Skyline/C2C first attempt ?s

[trekadam]

Hi all

This coming May, after graduation, a budy of mine and I are attempting Skyline for the first time. I've been to San Jac summit and have done quite a bit of hiking on the mountain but have always taken the tram up. My buddy has also been up on the tram and has done some hiking on the mountain but has not been to the top. Regardless of how little time we've spent on San J., we both are experienced hikers. I like to think of myself as a smart hiker who is generally well prepared for all the hikes and backpacking trips I've been on but I absolutely DO NOT want to be the next ones rescued from the trail. So, I was hoping to get any advice, info or tips about the trail.

I've done tons of research on it...have given this site... http://www.geocities.com/cactus2clouds/skyline.html, a read through 20 times or so (no kidding), have read through Hiking4health and the RMRU reports and TRs on summitpost, even mocked up a trail map on Google Earth. However, as I've read a million times all over this site and SP - it is impossible to plan for the unexpected. Luckily I've never had any bad experiences beyond a sprained ankle or broken toe...I don't want this one to be the first truly bad experience if something were to go wrong.

Here is what we were thinking of doing...

We want to make our trip into a three day hike -

Day 1: Hike up Skyline and make camp in Round Valley
Day 2: Hike to San Jac Summit and Jean Peak then head back to Round Valley for the night
Day 3: Hike back down Skyline

Is this a good/bad idea? I've not been able to find much about people hiking back down Skyline. It seems as though most people take the tram back down. However, my buddy doesn't have a car so we plan to leave mine in the parking lot at the museum. Our only other option would be to take a taxi and be dropped off at the trailhead. Three days later we'd have to call for a taxi from the museum to get back home. Has anyone ever tried this? I posted a similar topic on SP three or four months ago trying to get a feel for how safe it would be to leave my car at the museum but I failed to mention it would be for more than one day.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts/advice/criticisms of our trip plans.

A.

[AlanK]

You mentioned May. The main reason for not hiking down Skyline is the heat. You can easily beat the heat going up by starting early. Coming down, one tends to be hiking during the day into a real furnace.

We usually manage to bum a ride from some fellow tram passenger. Our backup is a taxi. There are several local taxi services. I carry a list of phone numbers, but the Tram people will call one for you if needed. If you park at the Museum, you are basically at the trailhead. All you should need is to call a taxi from the lower tram station when you finish your hike.

[Hikin_Jim]

I've got a couple of thoughts:

First, test your readiness before tackling Skyline. A good way to test your readiness is to do some big gain hikes. Here are some possibilities:
San Gorgonio Wilderness:
Momyer Creek direct to San Bernardino Peak Divide (don't go to Alger Cr)
Vivian Creek trail to Mt. San Gorgonio
San Gabriel Mountains:
Mt. Baldy Trail (aka the Bear Canyon Trail)
Baldy Bowl Trail (aka the Ski Hut Trail) -- This is only about ~4000 gain and is a good starter
Iron Mountain (high gain xc route)
DON'T DO THESE TOO CLOSE TO THE DATE OF YOUR SKYLINE TRIP. Your body needs to recover. Taper off the last week or two before Skyline.

Second, don't do Skyline as an overnighter for your first attempt. Carrying your overnight gear is a lot of extra weight. If you do Skyline successfully with a day pack and really feel strong on it, then maybe try it as a backpack. Also, with an overnighter, you have to have a permit which ties you to a particular day. If that day turns out to be super hot or thunderstorms or something, you can't just postpone for the next weekend. Keep your flexibility. Be prepared to abort/reschedule if needed.

Third, for your first time, plan on taking the tram down. You may feel fine when you reach the top and the return trip might be no problem, but don't plan on having the energy to do the return trip. Once you get familiar with the terrain, route, and difficulty, then maybe try hiking it out and back. Also, as Alan points out, the heat is a big big issue on the return trip. You'd have to really pick your day well, weatherwise.

Of course you need to be in top shape, carry a lot of water (6 quarts is the amount recommended on the famous Skyline sign), be good at route finding since Skyline is just that, a route, not a true trail, etc. All the basics of taking an extreme day hike on a cross country route.

And of course file a "hike plan" with family or friends before you ever set foot out the door listing where you're going, what route you're taking, and what time you will return. If you're overdue, God forbid, then the authorities can start a search & rescue op.

Just some thoughts.

[AlanK]

Of the trails that Jim mentions, I especially like the Mt. Baldy Trail (which starts in Baldy Village next to the Ranger Sataion and has names associated with it that include "Village Church Trail" and "Bear Flat Trail"). It gains roughly 6000' in roughly 6 miles. As Jim said, the Ski Hut Trail is ismilarly steep but shorter. There are not many trails that gain elevation that rapidly. Skyline does. Iron Mountain has a major section that is significantly steeper yet.

[hvydrt]

Day 1: Hike up Skyline and make camp in Round Valley

I think that would be extremely difficult. Thats a lot of weight to carry up 8000'.

[Rob]

Of the trails that Jim mentions, I especially like the Mt. Baldy Trail (which starts in Baldy Village next to the Ranger Station and has names associated with it that include "Village Church Trail" and "Bear Flat Trail").

I like the same trail (aka Bear Canyon trail) because it's a "no permit" trail. You can do the hike on the spur of the moment and not worry about permits (other than hanging your parking Adventure Pass). It's tough to find 6,000' gain elsewhere. I've done the trail twice and started early and didn't had a problem parking in Baldy Village on the road in front of the Ranger Station. A bonus is that when you finish your hike you can dump your gear in your car and then enjoy a nice burger plate at the grill across the street before you sit down in your car and stiffen up.

[trekadam]

Thanks for all the advice and thoughts everyone! This has all been very helpful and I am definitely thinking that we should no longer do an overnighter after hiking up the entire mountain. I am in good shape but have never hiked as rapid an ascent as Skyline.

Hikin_Jim, I think I will take your advice and do some other "big gain hikes" a month or so before the Skyline attempt and then tackle Skyline as a day hike. I've always wanted to head up San Gorgonio but have never had the chance. Vivian Creek sounds great, so possibly this is an excuse to get over there and do some more training so as not to become the subject of the next RMRU Skyline rescue report!

Thanks again all! Other thoughts, comments, etc are still very much appreciated!

A.

[Hikin_Jim]

Adam:

Viv. Cr. is a great hike; I think you'll really enjoy it, and summiting San Gorgonio is really good too.

If it's a backpack you want, you could stay on the summit of SG, watching the sun set in the west on day one and rising in the east on day two. A bit more weight of course, but it's a nice option. You would want to fill up on water at High Creek unless there's meltable snow on top (and you know how to melt snow). Hint: Don't just put snow in a pot and turn on the heat. Nasty. Put an inch or so of water in the bottom of the pot, stir in the snow, and keep stirring until melted.

Check the conditions first of course, but I think Viv. Cr. should be fine in May given that it's south facing. In heavy snow years, I've seen significant snow as low as 7000' in June on the north facing slopes.

HJ

[trekadam]

I think Vivian Creek definitely sounds like a great idea. My buddy, who wants to do a small backpacking trip with me this May, is finishing up his tour in Iraq right now. He gets to log online once a week, so the next time I talk to him I'll be sure to ask what he thinks about changing the plans to SG...I'm sure he will not object.

Now I am not at all familiar with Gorgonio and the wilderness rules over there. If we do decide to stay on the summit one night I'm guessing we'll need a permit? (time to check SP)

I'm going to do a little research about SG now. What else would be good to know about doing a short backpacking trip there?

Thanks
A

[Hikin_Jim]

You will need an overnight permit. Check out http://www.sgwa.org/