Condition of Skyline "Trail"

[Whitney Mike]

Recently there was a thread on this message board in which people were talking about how difficult Skyline was to follow, and that things should be done to improve the trail. First of all, I feel that Skyline is not a trail, but rather a route like the Mountaineering Route on Whitney. If you do Whitney via the Mountaineering Route, you will not find trail markers to guide you, rather you need to know where you are going on your own. Since Skyline is a route, no trail markers are required, but anyone attempting this hike needs to know their own way, and do a bit of planning ahead of time.

I did Skyline for the fifth time this past Saturday (May 31st) with six other people. The route is getting easier to follow each time, therefore I believe no markers are needed. In fact, the only tricky area was at the picnic tables and making sure that you headed the right way when leaving the tables to continue up. We had absolutely no difficulty in finding our way. Above Flat Rock was very well defined, and there are plenty of ducks to mark the way up the final set of switchbacks to Long Valley. What helped me out this time was that for the first four times I did Skyline, I had the luxury of having Cy as my guide. With his expert knowledge of the route, I can now easily identify exactly where I am based on the landmarks around me.

For the first time, I ran into a ranger on Skyline, about ½ mile below Long Valley. At first he was a bit worried about us being on Skyline, and asked me a few questions: how many people were in my group, what time did we start (12:35am), and did we see any other hikers along the way (no). The rangers are very hesitant, if not completely reluctant, to acknowledge the existence of Skyline. Two other rangers that I spoke with that day, the one that checked our permit before Round Valley, and the one at the base of the ramp to the upper tram station, both did not want to talk about Skyline, even though we had just completed it. They just do not like to send out Search and Rescue for hikers that are unprepared for this strenuous hike.

If you are planning on doing Skyline for the first time, I would highly recommend that you go with someone that has done the hike before. Also, carry plenty of water and food, and have a pre-dawn start. Especially this time of year, being able to gain several thousand feet in elevation before the sun comes up, pays huge dividends later on in the day. Be safe, know your limits, and enjoy the experience.

Whitney Mike

[Cy Kaicener]

Mike - I am sorry that I did not get there early enough to join you. Like Perry says - Its a trail if you dont get lost and a route if you do.
If I was a ranger I would also hush up on the trail's existance, but if they recognise it they could find a way to make it less dangerous and cut down on the rescues.. The cats out of the bag. I think they should have a canvas tent at Flat rock or higher up (in winter) with emergency supplies, and non removable communication devices. Am I dreaming?
How long did it take you?

[Whitney Mike]

Cy - When I first heard someone coming DOWN the trail, I thought it was you. I even told Cathy; "Hey, hear comes Cy". I was surprised to see a ranger instead. We talked for a bit, and he told us that he was going down a bit further, then was going to hang out for a bit before heading back up. As far as our time, we were steady but slow. It took 9.5 hours to reach the upper tram station. We took 5 minute breaks every hour, a 10 minute break at the 4300 foot spot, and nearly 1/2 hour at Flat Rock I had a couple of people doing the hike for the first time, and did not want to push anyone. Above Flat Rock, the heat was beginning to affect most people. That is why we have decided to come back again this October when it is much cooler.

I hear what you are saying about Skyline, and as more people hear about it, and want to tackle it, the greater the risk of something bad happening. We were pointing out the areas on the route that would be quite dangerous during the winter, where ice would be present. I am not sure what the answer is, but I feel that hiking experience, common sense, and prior knowledge of the route go a long way. If it was not for you guiding me four times, I would not be as confident in doing Skyline as I am.

Mike