Any current conditions updates on C2C?

[Staytheyear]

I will be attempting the C2C with my dad for his 60th birthday on Sunday. We did a winter ascent of Whitney last year and need something awesome for the big 6-0!!! While we will be fully prepared with ice axes, crampons and snow shoes... It would be fantastic to hear an current reports as nothing has been posted this week. Does the snow/ice still start around 7400 feet just before the traverse? How deep is the snow above the tram? Any beta for Sunday would be amazing. Thanks, all!

[cynthia23]

Here's the most important thing (IMHO) you need to know: it's going to be 90 degrees in Palm Springs on Sunday. Yes, because it's still (supposed to be) winter, nights are still cool, and starting very early will mean you will escape the majority of the heat. However, should you need to retreat, i.e. one of you gets tired and bonks and you have to turn around and go back down, you will be very uncomfortable, and you could get in a 'situation'. We had a heat-related rescue on Monday, where a woman attempting Skyline ran out of water and began cramping and required a rescue. So, I'll leave others to advise you on the ice (which probably is still present in the chutes and hazardous, so I would bring crampons, too) but my advice is a pre-dawn start, so that if a retreat is necessary, it will happen while temps are still reasonable. You don't want to be coming down Skyline at 3 pm when temps are ninety. Also be aware that nearly the entire trail is unshaded and the sun is beating down the whole time. The woman who got rescued on Monday called for help at 11 a.m. Granted, perhaps her fitness levels were just very low, but my larger point here is that temps have been running fifteen degrees above normal the entirety of the past month. It appears that global warming is causing conditions on Skyline in February to more closely resemble those in May. The new normal?

And of course, carry plenty of fluids.

[SkylineBus]

As of this Wed.......Yes, the ice-covered snow starts right at 7,400 ft and is continuous by 7,490. The traverse is not good. Your equipment choices are highly appropriate and I very much doubt that you will find them to be overkill. I cant speak for conditions above the mountain station.

[mczzmm]

Trip pics here show progress and conditions up the mtn this past Saturday - https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNH4pxfaLFSYWegXrEuSHUfJob4sJUwvQIVTR6Vp8h14Stf7icdpwde87b8l1EoMg?key=SEhtQ1Z4V0l5T2ZQUVpGbF9ZQ2FfU3N6TWZETXpB

I started at 4:30AM and the heat was still more that I desired, even with living in Phoenix. Hope the birthday hike was a success!

[Ellen]

Howdy mczzmm

Thanks so much for the pictures and beta on the Skyline traverse I haven't been on Skyline since December due to a shoulder fracture and really enjoyed your photos.

I also appreciate your comment regarding the heat. Your observations are especially pertinent because you live in the desert and are more heat acclimated than most newbies hiking Skyline.

I have complete respect for Skyline -- one can experience heat illness in the lower sections yet slip on lousy snow/ice on the traverse Diverse challenges to be sure

Congratulations on C2C.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen
Member of Skyline Addicts not-so-anonymous

[Hikin_Jim]

Ellen claims to have fractured her shoulder, but given how often and how many times overall she has done Skyline, there are those among us that suspect that what she really fractured is what rests on her shoulders.

HJ

[mczzmm]

Thank Ellen for the feedback. I hike a lot, have done Whitney dayhike and R2R2R in a day, yet wouldn't want to do skyline often or ever again as it is relentless. Good for you that you keep doing it when not injured. Thanks for being active in the community to keep others safe as this is a hike with very high risks.