Weekend Skylines with friends

[Ellen]

Howdy All,

As much as I love tramshoeing, I was hankering to feel the earth beneath feet. Heard from several hikin' fools that Skyline was doable with microspikes and poles. Left about 4:50 AM on Sat it was HOT -- 70 degress -- for this non-heat acclimated polar bear). The sunrise was esquisite and visibility was excellent. My greyhound friend Robin (My Other Boots) caught me before Shade Rock and kindly slowed down to keep me company for a bit. We had a nice chat then she zoomed ahead at 4.3 K.

I met my Waterloo on the Never Ending Ridge and took a break at St. Florian's cache to let my body temp drop. I was sweating profusely heading up through the manzanita after Flat Rock and was ecstatic to reach the cool, shaded and snowy traverse. Took a fuel and rest break at the Thank You Jesus Rocks (aka Strap On Point), then donned microspikes.

Finding the route to Coffman's wasn't too hard -- followed the higher foot prints in the snowy sections. Several times I post-holed past my knees. From Coffman's up was a complete PITA The trail was at least 50% covered in snow and there were no footprints in the snowy sections. Wound up scrambling UP through areas that didn't have snow -- it was clear from the footprints that others had done the same. It was a relief to reach Grubbs Notch and climb up through the rocks to the viewing platform. Wished I had a camera to record the expressions as I popped over the fence. Met Robin in the bar for a celebratory beer. Thanks to Robin and her mom for the ride back to the museum.

On Sunday, Sally, Lance and I started around 4:40. It was much cooler -- 60 degrees -- with a nice touch of moisture. Great company, reasonable weather, humane pace -- it was hiker's heaven We enjoyed a great meal at Las Casuelas before heading home. Now I'm ready to play in the snow again.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Hikin_Jim]

Only two Skylines so far this month, Ellen? C'mon it's already April 4th. There's got to be an April Fool's joke in there somewhere.

HJ

[myotherboots]

Thanks for sharing a great day on the mountain Ellen!

Even though we were postholing a bit through the traverse, I still felt more sorry for the poor deer that postholed with all fours through the traverse and part way up in the trees... The most amazing thing was, that she (I guess it could have been a "he"...lol) laid out a perfect path through the traverse, even though all prior tracks had all but melted away. Guess I know where the trail came from originally.

Cruddy snow on the traverse, a little unstable in places.

I have to wonder what we all look like as we pop through the notch that tourons would offer to buy us a beer???

[Sally]

I had a wonderful day on the trail (or as Lance would call it, a "good thrashing") yesterday. Aside from getting a little overheated right before Florian's cache, and a little exhausted near the end I felt like I was in the groove the whole way.
It was the first time I've been up on Skyline early enough in the season to see so many wildflowers. Ellen, according to one of my books, the flower I said was called brodaea is also called wild hyacinth, just like you said.
It certainly was hiker's heaven!

[Cy Kaicener]

Thanks for the great trip report Ellen.
I hope you manage to beat my 55 Skylines in a one year period of time.
Member of Skyline Addicts (not so) Anonymous

[Northwest Dude]

Hi,

I'm from the northwest and thinking about doing the skyline hike tomorrow. With the melting snow and current warm conditions is there anything I need. Do I need an ice axe, crampons, spikes, etc or are those just nice to have? I am only going to the tram.

I am a stron hiker and climber. Not worried about the distance.