Skyline Rescue 5/23

[halhiker]

http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/loc ... s/9490713/

[Hikin_Jim]

They started at 4:30 in the evening? That's a weird time to start.

HJ

[cynthia23]

I agree, quite odd. Perhaps they were planning on camping up above, as they certainly can't have been planning on taking the tram back down. According to the article, the sheriff's department was 'called to the tram station"--whatever that means--at 11.30 at night. Assuming an hour for lag time, it sounds like they called for help at around ten or eleven at night, from around 4000 feet. That would mean it took them around six hours to get to 4000 feet. Even I'm faster than that. Their super slow time suggests they may have been carrying a very heavy load, i.e. camping equipment. If that's what happened ... climbing Skyline in the dark with a massive backpack is probably a pretty good way to take a fall, which it sounds like one of them did.

[Hikin_Jim]

Sounds ill advised at best.

HJ

[cynthia23]

You put it very diplomatically HJ .

[Hikin_Jim]

Well, I've done my share of night hiking, so I can't "throw stones", but I am curious what their thought process might have been. Perhaps they were thinking that they would do the majority of it at night when it was dark. One can do a lot with modern LED headlamps. Still, it seems odd.

HJ

[neverwashasbeen]

Here is a link to the RCSO report for this incident. I found the last section to be very well written.

http://www.riversidesheriff.org/press/cab14-0522.asp

[HH8]

Here is a link to the RCSO report for this incident. I found the last section to be very well written.

http://www.riversidesheriff.org/press/cab14-0522.asp

Think he's related to Leeroy Jenkins?

[bluerail]

I'd have to guess it was warm?
6 hrs to get to 4000 ? I'd have to guess there was a water issue.
I guess it would be possible to hurt yourself on skyline, but even then the 4000' section?
I've started late afternoon when it's warm and wanted to scream for help before at 4000' but not from an injury

[neverwashasbeen]

Another rescue on Skyline last night/this morning, at the 7800 foot level. Rumor is that one of party was rescued at 4000 a few weeks ago. RMRU should have a write up soon.