Two Seperate Rescues On The Tram Hike Today

[5150Irish]

2 cents worth from another newbie/future Skyline first-timer/etc.

As a solo hiker, I gather as much information as I can before a hike. Prior to June 10th, my experience in the San Jacinto range were two Boy Scout backpack trips in the early ‘90s.

In planning my June 10th trip and future trips (including this Sunday, July 1st), I read this message board everyday for useful information.

I am training for an August one day Mt. Whitney hike. I had heard about C2C from other hikers and Jerry Schad’s "101 Hikes in Southern California", and figured C2C would be an excellent training hike.

Due to the information from this message board and http://www.geocities.com/cactus2clouds/skyline.html, I made the decision to not hike this trail alone for my first trip.

When I found out about the OCHBC trip on June 23rd, I was ready to sign up. However, after reading the warnings posted on this message board about the hike…especially the heat considerations…I decided (before the trip was canceled) to wait for a cooler time. I will hike the Vivian Creek trail in San Gorgonio as suggested by GLAMISKING in the recent “Can I do it” thread, and will use my Whitney trip as a training hike for C2C.

I like CYNTHIA23’s suggestion of having us Skyline first-timers join one of you experienced hikers. I would email my hiking resume!

Thank you all for taking the time to share your knowledge and experience with others.

[Ellen]

Howdy Cynthia

Thanks for the best laugh I've had today

Skylie Primus? Primer malo subir?

Z-dude, what do you suggest? Perhaps you can provide a title in an appropriately obscure dialect of a language

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[AlanK]

I agree with 5150Irish -- Whitney is a pretty good training hike for C2C.

We now have solid evidence that this Message Board works. People read it and adjust their plans in a wise direction. Or at least someone did.

What we need to do is to reach out to people who do not read this Board (yet). Why don't some of us pool resources and get signs made for trail at the end of Ramon Drive and the start of the Museum trail?

"Abandon all hope, ye who enter here."

[CXP777]

Hello All,

As some you know, I was contemplating C2C this past Monday (was in town for the weekend), and after reading all the posts and really thinking through the dangers, I decided not to do it and hiked from the tram to peak. It was the best decision. The tram was a cool 72 degrees, and the peak must have been around 60-65 degrees. It was really hard to come all that way and not do it; however, it was the right decision. I can't remember who wrote it, but you basically have to check your ego at the door for this hike and really make smart choices, which for me involves two kids at home and a wife. I actually felt really good about it later and had a great day. I started down at the Salton Sea -227 below sea level, enjoyed the small beach they had there, drove to the tram and hiked to the peak, and then capped the day with a circumnavigation around Mt. San JAcinto on the Palms to Pines highway (Palm Desert to Idlywild to Banning), which was an awesome drive.

[Hikin_Jim]

We could just say "first timers." We are simply assigning an ordinal designation. They aren't "newbies;" this is just their first ascent.

The "old timers" could be the Skyline Welcome Wagon.

[zippetydude]

Ahh, let's see, names for first timers. I guess I could make a couple of suggestions.

For those who read the boards but don't adhere to the advice, how about:

1. Dead Man Hiking

Or maybe

2. Vulture Bait.

Signs at the trailhead

Go from Jerk to Jerky in one easy step!
This path leads either to the tram or to corpus crispy.
THe wildlife of Skyline thank you for your generous donation of fresh meat!
Please call your mom right now and tell her not to watch the Channel 9 news at Ten. You may be making an appearance.

Every hiker who has successfully navigated this trail has, at some time or other, run into serious trouble. Bring at least two experienced travelers in case one keels over, the other can get you through.

Just some random thoughts on a Tuesday evening.

z

[Cy Kaicener]

Those are very good Zip - How about
Be a first timer not a last timer
This is not the way you want to get your name in print.
Search and Rescue dont need practice to stay in shape, you do.
What have you done the last few weeks to prepare.?
There are old hikers and bold hikers but very few old bold hikers.
Its no excuse to say that the skull and crossbones sign is for beginners.
Abandon all hope ye who pass the metal scull and crossbones sign. You may be going a lot higher than you think.

[zippetydude]

Excellent! Cy, you have a great sense of humor.

It would be fun to put signs every so often with sayings like those.

By the way, I'll probably be going up Skyline this weekend or next. (Not to worry, I stay ahead of the temperature curve and have multiple contingency caches along with my Misty Mate. Don't tell the 1st timers, though!) Just wondering if any other experienced locals were going up - I'd try to hit the same day just for added safety for us both.

z

[Hikin_Jim]

This is the Skyline Route; one of the most extreme hiking routes in the United States. This is a route, not a trail. You should be intimately familiar with topopgraphic maps and backcountry navigation. Portions of this route are steep and unstable and may lead to life threatening falls.

Mt. San Jacinto is an alpine peak. Winter/early Spring travel involves snow and ice. You must be experienced with ice axe and crampon use and snow and ice moutaineering techniques. Winter falls are frequently fatal.

Experienced people die on this route, particularly young, fit males who press on when they should turn back. Do not underestimate the heat. Start times of 2:00AM - 3:00AM are normal. 5:00AM is a late start.

First-timers:
Travel with a person who has done the route before.
Do not travel alone; always stay together.
Do not attempt this route if there is a predicted high of 95+ degrees in Palm Springs.
Carry a minimum of six liters of water, more if the weather is hot.
Carry salty snacks and electrolyte sports drink.
You must be in top physical condtion.
Do not attempt this route unless you have completed a hike with a minimum of 5000 feet of gain in the past three weeks.
Carry a GPS and a cell phone.
File a "hike plan" with a responsible person showing your route and the time of your return. Search and Rescue will not come for you unless someone reports you missing.

This route has killed experienced wilderness travellers in the past; you are no exception. If you are not prepared, turn back now. The life you save may be your own.

[cynthia23]

OMG! Zip and Cy, you made me LMAO. I love "you may be going a lot higher than you think" and 'Jerk or jerky" and "fresh meat donation." I suggest we eschew language altogether and make warning symbols like they did in planet of the apes--just have a bunch of sticks with skulls stuck on top. But seriously I think AlanK is right and further signage might be a good idea. In the fall (Septemberish) I am going to be having a Saturday evening party at my house in Rancho Mirage open to everyone on this board (I will post in late August the info on the party) Maybe on that evening we can brainstorm some ideas and perhaps raise some cash to put up a sign. If someone has a chance, they might look into just how much a sign of some kind might cost ....

5150Irish and CXP, I'm so relieved to hear that you put off your hikes until a cooler and safer period. As Cy always says "The mountain isn't going anywhere." (although, in fact, it is. I understand it's growing by about an inch a year. Still, this gives you plenty of time.)

re: the new and improved name for Skyline first-timers: How about "Skyline Maiden"?

5150Irish (or anyone else), if you want to hike Skyline with me sometime, of course, just PM me. Two provisos, though: I won't be going again until September, and I am very, very slow when I go. But, on the plus side, having someone slow bringing up the rear means you don't have to worry so much about mountain lions ... eating YOU.

Speaking of which, since we are busy terrifying Maidens, does anyone have any mountain lion stories? I worry a lot more about them than snakes. Yicchus told me he thought he was stalked by one at Flat Rock, and I know a woman who was cornered by one on the way to Round Valley. Scary tales, anyone?