Nauseous hiker airlifted off Skyline Trail

[Cy Kaicener]

This hiker started at 1.45 am and was rescued at 2.45 pm
http://www.mydesert.com/article/2010081 ... line+Trail

[Hikin_Jim]

Glad he's OK.

The warning in the paper, "the sheriff's department reminded hiking enthusiasts that severe weather conditions, including extreme heat, are present in the local mountains this time of year," is a little wimpy.

How about "The sheriff's department reminds hikers that extreme heat can kill and to stay off trails like Skyline in the summer."

HJ

[tinaballina]

One word, "REALLY"

[recordalley]

13 hours on the trail? Wonder how far he was along.

[Cy Kaicener]

13 hours on the trail? Wonder how far he was along.

My guess is that he was lower than the traverse (which is about 7400 feet) because he was not rescued by foot like the hiker on Saturday. He may have said that he could not move which would require a helicopter rescue at any elevation.

[guest]

Gee,
I wonder if people would take this climb more seriously if we didn't have cell phones & readily available helo's?

ss

[Florian]

I wonder if people would take this climb more seriously if we didn't have cell phones & readily available helo's?

The first time i attempted hiking the Skyline all the way to the tram was when i was in high school. Would have been 1972 or 73. I don't remember the time of year but it was hot. I started with 2 quarts of water in GI canteens on a web belt. By the time i got to Flat/Lunch rock i was out of water, could not find the trail beyond, and panicking. This was before the fire in the 80s that opened up the brushy area and the trail was VERY hard to follow through the manzanita. I walked back down, with no water, and i think i came pretty close to never making it down alive. If cellphones had existed then, and i'd had one, i would have called for help. I'd have at least called mom and dad! When i finally did get down i found a water faucet in someone yard and chugged water until i threw up.

That was the first and last time i've been so close to not being able to make it out on my own from a hike. In those days it was rare to ever see anyone on the trail. I took desert hiking very seriously after that experience.

-Florian

[ag]

Dear Cy Kaicener

Are you perchance doing/leading the C2C hike on 9/6/2010. Am in good shape and have done hikes of these difficulty before in CO and Seattle area.

Been following some your beta info about this hike etc.

Thanks.

[Cy Kaicener]

Hi ag - September is usually not a good time to do Skyline because of the heat
I will probably be doing it on October 22/23 with the Sierra Club
http://angeles.sierraclub.org/hps/outings.htm

[ag]

Hi:

Thanks for Sierra Club Links.

BTW I was thinking about Mid-night start from the Art Museum. Do you still think it is a bad idea?

Thanks
Arun