnings and recommendations. Good luck and have a great time. it's a fantastic experience.