New Skyline warning signs

[Florian]

New warning sign at the Ramon trailhead. I assume there is one at the Museum trailhead but didn't check. (Also one at the Mesquite Ave trailhead even though that trail doesn't actually connect with Skyline.) Pretty good wording i think although could probably be more forceful.



-Florian

[Viper]

I support the new sign but question whether it will actually deter the people who should be deterred. Unless it's someone who just stumbles upon the trail without knowing much about it (not likely), most hikers who set out to do Skyline are going to proceed right past the sign without modifying their plan.

[Wildhorse]

The language on the sign suggests that City's intent was to exercise due diligence. Cynically, one could say that the sign is simply there to help the City defend itself from litigation which has become more likely as the numbers of trail users has increased. One could also, without cynicism, just say that the City is trying to do the right thing by clearly warning of the danger and at the same time protecting its citizens from the costs of ludicrous potential litigation. I imagine that the City knows, as Viper has said, that the sign will not discourage many people from canceling a planned hike.

The sign is well written. It warns without preaching. That is the best approach. In addition, the sign looks appropriate for a trail. That adds to the credibility of the message.

Hiking clubs have also placed signs on the trails telling people not to cut switchbacks. Unfortunately, their signs look terrible and are preachy and moralistic. The signs the State Park erected in the preserve area along the Willow Creek Trail are also preachy and moralistic and the government spent a ridiculous amount of money on them (between $25,000 and $50,000 for the two signs, if my memory is correct.) Hopefully they went up in flames when the forest burned.

[halhiker]

I think a sign with the number of people rescued and the number of deaths on the trail would get the point across…or not.

[wb]

Awesome job, City of Palm Springs! The sign hits all of the targets and adequately informs the otherwise uninformed hiker. Hikers will continue to suffer possibly fatal consequences because many will choose to ignore the warnings. Two thumbs up for the sign.

[bachmanmw]

Could've saved a buck. The most impactful sign I've seen was on a hike in Kauai. It was simply a chunk of wood with a title, "Stay off this beach." The next line read: "Number of people killed by under-currents here:" then below was a series of an impressive amount of tally marks. I avoided that beach.

[cynthia23]

I was over at the Desert Museum today and no, to answer Florian's question, nothing new in the way of signage has been added (unless I walked right past it without noticing ) Maybe the thinking is that the existing sign there already contains some cautions (although none, in my view, clear or strong enough.)

I agree with the general idea that sometimes simple and scary is better rather than long and bureacratic. Personally I think Skyline should have a sign that says in big letters "Warning: Do not hike this trail when temperatures exceed 88 degrees. Extreme heatstroke danger!"

I picked 88 degrees--a fairly low temperature--because of course, people would push it. Setting the bar low might mean that when it was 94, people would give it a pass. But I'm afraid I agree with Wildhorse and others than generally, people will ignore signs.

[neverwashasbeen]

I wonder if the city didn't put up the new sign at the museum since it's private property.

[Florian]

Could've saved a buck. The most impactful sign I've seen was on a hike in Kauai. It was simply a chunk of wood with a title, "Stay off this beach." The next line read: "Number of people killed by under-currents here:" then below was a series of an impressive amount of tally marks. I avoided that beach.

Coincidentally one of my friends on facebook just shared this image ...



-Florian

[Wildhorse]

I just looked at the sign. It is very small. It is almost hard to notice among the numerous other signs at the trail. It probably suffices for its likely limited legal aim, but otherwise is probably useless.

The trail has a sign clutter problem now. In addition to the City's signs at the street, the BLM has a sign where the trail enters BLM land and the hiking clubs have a sign next to the BLM sign and at numerous locations along the trail. The hiking club signs are black and white and they look like traffic signs, which is, oddly enough, what they are.