Caution: Sleeping Beauty on Skyline

[cynthia23]

This morning (Monday) decided to go up Skyline as the day was forecast as cooler than normal (too much so, as it turned out--had to turn back at 5k when the wind gusts started to hit the 60mph range and the temps suddenly plummeted.) Anyway, as we climbed up, at 7.30 am. at approx. 3700 feet on the regular trail, we ran across, as in almost stepped on, a guy sleeping on the trail. He was wrapped in hefty bags, had jugs of water, and basically looked like a homeless guy sleeping off a bender. He yelled in surprise and we said a nervous good morning and continued on our way. This was just before where the shortcut returns to the regular trail. On the way down, around 1pm, we peeked over the top of the hill, and the guy was still there, sitting on top of some rocks. So he seems to be hanging out there, as opposed to being a hiker taking a nap on his way up Skyline.

Do we have a new Crazydude (remember him?) (If you don't remember, he was a mentally ill homeless drug addict who, back in 2006, started camping out on the Shady Slope and then disappeared under mysterious circumstances.) Probably this guy will just go back down as soon as his water runs out. Still, solitary hikers planning on doing Skyline in the next few days, especially females, might want to be a bit cautious. He definitely seemed odd, although I have to give the guys props for pitching his camp so high up the trail--he may be crazy, but he's aerobically fit? Nonetheless I wouldn't want to run into him on my own. He's a heavyset bearded Hispanic guy who smells heavily of aftershave. You'll know it's him because he's wearing a Hefty Bag.

[Florian]

There is a person of similar description that regularly hikes the south Lykken trail, usually shirtless, wearing pants not shorts. If is the same person i think he's okay and just likes the trails.

-Florian

[cynthia23]

Yeah, I think I know the guy you mean--it's possible this is the same guy, but overall I don't think so. I didn't get that good a look at him though. In either event, he's probably harmless, but I didn't want anyone stumbling on him (literally) at four or five in the morning--that could be unnerving for both parties.

[Ellen]

Howdy Cynthia

Yikes ! How is it you seem to have all the "fun" running into characters on Skyline

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[zippetydude]

Cynthia: No worries, that was me. I've put on a few pounds lately and was trying to disguise my identity with the Hefty bags. I used to fit into the tall kitchen size, but nowadays I find the 33 gallon are the only ones that fit me. If they get any tighter around the waist I'm going to have to switch to the industrial sizes, but they are kinda expensive and a bit tall for me.

Seriously, though, I remember that other guy that would camp out on Skyline. I too am amazed that a homeless person would actually go to the trouble of climbing 3000-4000' to camp instead of just picking a place in town. I guess that just goes to show that, unlike the stereotypes, there may well be something more involved in homelessness than merely employment status. If I run into him I'll stop and have a chat. Once, on a trip to Vegas, I ran into a homeless couple at about 1:30 a.m. as I was making my way back to my hotel room. I sat down and talked with them for about an hour. It was an interesting experience and we all had a fun conversation. I'll post if I have another such opportunity.

z

[cynthia23]

Zip, you made me laugh I wish it HAD been you, haven't seen you in too long. And Ellen, I dunno how I always run into the 'characters'--maybe it's because like attracts like!

Florian, after thinking about it, I actually think you're right--I do remember, now, running into this guy on the S. Lykken trail. But I have to say, that time he made me uncomfortable too (although he was moving, not sleeping!) He just seemed a little 'odd'. However, I fully admit that could be said of most of us on the trail, including me

[Ellen]

Howdy Cynthia

"Odd" people on Skyline, really?

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Cy Kaicener]

Hi Cynthia - Its good to see that you are still hiking. I can only manage hikes that are not more than two hours. I miss Skyline

[Backwoods]

If he was a PCT thru hiker he'd fit right in. Most of us look'd like homeless people and we were. The trail was our home. Maby his dirty and torn high end ultra lite gear was stuffed behnd a rock. One thing I learned on my thru hike last year was not to judge people untill got to know them when I do I'm almost always wrong. It's that time of year again the dirty smelley lucky PCT thru hikers are starting to pore into Idyllwild the tourists who don't know about the PCT proubly would think IDY's a homeless meca. Dam smelly bearded dirty homeless hiker's that can afford to take months off work and fund a thru hike. Who know's that guy on Skyline could be happy'r than I am and that's what life s all about isen't it.

[cynthia23]

Hi Cy! We miss seeing you on 'the mountain' but as Maurice Herzog wrote at the end of Annapurna, when frostbite had ended his climbing days,
"There are other mountains in the life of man." As for me, I'm trudging on for now, but doubt I'll be getting much faster in this lifetime ...

Backwoods, I agree with you on the dangers of judging people on their 'gear'. I've certainly worn a hefty bag Poncho a time or two, and don't make assumptions on that front. My concerns were with the man's atypical behavior (asleep on the trail at 7.30, and stilll there hours later.) Also, Skyline is not like the PCT. Because the TH is an urban area, there are a number of homeless folks who camp in the lower washes and canyons, and sometimes on Skyline itself. They are not hikers. Most are harmless, but some are drug users or mentally ill. I have run into a number. I have found drug paraphenalia and other odd/unpleasant items on the lower parts of the trail. So far as I know there has been only one episode of actual violence (about ten years ago, a mentally ill homeless man who was camping near the picnic tables, attacked some passing hikers, who luckily were able to wrestle him down.) However, I think it is important for solitary hikers, especially females, to keep in mind when hiking Skyline that you are not fully "out in the wilderness', but to some extent trekking in an unusually empty part of an urban area, with some possibly shady characters wandering around. I don't know if male hikers can fully appreciate the (sadly, sometimes justified) fears that female hikers feel when encountering strangers in solitary areas, but I do think care is warranted and not unduly paranoid or judgmental. Hope this clarifies my POV.