First time on Skyline

[MikeJ]

I joined Cy and Doreen this morning to hike up Skyline. I stayed with Cy because Doreen was too fast. I enjoyed the hike and enjoyed chatting with Cy. I especially appreciate him acting as my guide. He kept me from wandering off on one of the many false trails that lead off from the real trail. It really does pay to go with someone who knows what they are doing.

My impression of Skyline is that it is a much more difficult trail than the milage and elevation gain suggest. Since it is not a "real" trail it has not been smoothed out. You have to step up/down to get over large rocks that actually make up the trail. One result of this is that it takes longer to hike than what someone would estimate based on their experience on maintained trails. Another result is that it also takes much longer to hike back down. It took me about 5 hours to hike up as far as I got and it took about 4 hours to hike down. Usually my time to hike down is much less than my time to hike up.

[Cy Kaicener]

It was good having you along with us Mike. If it took you five hours you must have reached the 5500 ft level which is 1500 ft higher than my turn around point. Did you go back with Doreen.? Did you reach the snow level.? I hiked up the tram road afterwards for some extra conditioning. There were no other people on the trail until I got back to the picnic tables. All the parking lots below the lower tram station were completely full by 12.30 pm.

[MikeJ]

I passed the pile of rocks where someone had spelled out the elevation with stones. The stones have been kind of pushed around so it was hard to read. I thought it said 4960. I left it alone since I didn't know what it was supposed to be. Maybe someone who does know can straighten it out next time they are there.

From there I went up and around a little hill where the trail slopes down for a while. I met up with Doreen on that section. She pointed out a big ridge where she had gone. She continued down and I went up to the top of the ridge. I found a flat rock off the trail and just sat there for a while enjoying the scenery and the peacefulness of the area. It seemed like I had the whole mountain to myself. I decided I wasn't ready to head down yet so I went farther on the trail. It drops down a bit then goes west for a while before it starts to climb again. I turned around where it starts to climb. Even from there the snow was a long way off.

I didn't see anyone else until near the end. There were four hikers heading toward Ramon Rd., there was a family at the picnic tables, and I passed several people below the picnic tables.

That last section of the trail made me glad I was with you going up. So many people go on that lower section that the footprints are everywhere and there are false paths all over the place. It is hard to know when you are on the actual trail.

I also have to say something good about Doreen. When we met up on the trail I'm sure she was eager to keep moving but she offered to wait while I hiked up to the ridge so that I could hike out with her. That impressed me. Both of you are terrific people and I'm glad I met you.

[zippetydude]

Hi MikeJ. Welcome to Skyline and the board. Doreen and many of the other hikers on this trail are a unique group. It's a rugged, difficult, and sometimes dangerous trail. My impression is that everyone has got everyone else's back. How nice, huh? Imagine if life were like that everywhere? I hope to do Skyline a few times this coming spring through fall. Perhaps I'll see you along the trail.

z

[Cy Kaicener]

Mike - The numbered rocks are at 4360 ft. and the downhill was around 4900 feet. Flatrock is at 5900 feet where you must have turned back. It looked like the solid snow started at 6300 feet. If you reached some oak trees in the shade that was just 50 feet above Flat rock, you were at the start of the mile that gains about 1500 feet. There is a flatish shaded forest there where you cross a creek to the right and go past Manzanita.

[KathyW]

Mike: It sounds like you had a nice day on the Skyline Trail - Will you be going up all the way once the snow melts off?

Were there any flowers along the trail yet?

Cy: I remember two years ago when you took me up part of the way for my first time and we met Doreen along the way - it was early April and there was still snow up higher along the trail. Even in mid-April in 2006 there was ice and snow up above 7200 feet - the flowers were so pretty along the trail in 2006. It was so dry along the trail last year, but it sounds like we might get some nice flowers this year.

Kathy

[Cy Kaicener]

Kathy - I remember it well. Here are some desert flowers
http://www.astroshow.com/flowers/index.htm
http://www.starrsites.com/desert/phflower.htm

[tinaballina]

Mike, aren't Cy and Doreen great.....i did that hike with them the Saturday before and was supposed to join you all that morning, as for i over slept. I set my alarm for 4pm instead of 4am. Anyway, it is nice that to see that you all had a good hike. I ended up going sunday, it too was a beautiful day. See you on the trails.