Dusting of snow on Skyline

[Ellen]

Howdy All

I know you're reading the topic of this post and thinking "Is she absolutely mad?" Well, the answer to that is yes, but not relevant to this particular post

I couldn't pass up on a hike with my feather sisters Karin and Kathryn, even if it involved returning to the scene of last Saturday's carnage. I was startled out of bed by my alarm at 2:45 AM and drove to Palm Springs for a 4:30 AM start time. The temperature at the trail head was perfect -- a crisp fall chill was in the air. I couldn't help but think "why didn't we have this weather LAST Saturday" as we started to climb.

The only things that saved me were the company and cooler temperature. I felt dreadful for most of the hike. Karin and Kathryn dragged my sorry butt up the hill with their comaraderie and encouragement. Mark started a half hour behind us and roared past at Shade Rock. We took short fuel breaks at Shade Rock and 4300 ft. At the beginning of the Never Ending Ridge we were blessed with a view of three does above us on the ridge.

My friends took pity on me and we had a leisurely snack at Flat Rock. As we started up through the manzanita, I started to see what appeared to be frost in shaded sections of the trail. When we reached the traverse, the temperature dropped significantly and my tired brain registered that the trail and logs had a dusting of snow. The contrast of colors was beautiful -- brown trail outlined with snow dust, green conifers, yellow and orange leaves, blue sky and gray granite.

Our faces were stiff from the cold when we reached Grubbs Notch. We walked toward the cement passing people in shorts and sandals as well as those wearing pants and down jackets. Only in southern CA Mark was waiting for us at the tram bar. The poor man had been there for well over an hour and was freezing. Karin treated us to beverages of our choice -- I think you can guess what I drank In the boarding area, I gave the C2C master Steve Fossett a quick hug. He was absolutely unfazed by last Saturday's rigors and was shepherding another Skyline novice up the trail. We finished the day at Las Consuelas -- believe it or not, I had not eaten there the previous weekend.

While it was a great day with good friends, I am really looking forward to hiking on a new trail. Wait, I hear there's a group going up Snow Creek next Saturday ...

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[lilbitmo]

Ellen,

I meant to say "Great Job" earlier, nice work Ellen, you are starting to raise the bar even higher

I'll post a TR later but I went up second tram yesterday and did Miller, San J and Jean, all were covered in 1 to 2 inches of snow - It's starting to look a lot like Christmas - snow wise that is, off to church. Pictures and post later today.

lilbitmo

[Marknhj]

Mark was waiting for us at the tram bar. The poor man had been there for us for well over an hour and was freezing.

I can report with some certainty that I was far colder waiting in the tram bar yesterday than during our snow shoeing trip last December when I spent eight hours up to my thighs in snow!

Unusual day yesterday. My goal was to break 4:30 for the first time and I reached 4300' ahead of schedule in 1:52. Five minutes later my right shoe felt loose and I decided to tighten it when I got up the next incline. On inspection, I discovered that the "quicklace" system on my two month old Salomon's had snapped in two. This happened to Tina last year, anyone else experienced this with Salomon's? Continued on while deciding what to do, but my foot was sliding around. After stopping multiple times I just tied the longest end to another part that remained secured (I would have wrapped it in duct tape, if I'd had any. Thought about it with a roll of medical tape I had, but decided that wouldn't last too long). Loss of time, plus making sure I didn't turn an ankle, put paid to my pr attempt, but I made it up in 4:47 which is only ten minutes off my best, so I was happy with that.

It was cool but I heated up and was sweating more than anticipated. Looking at the weather data I see the relative humidity was 77% when we left, this morning it was 19% at the same time. The Valley below had a significant covering of an opaque white mist.

Another first was in the restaurant afterwards. A guy collapsed at one of the sidewalk tables and someone rushed in yelling, "Call 911, he's not breathing". Our own Ellen rushed out to render assistance! The gentleman did recover, tried to leave before the paramedics arrived and blamed the episode on eating a cheeseburger

(Newsflash: Tina just broke 4:00 for the first time - 3:58! Congrats Tina!)

[zippetydude]

Congratulations Tina! 3:58 on short recovery! There's still more in the tank...

Hi everyone. I couldn't take another Skyline yesterday, and although I was thinking about Snow Creek, seeing the snow up across the ridgeline in the San Gorgonio Wilderness lured me that way. There was no snow on the ground, but the trees were covered. Strangest thing.







There was a bitter cold wind, but it was a beautiful day up there. Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing everyone next weekend.

z

[Ellen]

Howdy All

Congratulations to my pain sister Tina on her sub-four Skyline I barely survive yesterday and she does a PR today after the Terrible Two last Saturday -- go figure. Must be the sugar

Howdy Patrick

Your three-peaker sounds beautiful -- looking forward to the trip report and hope you took pictures.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Hikin_Jim]

Hi everyone. I couldn't take another Skyline yesterday, and although I was thinking about Snow Creek, seeing the snow up across the ridgeline in the San Gorgonio Wilderness lured me that way. There was no snow on the ground, but the trees were covered. Strangest thing.

Hi, Zip, that's rime ice in the trees. It works on beards and fleece or wool too.

[rljamy]

I did C2C on Sat. Five of us first timers from the Phoenix area drove 4 1/2 hours hiked from museum(145am start) to the summit and back down to the tram and then drove back home (I drove both ways). Thanks for the info on this site. It was great sweating and freezing . I can't wait to make it back.

[tinaballina]

Zip-fantastic picture.

Thanks Mark, Ellen and Zip for the cudo's that was up there with the b2b in regards to pain that is for sure.

Huge thanks to Steve and Fergie-Fergie for not talking so we could save our oxygen and Steve for literally pushing me up the mountain to finally do this sub four. Although i felt like i was going to be sick the first hour and the last it was well worth the suffering. thanks again.

And to whom ever took down my ornaments, shame on you, i brought the star for my tree up yesterday and to my surprise my poor tree was bare.
I will bring more up next trip.



ps...if anyone goes by Perry's gallery check out my doggie, i got to draw it on his car. good seeing you again perry.

[brad]

Nice pictures Zip, excited about this coming weekend having never been on the trail. Maybe I will see you.

B

[zippetydude]

Nice pictures Zip, excited about this coming weekend having never been on the trail. Maybe I will see you. B

Brad: I'm planning on it! Hopefully we can run part of it together. This will be great marathon training since the distance is so much longer than usual.

Tina: I doubt the person who removed your ornaments posts here. They probably thought they were cleaning up stuff left by someone who did the trail one time and will never do it again. You're up here frequently enough to tend your tree, so that's different.

Jim: Thanks! I hadn't heard of it before. A couple people on the San G board posted as well. Odd that I'd never come across it.

z