Time to "FIX" the Skyline "trail"

[Hikin_Jim]

IMHO, many people might be doing it now because they believe it to be a trail that one can follow without getting lost ...

I agree. I try to remember to call it the Skyline route even though it was once a regular trail. Perhaps if we all made a point of calling it a route, then we wouldn't lead anyone astray. I bet a lot of first timers don't even bring a map and a compass. "Why would I need to be prepared for navigation? I'll be on a trail the whole time."

[mark2812]

I just hiked skyline on Fri May 16th, Yes we had a topo (thx to this site) and we did have a compass, in addition to GPS waypoints (thx to this site). We definitely had to pay close attention above 7400ft, as many people seem to take their own path which can be misleading. At one point, after the traverse, we lost the trail after following what looked like the trail - which was nothing more than someone else's tracks. Also at the bottom of the mountain, from the museum, there are all sorts of paths, one really has to pay attention, especially in the dark, as we started at 3:30am. I do not know the solution; I would be willing to volunteer on a trail maintenance day.

[cynthia23]

Hi Rick! As a local I can certainly help out during the weekdays on some trail maintenance, at least in the lower sections. I will PM you ...

[Rick M]

Mark2812 said

Also at the bottom of the mountain, from the museum, there are all sorts of paths, one really has to pay attention, especially in the dark, as we started at 3:30am. I do not know the solution; I would be willing to volunteer on a trail maintenance day.

With the change in weather coming this week (highs in the low 80s on Thur-Sat) I am planning on going up the lower portion (all of it?) this Thursday morning to see about fixing some more places on the trail. Almost a full moon also I assume most people on this site have regular type jobs but if any might have Thursday morning off and would like to accompany me I would love the company (and opinions).

[KathyW]

Chances are the shortcut trails will just reappear because they get used fairly often. Some people like the short steep version of the trail and others like the longer and not as steep version of the trail.

[Hikin_Jim]

Chances are the shortcut trails will just reappear because they get used fairly often. Some people like the short steep version of the trail and others like the longer and not as steep version of the trail.

Good point, but if the spurious, leads-to-nowhere trails were blocked, that would be quite helpful I would think.

HJ

[cynthia23]

Hi Rick, what time on Thursday morning are you planning on going up? I will be on the lower portion for my 'regular' hike up from the Desert Museum for an hour or so, but probably won't get to trailhead until 9 a.m. ish. (I can't get there until then) MarkHnj is probably going to be hiking too although I can't speak for him. I am happy to help out on at least the lower sections ...what are your plans? Let us know or you can PM me; look forward to meeting you one of these days ...

[Rick M]

From my trip up to the picnic tables a few weeks ago I noticed some "spurs" that seemed to fade away. Looked like people constantly going off the wrong way for a bit then turning around to get back on the "right way" or just spurs to walk off the main trail to a "vista point" (?) to enjoy the view or maybe "slow traffic" turnouts . I sort of obliterated one on the way down that didn't appear to be a vista spur and if the sun wasn't on its way down, would have fixed a few more.

I also saw many places where it looked like some prefer to clip off the corners of the switchbacks by stepping up on the rocks. As the real KathyW said

Chances are the shortcut trails will just reappear because they get used fairly often. Some people like the short steep version of the trail and others like the longer and not as steep version of the trail.

I agree. These would take a major effort and probably require a major realignment of the trail, something that would require a fair amount of effort and the powers to be with jurisdiction...probably not gonna happen. And as KathyW also mentioned previously, most of these intertwine with the main path to get to the same place in this lower section. Unfortunately, as Mark2812 said

…at the bottom of the mountain, from the museum, there are all sorts of paths, one really has to pay attention, especially in the dark…

This is something people, especially those new to the trail, will have to be careful with starting up in the dark. My biggest concern here is not with people getting lost on this part of the trail but that they might lose time and energy losing the trail here for the grind later on up (Hikin Jim reference).

Hi Cynthia23 and Markhjn; I had planned on leaving around 5 tomorrow so I could perhaps go all the way since the upper portion is my biggest concern but have to attend a meeting at 11 so I will have to cancel for tomorrow. Sorry. And such cool weather and breeze forecasted.

[KathyW]

I didn't realize there were spurs that didn't go anywhere. I guess I missed those the few times I've been up the trail. It sure would be nice to get rid of those spurs.

[Rick M]

I just got back from a NASA program in the desert and was asked to return to teaching from retirement for a school that fired their chemistry teacher. Not to mention involved with three separate rocket programs (two for going into space). I was saddened to read of Jim Fairchild's passing. Then I read about the missions RMRU has had in the past couple of months and thought I'd read up on some of the latest posts here.

Deja Vu
Skyline Rescues, same talks of ill equipped or unskilled people, lack of signage, etc and then the threads wonder and break down. Now the hot topic is how soon can people go up without the need for crampons or ice axes, people talking about hiking in shorts and Ts during snow conditions (which might be fine until the unexpected occurs) and people from far away asking about hiking it in April and no mention of possible ice hazards and later in the year about how fast they can get up it, etc and the need to get an early start to hopefully avoid conditions that might cook your brains if a mishap occurs at say 5 or 6,000'. Signs are one thing but I always get the sense that this TRAIL/ROUTE or whatever one wishes to refer to it as "the thing to do" on this list and only praises said about what feats people do until problems arise but then back to "normal".

I wish my friends on RMRU all the best and safety on their missions.

Rick