Third Time Skyline

[Ed]

I took advantage of the low temperatures on Monday to do the Skyline trail for the third time. And they were low. At 5:00am I put on a vest and gloves at the picnic tables, and wore them for an hour. Donned them again somewhere above Flat Rock. Had icy fingers on the final ascent (I have an icy fingers problem). Picked up some trash. Saw nobody but Doreen Sabia, who was doing half the trail - said she had to work that day! The second half of the trail was tough for me, as I expected, but the first half was pleasureable, and with my knees turning around is not much less pain than continuing.

I did the Skyline the first two times last fall, and managed to get lost in the dark both times. I was happy to see from a recent posting that I am not the only person who can get lost in the dark, after doing the trail one or more times. This winter I hiked up to the halfway point twice during the day, to become more familiar with the lower part of the trail. I strongly recommend this for people considering doing the trail. Yes, it is not what I did, and it is too late for this year. But scouting this trail is not wussy, and answers many of the questions the poor regulars on this message board are constantly bombarded with. Charging up the trail in the dark for the first time may be an adrenalin rush, but it quickly turns to dismay when you lose precious time bumbling around in the dark, and know you have not even broken 1,000 feet of elevation gain. On weekends you can try following other peoples headlamps, but they may be newcomers too, or regulars taking shortcuts. Unlike Blanche Dubois, I don't think good hikers should rely too much on the kindness of strangers. I would recommend at least scouting it to some point above the junction with the trail from Ramon Road, such as the warning sign. The trail seems much clearer from there to the end of the traverse.

I'm still shy about doing the trail at higher temperatures or with snow, due to my spindly 69 year old legs, wobbly left knee, snail-like pace, and self-arrest skills untested since the mid 1970's. Speed is particularly a problem. I started hiking again about a year and half ago, after 32 years of being inactive due to bad knees. I was amazed that I could work my way up to distances and elevation gains that I considered respectable in my prime, but speed doesn't seem to improve. I'm so slow I don't even breathe hard (breathing used to be my limiting factor). But it is wonderful to be hiking at all.

[skunkboy]

Ed,

Great job doing the Skyline. I hope I'm still bumbling around on my spindly legs when I'm 69. The older I get, the more that things ache, and they take longer to heal too. Wonderful effort.

Sincerely and with best regards,

Skunk

[Cy Kaicener]

I know what you mean Ed. The last time I sweated Skyline was when I was 72 which was a year and a half ago. Besides sore knees, my back hurts when I carry a gallon of water. I am waiting for cooler weather when I can carry less water. I love starting at midnight which I have done a few times. When I was 65 I could do it in five and a half hours, but the last time it took me nine hours.

[Lermo]

Ed & Cy,

You guys are my hero's! I just hope I can do this stuff into my 70's too.

[Ellen]

Howdy Lermo,

Thanks -- couldn't have said it better

Ed & Cy,

You guys are my hero's! I just hope I can do this stuff into my 70's too.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Hikin_Jim]

Shoot, I wish I could do this stuff in my 40's.

Good TR.

HJ

[tinaballina]

Nice work Ed, skyline no matter what temp. is a butt kicker.

[Sally]

Hi Ed,
Nice TR. Congratulations on a job well done!
Thanks for the heads up on finding your way in the dark. It brought back fond memories of when my daughter and I wasted a bunch of time on the lower section - we kept hitting the same dead end over and over after turning around repeatedly!
Although I have done Skyline numerous times, I don't know if I'm quite ready to do it solo as I am still afraid of getting disoriented in the dark.