Run or hike the Cactus to Clouds Trail

[Mario38]

Will be in Palm Springs from April 23 to April 28. Would like to run or hike the Cactus to Clouds trail from town to the summit. In reading some of the recent posts, it appears it may be difficult to get to the top because of the snow depth. I would be willing to try to get as high as possible and turn around when either the snow is too deep or it is too hard to follow the trail. I have never done it before and would like to go with someone who is familiar with the trail

Let me know if you are interested. Would like a minimum group size of 3 for safety.

Mario

[wb]

Would like to run or hike the Cactus to Clouds trail from town to the summit. In reading some of the recent posts, it appears it may be difficult to get to the top because of the snow depth. Mario

Hello Mario,

In addition to the heat and total lack of water sources, the trail you're describing begins at around 500 ft above sea level and summits at 10,834, which is a big climb in anybody's book. I hope that you do not minimize the significant difficulty you will experience. The comment "run or hike" makes it sound like you're not appreciating the extremes that you will experience on this hike. My apology for any offense - none is intended. Be safe, bro, and best success. Just know that this isn't a casual climb...

[bluerail]

check your pms mario

[Mario38]

Hello Mario,

In addition to the heat and total lack of water sources, the trail you're describing begins at around 500 ft above sea level and summits at 10,834, which is a big climb in anybody's book. I hope that you do not minimize the significant difficulty you will experience. The comment "run or hike" makes it sound like you're not appreciating the extremes that you will experience on this hike. My apology for any offense - none is intended. Be safe, bro, and best success. Just know that this isn't a casual climb...

Hello wb,

Thanks for the heads up. Yes, I am aware of the difficulty and no offense taken. That is one reason why I am willing to turn back if the snow is too deep. Adding the extra energy required to trudge through snow on top of the elevation gain is probably too much for me at this point in my training. It is also not the training effect I am looking for.

The week I spend in Palm Springs will not give me much training opportunity and therefore I was hoping to make up ground with one very hard day. I am training for a race with a total elevation gain of 19,000 feet so I thought this trail would give a good training effect and appreciation of the overall difficulty I will have to face.

Mario

[Hikin_Jim]

check your pms mario

I doubt he has PMS. Mario is a man's name.

HJ

[CrazyLegs]

Mario,

I like your gusto. Run, hike, or hop on one foot up to the top. Like any other hike, this one's got its challenges, but they can be managed like any other. Ignore the melodrama and have fun.

Onward and Upward!

Evan

[bluerail]

really funny Jim. bwahahahah

Hows your hiking buddy? tall enough to have her own poles yet ? :0)

[Zé]

I am training for a race with a total elevation gain of 19,000 feet so I thought this trail would give a good training effect and appreciation of the overall difficulty I will have to face.

Mario

what race is that??

[wb]

Hello wb, Thanks for the heads up. Yes, I am aware of the difficulty and no offense taken. Mario

Thanks, and best success, Mario! Sounds like you're well prepared.

A few years ago there was a Yahoo Geocities website with lots of good information on the C2C trail. In order to actually get into the site, the visitor had to correctly answer three or four questions regarding personal safety. I really appreciated that site and the advanced warnings; it helped made my first ascent successful.

[Robert H]

Hey Mario,

I'm longing to run that bad boy as well and it's a beast! I don't think that it's the right time. You probably won't get too much out of it for training and if my guess is right what you're training for, you'll need more heat and more of a gradual incline. Never done it but some friends have and all say that this time of year, there's still too much ice there. Some of the other folks with more experience on C2C can chime in and maybe someone has been there lately. I'll be hitting in late next month. You're welcomed to join. Good luck to you.