C2C Friday, May 20

[myotherboots]

All,
I know lots of people are planning on Skyline and or C2C this weekend so I thought I would share some items from my hike today.

Skyline:
No snow. Weather was perfect today, but I am a desert rat, may have been warm for others. The eye gnats are starting to come out with the heat. The Yucca plants are having their last blooms, absolutely beautiful.

Tram to SJP-via Wellman Divide
Weather is great, it seems the winds have subsided. did not experience any postholing and only wore micros from Round Valley to Wellman.
The snow is melting and the biggest hazzard today was bowling ball sized chunks of ice and snow falling from the trees. My advice is to stay as far away from trees as possible..

The lower portion of the trail to Round Valley had some snow and water on the trail, but very manageable.

Round Valley to Wellman was challenging, 90% snow coverage in this area and the trail is difficult to find, I took an accidental shortcut on the way up that missed Wellman Divide altogether (oh well, see it on the way down). I used microspikes/poles to get up to Wellman just to be safe, but I am a klutz. Most footprints in the snow have been covered by falling snow from the trees. Since I am navigationally challenged, route finding through this part was difficult for me.

Wellman to the Peak was snow covered in places, wet in others. It was difficult to find the trail on the approach to the final switchbacks for SJP(see 'navigationally challenged clause above'). Large snow drifts near the peaks still...I could not even find the sign that said .3 mile to Peak... I opted out of the final rock scramble to the Peak, hmm, credit or no credit for a C2C?

I think I will save future C2C's for clear trails...

Everyone have a great weekend on the mountain!

Robin

[Sally]

Hi Robin,
Congratulations on your C2C! Thank you for the informative TR. It should be helpful to all those who have gotten the spring fever bug to climb the mountain.
Now, about foregoing the final rock scramble, hmmm... I'll have to take off a few points for that. But you get extra points for doing it with all that snow still on the ground.

[Ellen]

Howdy Robin

BTW -- where do you hide that jet pack?

Be honest -- you didn't scramble up the rocks because you didn't want to scratch up your awesome legs

I'll give you full credit for C2C if you'll short rope me up Skyline next time...

Miles of smiles,
Ellen