Skyline Trip Report by Torben Thomsen

[Cy Kaicener]

Torben will give us a full trip report later. I just received a cell phone call from him at Flat Rock (6.30 pm) on his way back down to the museum. He started from there at 2.00 am and made it up to Wellmans Divide. I dont know why he did not want to take the tram down. He said that there is still lots of snow from the traverse at 7500 feet upwards but did not need crampons. He expects to be back at the museum at 10.00 pm approximately.
If you want to talk to him his cell phone number is 909 556 6911

[Cy Kaicener]

I lost phone contact with Torben while talking from Flat Rock. If anyone has spoken to him since then, will you please post it.
I could not take the tram up because my pass had expired by two days and they would not accept a check - just cash. Last year they took checks - so be prepared.

[Torben Thomsen]

This trip was one the most memorable on Skyline. I was on the trail at the museum at 2:12AM. The dawn sky above Palm Springs is spectacular. The 42% moon came up at 2:40AM followed by Jupiter about an hours later and finally Venus just as the first hints of dawn appeared in the sky. That display of the moon, Jupiter, and Venus--lying in a straight line was topped by a bright meteor streaking just past the moon. I was at the picnic tables at 2:52AM and at the 4,300 foot marker [Doreen's Cairn] at 5:40AM. According the the sunrise table for Palm Springs, the sun was to come up at 6:20AM but being at altitude it appeared 10 minutes earlier. I was at Flat Rock at 8:04AM and at the beginning of the traverse an hour and a half later. There were 4 to 5 section of the trail covered by fairly soft snow [no section more than 50 feet in width] that one could kick steps in without crampons. However on the second patch of snow there was already a set of large tracks which led off in the wrong direction. I foolishly followed those tracks and that delayed by journey by more than an hour. Those tracks are about 100 yards into the traverse where the trail makes a sharp hairpin turn to the left. The erroneous tracks continue straight ahead. Because of those conditions I don't recommend anyone using the trail yet unless you are fully equipped and KNOW where the trail is either by GPS or past experience. However the snow is fast disappearing, and the trail should be clear in one or two more weeks. On the final ascent I was passed by Scott who made the journey up in about 5 hours.

I enjoyed a leisurely sack lunch by the tram station and then continued to Wellman's Divide where a group of hikers had come up from Humber Park. They reported that the trail was fairly easily passable.

Because of my decision to hike all the way back rather than taking the tram, I decided to forgo the final walk the summit. Several hikers reported reaching the summit some of them just with tennis shoes.
The highlight of the descent was the shadow of Mt Jacinto slowly creeping across the desert floor as a huge triangle and finally poking into the sky. As full darkness came the stars came out in all their brilliance. And there were several Whip-poor-wills that settled on the trail just ahead of me, their eyes reflecting red in my headlamp. Back to the museum at 11:12PM. My feet were sore after a great roughly 40 km hike. Not bad for a 65-year old man.

PS. On Wednesday [April 22] the moon will hide the brilliant Venus for about 50 minutes starting about 5:07AM. At the start of the show, Venus is about 8 degrees above the horizon and Mars will appear just below at 4 degrees above the horizon. Most places on the skyline trail will have a "front-row" view of this spectacle. But if you want to watch it any place, just make sure you have an unobstructed eastern horizon.

[Cy Kaicener]

Thanks for a great trip report on a very impressive hike.

[zippetydude]

Wow, great trip report! Not bad for a 25 year old man, when you come to think of it, much less 65.

Thanks also for mentioning the moon's occulting of Venus. I didn't know that was coming up, I think it'll be worth getting up for - I've never seen it take place before.

z

[MattL]

Great report Torben.
We ran into other on the trail as you were going up. I was with two others at the time heading down. You mentioned the vertical as being similar to that of Everest from base camp. And you were wearing a cool garden cap, I believe.
Terrific job on such a long hike.
I know what you mean about following the wrong tracks.This trip was my first and toward the top I followed some faint tracks that headed to a saddle that lies between Newton Drury Peak and Mt San Jacinto. I summitted Newton Drury thinking it was Jacinto. Whoa. However it was so close to the top I was able to make it back west to Jacinto in 20 minutes or so.

Keep hiking.

[tinaballina]

Torben,

Very nice trip report!

[Cy Kaicener]

On Wednesday early morning (5.07 am)- Meteor showers and Venus sighting
http://www.mydesert.com/article/2009042 ... 1/90421034