REI blogger would like to hear from C2C fans

[Perry]

He's real. It's hard to fake an email address from REI.com

[TDWood]

Hi again, folks.

Here is what I wrote: http://www.rei.com/share/rei-blog/2012/ ... -hike.html

Thanks to eric1234 for granting me permission to use a couple of his photots.

I wish everyone many happy walks on Skyline. What a trail.

T.D.

[halhiker]

Hi again, folks.

Here is what I wrote: http://www.rei.com/share/rei-blog/2012/ ... -hike.html

Thanks to eric1234 for granting me permission to use a couple of his photots.

I wish everyone many happy walks on Skyline. What a trail.

T.D.

Nice write up. I don't do this trail often anymore because it's been ruined for me by the crowds—I started hiking it 25+ years ago when it was so faint it was hard to follow in places— but I think the article addresses the concerns of people on the board about encouraging a new group of novices to come up and get rescued or worse.

[lilbitmo]

Hi again, folks.

Here is what I wrote: http://www.rei.com/share/rei-blog/2012/ ... -hike.html

Thanks to eric1234 for granting me permission to use a couple of his photots.

I wish everyone many happy walks on Skyline. What a trail.

T.D.

Very nice write up - clean concise and accurate

[Carl F]

I disagree that the trail has somehow been ruined. Yes there are some points where the trail is obscured by trails. Maybe in a different era, and maybe I am a latecomer. But I have learned so much by hiking Skyline. About all the transitions of vegetation. About transitions in weather. About how to train your body for optimal performance. There are people up here, in there late 50's (like me), and are hiking faster than people in their 20's(not necesarily me) . There is a reason for that, and it is a commitment to a Mountain which we are so lucky to have here in So Cal. (Hello Ellen, and lots of other folks)

About the crowds, I have never seen them. I'm not Doreen but every time I go up there there are 10 or less people. Usually 3 -10. Two times ago it was the San Diego Women's hiking club, there because they were shut out from their planned Whitney tour because of lightning.

I don't think publicizing skyline will lead to its demise in any way. Let's get the couch potatoes up here. We have nothing to be afraid of, except an occasional rescue which will happen anyway.

In any case , I love reading all of your comments because I have learned what I know from this board and this mountain.

Peace, Happy Holidays!

CEF

[TDWood]

Very nice write up - clean concise and accurate

Thanks to lilbitmo and Hal for their kind comments.

I understand how Skyline fans feel about their trail. I once lived in La Canada and hiked a local fire road there (Hall/Beckley Canyon, above Palm Ave. for those of you familiar with the area) probably 200+ times. It's a treat to have an urban escape so close by.

By writing about Skyline and C2C I really wasn't trying to blow your cover for a nice trail. I was chiefly hoping to make potential hikers safer and more responsible with any advice I dished. I'm hoping for the best.

Thanks to everyone who helps keep Skyline in such good shape.

T.D.

[TDWood]

Also, thanks to Perry and Cy for sharing their websites with me.

T.D.

[halhiker]

I disagree that the trail has somehow been ruined. Yes there are some points where the trail is obscured by trails. Maybe in a different era, and maybe I am a latecomer. But I have learned so much by hiking Skyline. About all the transitions of vegetation. About transitions in weather. About how to train your body for optimal performance. There are people up here, in there late 50's (like me), and are hiking faster than people in their 20's(not necesarily me) . There is a reason for that, and it is a commitment to a Mountain which we are so lucky to have here in So Cal. (Hello Ellen, and lots of other folks)

About the crowds, I have never seen them. I'm not Doreen but every time I go up there there are 10 or less people. Usually 3 -10. Two times ago it was the San Diego Women's hiking club, there because they were shut out from their planned Whitney tour because of lightning.

I don't think publicizing skyline will lead to its demise in any way. Let's get the couch potatoes up here. We have nothing to be afraid of, except an occasional rescue which will happen anyway.

In any case , I love reading all of your comments because I have learned what I know from this board and this mountain.

Peace, Happy Holidays!

CEF

I said the trail was ruined for ME. For others, it's fine. Everyone has their own likes and dislikes. I just don't like its current state. The many short cuts have degraded the experience IMO and the lower Museum section is so eroded I'm waiting for section of the hillside to completely give way during a thunderstorm at some time in the future. It's one of those places that people are loving to death.

I used to hike for speed but now I'm older and slower I like to experience the areas I go to and take it easy. There's just not much to see on the trail that I think is that pretty so I prefer to go other places.

[Hikin_Jim]

Here is what I wrote: http://www.rei.com/share/rei-blog/2012/ ... -hike.html

I thought it was a pretty fair treatment.

If I were to offer any critique at all it might be of the one graphic showing a "water bucket." The article does clearly state that no water is available en route, but graphic might give someone the wrong impression.

HJ

[cynthia23]

This is a clean write up TD Wood, but one thing really concerns me, which is that you don't make it clear enough that novices should never attempt Skyline on days when the predicted valley temps are going to be over 92 degrees. Most of the heat deaths have occurred when novices attempt Skyline on a hot(ter) day, get up to about 5k or so, become too fatigued to continue up, and then make the mistake of going down instead of calling for a rescue. Going down when temps are high virtually guarantee heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Novices fail to understand that summer hikes are committed hikes; it's unsafe to turn around because the temps have been rapidly rising below you. For that reason, you should urge novices to NEVER attempt their first Skyline during the summer months. (I personally don't think it's a good idea for anyone to hike Skyline during this time, but I admit that regulars at least understand the danger.) If you can, please amend your post to emphasize the heat/summer danger. People who don't live here simply don't understand the life-threatening nature of our summer temps. Thanks.