skyline trail

[2strokesmoke]

I am a novice hiker. I have recently moved here and would like to know more about this trail (skyline). I want to hike down it, not up, at least for now. I was thinking about doing it in march or april with my nephue whom I getting into hiking, he's 13 and full of energy. I thought down would be a nice start to learning the trail for both of us. We are both doing hikes every weekend now for the last month. We've done the Bump and Grind, N. & S. Lykkin trails. Are there any suggestions? After reading about this trail I found this web site and thought it would be smart to ask. My experience with hiking is all of Zion, Bryce cyn., to the top of San Jacinto (once) and all over Orange co. Agian i thought it would be best for us to go down this trail, not up.

[halhiker]

It's not a good idea to go down this trail. But March or April we could have more storms and lots of snow on the trail in the higher elevations and when it gets later and the trail is clear, it's too hot down here. People, literally, have died hiking down into that heat.

Take the time to train and work up to it and then hike UP. Going on a weekend there will be hundreds of people doing the trail so you won't be alone and be sure to start early and bring plenty of fluids.

Going down because you're not prepared to go up is foolhardy, at best.

[zippetydude]

Well, I dunno, I don't think going down the trail is a bad idea at all. But, like the previous posts mentioned, both ice and heat present hazards. The trick is to catch a time when there's no ice and there's not extreme heat below. If you keep an eye on the board here, people report the condition of the trail just about every week. If the trail is clear and the forecast for the day down below isn't real hot, you should be fine.

Walking downhill on a clear trail and arriving in Palm Springs when it's in the 80's isn't risky, but trying to make your way down icy slopes only to encounter searing heat in the 100's below is nuts. You just need to make sure the conditions are right. And they may not be at all during the spring. By the time the ice melts off the trail up high, it's often extremely hot down below. If that happens, the fall is much more open (no ice up top) and is generally the preferred season.

Have fun.

z

[2strokesmoke]

no, neither of us have ice axes or cramp on's. i threw out the march/april because i thought that the snow would have melted by then but thinking about it "brianhead"(utah), has snow patches till june. as one of you said "fall" would be better and is the the better idea. traversing steep slopes dosnt bother me but doing this in snow or ice is crazy, i know, even with axes and cramps. thanks for the output, i will monitor this site for weather info and reconsider the time. "going down is bad if one cant go up".....i'm going to chew on that one for awial.

[neverwashasbeen]

Hiking down is much harder on your body. very tough on the knees. Try hiking part way up and then back down and work your way up to doing the full thing.

[2strokesmoke]

OH &%#$!!! yes i see. thanks "2600fromatari" ( i miss my atari with the joystick [1600?] but then went to an intelivision which i still have and play.)
do i need to get a permit to hike down? when i hiked up to the peak i filled out a form stating what/where and how long, there at the ranger station. dose it cost anything?
@ neverwashasbeen : i was thinking the same thing. going to the 4800ft marker then down. yes i know the down hills are always tough but just thought that it would be (?)safer(?) in the sence of time and with learning the trail. i like your idea though.

[zippetydude]

Hey 2600fromatari, you got any more? Those are beautiful.

z

[Florian]

do i need to get a permit to hike down? when i hiked up to the peak i filled out a form stating what/where and how long, there at the ranger station. dose it cost anything?

You don't need a permit to come down. And it doesn't cost anything either. I'm one of the odd people that likes coming down the Skyline once in a while. I go up it more than down, but sometimes i just like to ride the tram up and walk down. March or April sounds like a good time to do that. Do NOT do that in the summer.

-Florian

[zippetydude]

Thanks!

z

[HH8]

32 hi-res pictures here for you sir. It was a beautifully cold day.

http://imageshack.us/g/705/img0825fv.jpg/

My favorite was peeping on the hot floor through the mist: