Skyline Conditions

[TectorGorch]

Looking to do Skyline Monday...any condition reports would be very much appreciated, Thanks

[zippetydude]

Hi Tector. Cool avatar. Skyline is normally a great challenge because it is a trail that climbs a little over 8000 feet in just a few miles. Right now, at least the last 1000 feet of climbing would have to be done without any semblance of a trail because the soft, powdery snow is a few feet deep above 7000 feet elevation and probably extends most of the way down to Flatrock. If you go up the tram and walk over to Grubb's Notch you will no doubt see exactly what I mean. Since the trail selects the only viable route among the many false leads that end up topped out at cliffs, it would probably be a fruitless effort right now. I have checked it out from below before when conditions are like this, and each time I have ended up hiking back down. Not a bad thing in itself, but that's the conditions right now. I enjoy Skyline and have done it many times myself, but right now I would just consider it unpleasant and maybe even not possible for all the wrong reasons. A challenge is good, a big challenge is even better. But fruitlessly trying to find the right route while slowly plowing through waist deep powder only to get stuck below yet another cliff is not a challenge.

If you've ever seen my posts before you'll know I'm no Net Nanny, I think everyone has a right to go give it a shot. I am just leveling with you when I say that it will probably suck. I'm thinking late March for my next Skyline. Til then, the peak is stunningly beautiful right now!

z

[TectorGorch]

Thanks for your thoughtful response. We've done a number of Skylines and one C2C but never in winter conditions. I respect your reasoning and given recent occurrences we'll opt out for the "full Skyline" on Monday but perhaps we'll go up till we hit a bit of snow, have a fresh coffee and turn around for a leisurely down hike. Thanks again.

[Sally]

Tector, the latter sounds like a reasonable plan! (Not for me, though...my knees would never forgive me!)

[TectorGorch]

We did half a Skyline today...museum to 5000 feet. Snow level looked to be around 6 and diminishing in the strong sunshine. We were excited to see 12 deer in different groups...the last group had a forked buck, a spike buck and strangely enough, a very young deer hanging out with the forky. Gorgeous conditions and VERY green up there.

[Sally]

Tector, Happy to hear that you had a safe, sane, and wildlife-filled hike. The last time I did Skyline (right before the BIG snow-dump) we saw something like 17 deer, big ones, little ones, and antlered ones, in 3 different groups. Maybe the plants on the ridge are more succulent now that it has rained a lot, and the deer can venture out of the canyons more to find stuff to munch on.

[TectorGorch]

Today we caught the first tram up and carried our snowshoes all the way up to the summit on a warm, sunny, clear day. Microspikes were all we needed (mostly for the concrete ramp) with the trail well packed and the off-trail snow perfect for kickstepping. The summit was calm, warm and the visibility unlimited. Loved it!

[Ed]

2600fromatari,

Thanks for your excellent snow reports. Detailed reports like yours can prevent a lot of grief. I think I know how to read them. I'm not going up there! Other times they have been encouraging, and everything was fine.

Ed

[Ellen]

Howdy 2600fromatari

Thank you so much for your meticulous snow report --"soft postholing snow to very hard snow and sometimes ice back and forth." Yikes -- I won't be going up Skyline in such conditions .

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Ellen]

Greetings San Jacinto forum members,

Thanks to my hero's -- Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit and Riverside County Sheriffs -- another Skyline hiker was rescued this morning.

http://www.pe.com/articles/hiker-825421 ... d-san.html

Regarding present Skyline conditions, please heed 2600Fromatari's advice.

From the heart,
Ellen