C2C in early May

[Polis]

I'll get a GPS then.
I do not know anybody hiked this route before
My hiking plan is a 3AM start at the museum parking lot on May 14. Hope I'm lucky to tag with an old-timer that day.
Thanks again for all the advice
P

[zippetydude]

Hi Polis. Welcome! Like HJ said, Whitney is not a bad training hike for a C2C, and it's a pretty good indicator of how long Skyline (just up to the tram) will take you. How long did it take you from Whitney Portal to the summit? That's about how long it'll take you to do Skyline. There are people here that generally do Skyline at a 3 hour pace, a 4 hour pace, a 5 hour pace, a 6 hour pace...just post here a few more times and get to know some of the friendly folks, then come with one of us! The key is to line up your pace with someone who will naturally be going the same speed.

By the way, I think the lower part is almost impossible to get lost on, but it's very easy to end up going in circles if your first trip is in the dark. That can spoil a trip and keep you from even getting close to the top. A few recon trips during the day on the lower section would be a good idea, and it's fun to explore the trail anyway.

The upper portion is the only part that I ever had trouble finding my way. The first time I went, I just chose a busy Saturday, made it up to Flat Rock, then every time I lost the trail, I just stopped and waited for a regular to go by, and I'd follow them for a while. Then I'd go get lost again - I just made sure that I didn't go far after I couldn't make out the trail.

Spring is a little tricky because you have the double threat of fire and ice. The desert heat (fire, as I mentioned when I was waxing poetic) can make retreat dangerous if you get up and find your way blocked by ice near the top. But, again, just keep track here on the board, and you'll know very well when the trail gets clear and when people are going.

Hope to see you out there on the trail!

z

[mattytreks]

Hi Polis- welcome to the forums.

Folks here are incredibly helpful and caring. My first trip up was in 2007 and I had no problem connecting with a forum regular (Cy, Godfather of SanJ) whom I hiked with that first time. As we get closer to your hike date keep an eye on the forums to see if anyone else is going that day.

I completely agree with Zip. Having never done "recon" missions on Skyline before that first night's hike, had I gone alone I would have been going in circles in the foothills below the Picnic Tables. There are several junctions down there where the trail breaks off and goes everywhere except where you're supposed to. Even though live in San Diego, I love driving up to Skyline and hiking to at least the Picnic Tables every weekend.

If you are committed to going it alone, I would recommend doing 2 or 3 mini Skylines during the daytime -- once to 2,000 ft and maybe a couple times to 3-4000 ft.

[Polis]

Thank you for all the great advice
I'm a slow hiker Took me 8 hours to ascend Mt Whitney. Cannot believe someone done the Skyline in 3
I'll be driving into Palm Springs the afternoon before the hike, so probably no time to recon the area.
Right now I'm looking to buy a GPS to keep me on the Skyline route.
How about using an iPhone as the GPS on this trail? I don't need to worry about the tree canopy blocking the GPS signal on the Skyline, while the upper summit trail should be easy to follow, right?
Thank you
P

[Hikin_Jim]

Thank you for all the great advice
I'm a slow hiker Took me 8 hours to ascend Mt Whitney. Cannot believe someone done the Skyline in 3
I'll be driving into Palm Springs the afternoon before the hike, so probably no time to recon the area.
Right now I'm looking to buy a GPS to keep me on the Skyline route.
How about using an iPhone as the GPS on this trail? I don't need to worry about the tree canopy blocking the GPS signal on the Skyline, while the upper summit trail should be easy to follow, right?
Thank you
P

I'm not a GPS guy, so I won't try to address that, but the trail from the tram to the summit is pretty well marked -- except for the last couple hundred yards. The summit itself is a big pile of rocks, and there's no trail per se. Pay attention to your surroundings, and you should be fine.

HJ