C2C on May 26th

[bdc]

Hi everyone,
I am planning to climb with my two partners on Saturday, May 26th. Our plan is to leave at midnight or so to make as much of the climb as possible in the dark. We can leave later if that seems too early. Is anyone else going up then? I have made the climb to the tram with Cy with a time of 8.5 hours so I'm on the slow side. My partners are faster than that! I am nervous about the route so I would like some company.
Thanks,
Carla

[bcrowell]

The date is too far off to know what temps will be in Palm Springs. The big safety issue might be what happens if something goes wrong (broken ankle, ...) -- can you then safely retreat? People have died of heat stroke trying to retreat back down Skyline. IMO, the date you've set is probably 2-3 weeks later than is safe/optimal for a springtime C2C this year.

[bdc]

Do you think that these temperatures are safe?


Friday: Sunny, with a high near 83.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 85.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64.

We are planning to start around 2am if anyone is interested in joining us.
Carla

[cynthia23]

Keep checking back on the weather. Check multiple sources (at least four or five) and average them out. Today was 108. Temps keeping being (much) higher than predicted. If on Friday predicted temps on Saturday are above 93 I would consider rescheduling it for the fall.

[mattytreks]

bdc- remember that your group is only as fast as its slowest hiker. Are you anticipating that the two partners you're going with may leave you in the dust, so to speak?

If so, have you only been up Skyline one other time (the time you mentioned with Cy)?

If yes, then I would highly recommend not doing Skyline on 5/26. This is an incredibly dangerous time to potentially make your first solo ascent in the dark on lower Skyline -- which has many off-shooting trails that lead to nowhere. That's a bit unsettling I think.

I would heed Cynthia's advice, wait until the fall and on top of that, I'd make 3 or so quickie daytime trips up Skyline to about the 2,500 level and then come back down -- that way you will know the lower route very well come time to do it in the dark, and possibly all by your lonesome. This is what I did and was invaluable the first time I did my first solo nighttime Skyline ascent.

If you are still resolute on going up at 2AM on Saturday morning, you can take a very small bit of solace in knowing that a fellow hiker and I will be heading out at 2:30AM right behind you.

Please be careful out there and really watch the temperatures over the next couple of days.

FYI, if on Friday the temps hit a daytime high of over 99 in Palm Springs we are bowing out.

[zippetydude]

Actually your timing is probably perfect. I'm seeing highs from 79 to 82.

My experience is similar to Cynthia's in that the forecast will often rise suddenly, and what is forecast today as 79 shows up Friday afternoon as 95, so keep an eye on it.

I might be out there myself if the forecast holds, but if it heats up (or I get lazy and sleep in) I usually do what you've probably seen posted here and go to higher elevation to have fun on San Gorgonio or San Bernardino Peak.

With these temps, you'll probably see quite a few people out there on the trail. The upper portion can be a little tricky to make out at one point. I couldn't find the trail there the first time I went (Cynthia was the one who showed me the way) and the second time it took me maybe 5 minutes to figure it out on my own, so you'll probably find your way just fine. If you get confused, there will probably be people coming along every so often, so just take a break and follow the next person coming through who knows the route by heart.

Have fun!

z

[zippetydude]

NOAA now (Wednesday morning) has Saturday's high at 72.

z

[cynthia23]

Don't quite understand that forecast Zip; the four (non-Noaa) that I checked had 82 to 83. Are you getting a forecast for the desert floor or slightly higher elevations?

But in any event, even 83 is a good/safe number, so assuming the forecast stays steady (keep checking until Friday!) it looks like a good day for C2C, and probably the last day until October that it's really going to be reasonable.

Always check the forecast the night before, though!

[zippetydude]

Here's the link:

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.ph ... tType=text

It does seem conspicuously low, though, if the other sites are saying low to mid 80's.

Pretty cool considering the average high for the date is 98 degrees.

z

[bdc]

We are probably going to go for the hike if the weather holds.
Can you still park on the street by the museum? Last time we parked by the end of the block by the parking structure.
Can you leave a car the night before at the tram parking lot so it is there when you finish?
Thank you all for your words of wisdom. My partners won't leave me.
Hope to see you at the summit!
Carla