Hikers Rescued on Skyline Trail - Feb 2

[Cy Kaicener]

Two hikers were rescued on the Skyline Trail after sliding about 600 or 700 feet and not being able to get back to the trail. I hope it wasnt my friend Quang and his friend who passed me on the way up while I was coming down. Another pair of hikers with full packs were also heading up to the tram.
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a ... /302030021

[Cy Kaicener]

I WISH i knew how to discourage hikers who are deliberately seeking the thrill of danger

[Cy Kaicener]

UPDATE - 4 hikers have been rescued and one or two more are still out there.
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a ... /302030021

[marmot]

i went up to 4700' with a couple of buddies of mine, and on the way down passed three groups of people coming up.

id imagine that the rescue rate on this mountain is near fifty percent in the winter. the odds are against you, dont try it in the winter, no matter how fit you are.

[halhiker]

I knew when information about this hike was published 15 years ago it would not be a good thing. Too many people do not understand the severity of this route and this mountain in general.

There should be a list of ALL the rescues on this trail compiled and it should be the very first thing given to anyone considering doing it for the first time.

I don't want to rant as I have in the past but I think we know I will continue to actively discourage use of the Skyline Trail except when conditions are optimal and when first timers are accompanied by a Skyline veteran.

It's the same old story and it's getting very old. These men are VERY lucky to be alive.

[Cy Kaicener]

http://www.pe.com/localnews/rivcounty/s ... 5f5f2.html

[guest]

I 2nd that Hal, the cat's outta the bag, and we're left w/ damage control.

I helped put the metal sign up at 1,700 ft. over 10 yrs ago at the urging of PS Mounted Police & the Trails Council, but it hasn't seemed to make a lot of difference, (or maybe it has), but there's so many more attempting this now that the law of averages is showing up, big time.

Talk of a warning sign at the trailhead has come up, that may help, but it might give fools ideas to do something they have to business doing, (hence the reason for the sign at 1,700 ft.).

I personally have reservations about any of us posting that we have completed the trail during these conditions, (I know I've been guilty of this). Granted, it may help, or may discourage others from doing in winter / early spring, but at the same time give confidence to others to go for it.

ss

[Hikin_Jim]

...it may help, or may discourage others from doing in winter / early spring, but at the same time give confidence to others to go for it.

ss

Yeah, talk about darned if you do, and darned if you don't.

The reason I don't think about doing Skyline in the winter is not because I don't know anything about hiking; it's because I do know a bit about hiking. I know what ice is like, and I ain't going anywhere near it without further training.

OK, now for some ideas: One fairly simple idea is to post signs along the route describing deaths and resuces conducted on Skyline that list a "moral of the story" at the bottom of the sign. For example: "Joe X slipped on ice and plummeted 1000 feet to his death. Joe had no ice equipment or training. Don't go on this mountain with out proper training and ice specific gear."

I'm good for the cost of one sign.

I wonder if the county would actually save money if they posted someone on a strategic spot that would "evaluate" people. Possibly impractical, but maybe voluteer San Jacinto rangers or ?.

Then there are permits. Veteran Skylies could get a pass that exempts them from permits, but everyone else would have to get a permit that would include warnings about what has happened on the route and what common dangers are. This would require some patrolling, but not as much perhaps as posting an "evaluator."

There! Now, I'm no doubt the most unpopular person on this board for suggesting permits, but at the risk of being banned for life, there are my thoughts. Perhaps better a permit system than outright closure?

[asabat]

Interesting thoughts, Jim, except it's easier to just close the trail. Very sad.

Reading the CHP dispatch logs during the storm, I saw a couple where someone called in that they spun out because of ice and the CHP better close the road because it's dangerous. A citizen telling the CHP to close a road because of a storm. I guess it must have been the road and no way could it have been that they were driving too fast while dialing their cell phone in a storm!

[Cy Kaicener]

RMRU is starting to come out with a few details
http://www.rmru.org/missions/2008/2008-005.html
http://www.rmru.org/missions/2008/2008-004.html