Skyline #270!!!

[DancesWithTheMountains]

Hi Everyone,
It was a great day on Saturday. It was so nice and quiet that I really
enjoyed the solitude and peace that is sometimes missing on this trail.
I ended up doing #270 and it was a little difficult after being off this trail
since the end of May. I thought by doing all those high altitude hikes over
the summer that I would have done better, but, it took me a little longer
than I expected. It didn't matter. I still had a great day. Missed seeing
Steve and Patti. I did however, see Fernando on his way down from doing
C to C. Can't believe he was running down Skyline to the Museum. It was
also great to see my friend Sid from Alaska. Always a pleasure. I want to thank my friend from India, whose name I cannot remember, for staying with me while my heart rate was going through the roof. You were a blessing to me. I did end up walking down the tram road and back to my car and then it hit me when I finally sat down in my car. WOW!!! Missed you Ellen, even though I know you were in the Grand Canyon. I think I will skip this up coming weekend and do something a little easier(lol) Be blessed everyone and take care of our special trail.
Doreen

[zippetydude]

Congrats Doreen! I know what you mean about Skyline seeming harder after a break, even if you've been active in the meantime. I usually feel somewhat dismayed about 1/2 way to the picnic tables, then feel fine til I hit Ellen's Neverending Ridge, at which point I decide that I'm not doing Skyline anymore...you know the drill. I was over at Thomas Hunting Grounds trying not to get shot on opening day of deer season or I might have seen you out there. I'm waiting for a nice chilly day to resume my Skyline adventures this year.

About 270 times...that's
411.6 miles of elevation gain, or
2,173,230 feet straight up, or
26,076,760 inches directly into the atmosphere or
5 billion, 214 million, 274 thousand, 560 millimeters of total uphill travel!

So...well done!

z

[cynthia23]

Five billion millimeters? Zip, am I mistaken, or didn't you once figure out how many times your heart had beaten during a given Skyline? Maybe we could figure out Doreen's total ...

Doreen, congratulations. I'm in awe of your grit and accomplishments. And I'll always remember how encouraging you were to me when I was just 'starting out' on Skyline ....not sure if you remember that day, but I do---I was about three hundred feet up the trail, and plaintively asked you (you were coming down) "I'm almost to the picnic tables, right?" and you very kindly said, no, not quite, but that I should just keep plugging away ....and I did. I didn't make it that day (or the next) but eventually I did, and in no small part because you were always so encouraging every time I met you on the trail.

Keep on keeping on!

[Cy Kaicener]

Congratulations Doreen - I remember when we hardly saw a soul on Skyline except for Scott, Andy and Zip, Cynthia, Steve and Ellen occasionally. You are an inspiration to me.
I got stuck on #246 three years ago. If my back is okay on the first Saturday of November I might be there again.
I have been climbing Little Mountain in San Bernadino twice a day getting 1200 ft gain for two ascents. Thats the magic number of 8400 ft gain per week.

Here is my blog about it
http://cys-hiking-adventures.blogspot.c ... s-now.html

[DancesWithTheMountains]

Hi Zippetydude and Cynthia,
Thanks for those wonderful comments,. I got even more tired when
I saw the stats!!! 2,173,230 ft. No wonder I'm knocked out. You forgot
to add the walk back to the parking lot which is another 6 miles(lol)
You both have always inspired me too. Of course Cy will always be
special in my heart. By the way Zippetydude, be careful with those
guns going off. We need all the original skyline hikers we can keep.
Doreen

[bluerail]

WAY TO GO DOREEN!!

411 miles of elevation...that's amazing....and all that elevation drop and extra milege you throw in...you're nuts girl ! ( so is zip and that brain of his). Would have loved to have seen you on the trail, we were in Zion this past week, hope to see you soon dear..miss you.

[bluerail]

WAY TO GO DOREEN!!

[Ellen]

Howdy Doreen

My dear friend and Skyline Queen, you continue to inspire me

Congratulations and looking forward to seeing you on the trail again soon.

From the heart,

Ellen

[Zé]

and probably 10 million heartbeats! nice job!

[DancesWithTheMountains]

I love you all. Thanks for all the wonderful comments. You are all so
special and so dear to me. That trail, and all of you have inspired me
and I will always have a warm spot in my heart for all my insane skyliners.
We are a very special breed!!! May we all have many more days to "play"
in our magical playground known as "Skyline". Love you Steve and Patti.
Can't wait to hear about Zion.

Happy Trails to all
Be blessed
Doreen