C2C: escaping the heat by hiking at night

[unclear]

Would doing the majority of the Cactus to Clouds ascent at night (say, starting at 9pm) significantly help to reduce the heat danger during summer months, or is this a bad idea?

[KathyW]

Check this forecast for Palm Springs:

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Palm+Springs&state=CA&site=SGX&textField1=33.8303&textField2=-116.544&e=0

It cools down at night in the summer, but that could mean it drops from 110 degrees to 89 degrees. Also, the coolest part of the day is typically just before dawn; so the early evening will still be hot.

It's a whole different world once you go east of the San Gorgonio (Banning) Pass - it doesn't cool down at night out in the Coachella Valley like it does west of the Pass.

[Zé]

or, you could just wait till October to hike it

[bluerail]

waiting till October would be the smartest thing to do. Like Kathy said, it will still be hot at night. Way too many rescues up there already this summer.

DON'T DO IT !!

I don't blame the rescue guys if they're sick and tired of pulling morons off that hill.

[lipbiter]

Note that high humidity also plays a BIG factor in heat-related illnesses.

Once, while hiking down the Skyline after twilight, I was SHOCKED by how hot it got as we descended even as night fell. The humidity was (or could have been) a killer.

[pdforeme]

Hiking in 89+ is your known risk.
What i failed to think about, ....if for any reason you cannot keep ascending...you then lose the advantage of temps dropping as you ascend, while rising cuz of sunrise.

that is, if you have to descend (say for injury, or like me, my friends leg cramps), its into the 110 type temps nobody can survive in.

[kd]

Wait until October

[EMan]

Thanks for asking and considering the opinions of the regulars on our board.
You are to be commended.

Echoing earlier sentiments, please wait until the fall -- and pick a day when the weather will be working for 'ya instead of again 'ya.

[Cy Kaicener]

Sometimes October can be very hot, but the lows are much cooler. i am waiting for the first full moon and starting at midnight. That should be close to the 23rd (Saturday) October.
Do you remember the seven marines that were rescued on October 16 2009
http://rmru.org/missions/2009/2009-016.html