After many years of saying "we will do the Skyline Trail", we hiked it this past Sat, March 23rd.
I would like to thank the moderator of this website and all the helpful postings and comments. A thank you to Ellen for answering my questions, a thank you to HIKIN' JIM and your wonderful blog and a thank you to Doreen whom we met on the way up this past Saturday answering our questions about any ice. Yes Doreen, we did encounter some, but were able to either step in the prints made by others or go around it.
I am an avid hiker, mostly 7 to 14 miles a day on the South Lykken, which I call my fitness trail. In season, you will see me up there at least 3 times a week and if I can, hiking it in the AM and the afternoon-ish, daylight permitting. Lost 15 pounds on that trail last year.....I try for 100 to 200 miles a month during Nov to April, weather permitting and I do not like heat. So I felt in pretty good shape plus 4 times, this past month, I and a girlfriend have "trained" going up to the 5000 feet of Skyline and back down.
My husband, not the avid or do I say "obsessed" hiker I am, but ever the encouraging one, joined me on the 23rd. And together we hiked the skyline.
A once in a lifetime experience, maybe, maybe not. We both felt great the next day and are talking about doing it again!
We set foot on the trail leaving from Ramon at 8AM. First rescue box, 1 hr 20 minutes later, 4300 feet in 3 hours.... flat rock by 1PM.
The most perfect day!!!! I went on a 10 mile hike with friends from my Joshua Tree Hiking Club the next day, still reeling from the "high" from the day before. Today I am VERY hungry.
I'll be back on the South Lykken tomorrow for a double hike, with fond thoughts of what "we" did on the 23rd.
Hiker Linda....Joshua Tree
