Safer Skyline Planned

[recordalley]

I really hope we all show respect for these boxes and everything the PSMP SAR guys are doing.

They have put alot into this.....solely to help out.

How can anyone say this is anything but a great idea. Just because you're a stupid idiot doesn't mean you should die. My two nephews almost died on that trail after trying just to climb straight up tahquitz in the middle of the summer.

[OtherHand]

Just because you're a stupid idiot doesn't mean you should die.

Evolutionary theory would disagree with you.

[kd]

recordalley wrote:
Just because you're a stupid idiot doesn't mean you should die.

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Evolutionary theory would disagree with you.

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Evolutionary theory also promises the extinction of undesirable phenotypes.

[Hikin_Jim]

A fixed rope or chain at the traverse might be a good idea with wand markers after that.

Wands? Fixed ropes? I hope not. Part of the fun of old trails is the challenge of following them and the challenge of not being on a perfect trail. Makes you feel like you've accomplished a bit more than when you hike a manicured trail. Just my $0.02 worth.

Of course we could just install a people mover if we really wanted to eliminate risk. Oh, wait, we already have -- the tram. Hmm. Maybe people that choose not to take the tram want some challenge and risk? Let's not take away from the very character that makes Skyline attractive in the first place.

HJ

[zippetydude]

Just because you're a stupid idiot doesn't mean you should die. My two nephews almost died on that trail after trying just to climb straight up tahquitz in the middle of the summer.

I think he was using the description "stupid idiot" as a term of affection, since it was followed by an immediate reference to his nephews. I call my children "rotten kids" right after they have performed some evil trick on their unsuspecting dad (me), but I actually rather enjoy their sinister plots.

As far as respecting the boxes and the effort involved, I think Florian was right. It's not the people on this board that show a lack of respect for the trail or for the safety of others, etc. It's some unknown sort of individual, who we can't seem to understand, but can detect by the raided water caches and trash left on the trail.

I think a solar powered hidden camera would be fun if it were feasible. Picture, if someone really needed help, the PSMP could actually see them when they opened the box, could assess their condition, etc. If someone just broke into the box, vandalized the contents, and went on up the trail, the PSMP could be waiting with cuffs at the top, and they could be forced to pay for reparations and a hefty fine for damaging police property. Well, either that or shoot 'em (which would help to extinguish the phenotype!)

z

[Cy Kaicener]

Two people that I know of have been killed when there was ice on the traverse.
One of them had tennis shoes and the other had yak tracks on his boots. I dont know if either had an ice axe. That section is about eight inches wide and downsloping and the drop off is such that you may not be able to self arrest with your ice axe.

[zippetydude]

Wands? Fixed ropes? I hope not. Part of the fun of old trails is the challenge of following them and the challenge of not being on a perfect trail. Makes you feel like you've accomplished a bit more than when you hike a manicured trail. Just my $0.02 worth.

I think the decision making factor is the volume of traffic on the trail. On the Whitney MT, the cables there cover a very short section that has significant exposure and (perhaps due to an unseen spring?) ice year round. I love those cables! Skyline doesn't have as much traffic (yet) as the MWMT, and the traverse is pretty much safe most of the year, but if it got to be a winter hiking destination and hundreds of people went up a day, I'd opt in for seasonal installation of cables myself.

As it is, I'm with HJ, I don't really want to see "improvements" to the trail. The boxes, of course, don't bother me, but a rugged route through the wilderness is just the sort of challenge most of us seem to enjoy, so too much change takes away from the "wild" nature of it all.

z

[Marknhj]

I saw the lower one for the first time on Saturday. It's very unintrusive. In fact, I didn't see it until I was right next to it. I did wonder though; what if the person in trouble doesn't have a knife?

I got down from 4500' at 11am and it was bloody hot descending the last 1500'. As regulars know, not recommended...

[bluerail]

seriously ? Your in trouble and you couldn't get through whatever is keeping the box shut ?

[Florian]

I did wonder though; what if the person in trouble doesn't have a knife?

First time i saw the box it was held closed with a little sandwich bag twist tie. So i opened it and looked inside. The second time i was there it was closed with a zip tie so i didn't open the box. The zip tie seemed about the right amount of security to me. Just enough to prevent casual opening yet i'd think anyone really wanting to get in the box would have no trouble breaking the tie with a stick or just forcing the door open by brute force. But maybe a pair of cutters or a cheap knife attached to the outside of the box isn't a bad idea.

°Florian