trail conditions on skyline

[Chadow]

Considering hiking skyline tomorrow (12/05). Is there a need for Ice ax and crampons? Anyone else going? I haven't hiked the trail before should it be relatively easy to follow? would love to go with someone else. Just moved from Idaho to Encinitas and dont know anyone down here that wants to go.

[NormaR]

i'll let the experts elaborate on this question or suggest you look at previous posts about the Skyline Trail. but, my 2 cents... No! The trail is not easy to follow in areas. The lower part is still a labyrinth to me after 7 hikes since i almost always start in darkness and the trail is not well marked at all.

further up, if you don't know the trail and you have fresh snow with no boot track ahead of you the trail again is VERY hard to follow. i spent the night up there on my first snow hike of Skyline (that will be two years ago next week.) how time flies?... but be careful, the boot track we were following was of a hiker that became lost and followed his track down. it was too late for us, so it was safer to bivy and wait till morning.

i doubt 'pons and axe are necessary at this moment, but once this large storm rolls in all snow hikes are best made with necessary snow gear on the hiker.

[magikwalt]

Idawhoo?? Jean and I know Idaho very well since she lived there. Where you from?

Where are you hiking from? Down low or riding the tram up to snow country? You sure leave a lot of questions left in your post.