A Skyline Quickie

[Sally]

Ellen and I started up the Skyline trail at 4:10 this morning. I'm calling this "A Skyline Quickie" not because we were particularly fast, but rather because Ellen had an early afternoon appointment and we had to get the job of climbing the mountain done early.

We enjoyed perfect air temperature from the very beginning, and were off to a good start. Then somewhere along the Never Ending Ridge my legs started turning to rubber. We made it to Flat Rock in pretty good time, however, and had a laid back breakfast there. I thought I would feel revived, but no such luck as I headed up through the manzanita. My spirits were lifted a bit when I came upon my namesake, Skyline Sally, the yucca lady who was still smokin' and grinning.

Ellen got a bit ahead of me but I caught up near the Thank You Jesus Rocks. Not long after that we donned microspikes and carefully made our way across the traverse. The snow was a little icy but not too bad. When it was time to go up, Ellen wanted to avoid being too far to the right so we chose a chute to the left. It started getting a little steep so we scrambled over some rocks to get back on the right where we met up with some good tracks. Ellen always apologizes profuseley when things don't go perfectly smoothly, but she doesn't realize that her route-finding is one of the things I love about hiking with her. It keeps things interesting!

We made it up to the Notch in 6 hrs. 15 mins. We scrambled up to the viewing platform. I chose not to do the concrete switchbacks because I was afraid the tourists would be passing ME, my rear was dragging so feebly. We went straight to the boarding area where only 2 other souls were waiting, and we were the only 4 who went down in the tram car. We opted to forgo the music and narration. The couple, Pat and Gary, had spent the night in Round Valley and were kind enough to give us a ride back to Ellen's car. Thank you if you're reading this, you two!

We had a quick lunch at Las Consuelas and were on our way. I'm sure I'll be ready to do it again in a week!

[Hikin_Jim]

Ellen and I started up the Skyline trail at 4:10 this morning. I'm calling this "A Skyline Quickie" not because we were particularly fast, but rather because Ellen had an early afternoon appointment and we had to get the job of climbing the mountain done early.

We enjoyed perfect air temperature from the very beginning, and were off to a good start. Then somewhere along the Never Ending Ridge my legs started turning to rubber. We made it to Flat Rock in pretty good time, however, and had a laid back breakfast there. I thought I would feel revived, but no such luck as I headed up through the manzanita. My spirits were lifted a bit when I came upon my namesake, Skyline Sally, the yucca lady who was still smokin' and grinning.

Ellen got a bit ahead of me but I caught up near the Thank You Jesus Rocks. Not long after that we donned microspikes and carefully made our way across the traverse. The snow was a little icy but not too bad. When it was time to go up, Ellen wanted to avoid being too far to the right so we chose a chute to the left. It started getting a little steep so we scrambled over some rocks to get back on the right where we met up with some good tracks. Ellen always apologizes profuseley when things don't go perfectly smoothly, but she doesn't realize that her route-finding is one of the things I love about hiking with her. It keeps things interesting!

We made it up to the Notch in 6 hrs. 15 mins. We scrambled up to the viewing platform. I chose not to do the concrete switchbacks because I was afraid the tourists would be passing ME, my rear was dragging so feebly. We went straight to the boarding area where only 2 other souls were waiting, and we were the only 4 who went down in the tram car. We opted to forgo the music and narration. The couple, Pat and Gary, had spent the night in Round Valley and were kind enough to give us a ride back to Ellen's car. Thank you if you're reading this, you two!

We had a quick lunch at Las Consuelas and were on our way. I'm sure I'll be ready to do it again in a week!

So, let me get this straight. You started up the trail at 4:10 AM (talk about the crap of dawn). It took you 6:15 to get up the trail. You were on the 10:30 AM tram down (give or take), and you were dragging?

Drag racing more like! I should be so lucky to be so "slow".

HJ

[Florian]

Ellen got a bit ahead of me but I caught up near the Thank You Jesus Rocks.

Where/what are the Thank You Jesus Rocks?

°Florian

[Sally]

Hey, HJ, I definitely wasn't moving too fast towards the end!

Hi Florian, I get so delirious at that point that the area is a blur in my mind. You know how it is relentlessly steep after flat rock, then you get into the trees and the steepness tapers off a bit and you're in the area where the traverse begins? Well, there's a little clump of rocks on the right where you can step off the trail and maybe suck down a gel. Thank you Jesus!

Maybe Ellen can give a more precise description.

[NormaR]

So, let me get this straight. You started up the trail at 4:10 AM (talk about the crap of dawn). It took you 6:15 to get up the trail. You were on the 10:30 AM tram down (give or take), and you were dragging?

Drag racing more like! I should be so lucky to be so "slow". HJ

Crazy as it sounds some of us compare ourselves to the "Greyhounds" as Ellen has nicknamed then, who do Skyline as a regular conditioning hike once or twice a week (or day!) 6.25 is a very respectable time, but i get the feeling Sally will be shaving minutes off it real soon! But don't let your namesake influence you Sally, smoking will only increase your time.

Great job ladies!!

[Ellen]

Howdy All

Pay no attention to Sister Sally's self-deprecating remarks about her pace Her last Skyline (sans snow) in December was 5:45. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time together. I had to be in Idyllwild by 1 PM, thus the crap of dawn start. I really appreciate her getting up so early to accomodate my schedule.

Also want to join Sally in thanking Pat and Larry for the ride back to my car

I'll be heading up Skyline again this weekend. Looks like we might get some snow at the higher elevations on Monday -- hallelujah!

Howdy Saint Florian

Doreen the Skyline Queen calls the beginning of the traverse the "thank you Jesus" rocks. There's a gorgeous big pine on the left and rocks on the right. This is also known as "strap on point" -- when there's more snow, we don crampons and get out the ice-axe at this spot.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[guest]

Oh, that's what strap-on point refers to, darn!
Kinda like the name Bump & Grind too!?

Thank You Jesus, now I can enter the real icy section with lots of exposure, cool, I"ll say a prayer upon entering!

If I slip, hopefully I can grab on to an FFP!!

ss

[Florian]

You know how it is relentlessly steep after flat rock, then you get into the trees and the steepness tapers off a bit and you're in the area where the traverse begins? Well, there's a little clump of rocks on the right where you can step off the trail and maybe suck down a gel. Thank you Jesus!

I know the spot. Thanks!

°Florian

[bluerail]

nice Scotty....hey, whats an FFP ?

Just want to congratulate Patti on a very nice 410 on skyline yesterday with a bit of ice still there, and no chains on.. that's a great pace.

[HH8]

don't let your namesake influence you Sally, smoking will only increase your time.

No worries, the namesake has dropped her pipe, and her tail is perkier than ever.