by marmot » Tue Aug 08, 2006 6:21 pm
and i almost called for help about 2 miles from the flatrock, i was experiencing killer spasms literally in the middle of the trail, the cramps were that bad from 4000-5000 feet, and at 5000 feet, i ultimately decided to turnearound and this close from calling for a rescue. the last 2000 feet down were exhausting, in very hot temperatures. at one point, i got off the main route, at the picnic tables actually, at that point i wanted down so badly that from the picnic tables, i walked literrally straight down the steep desert slope right into palm springs, and went for the closest building (road) i could find, and it happened to a house. I collapsed on the middle of the dirt road, almost dead (literally). i had absolutely no energy to walk to the museum from there, so i just called my ride to pick me up. I did see a chuckawalla lizard! a nice cacti on the way up.
I brought enough water on the trail, the temperatures were in the 90s going up, but i simply wasnt in shape and i completly underestimated the difficulty. and i shouldve turned around earlier. it just became too hot and exhausting
This is not like any of the trails that ive been on in SoCal, this is different (epic) and much harder. everything is long and far and strenuous. dont fool with the skyline.