Cactus to Clouds Trip Report Sun 10/26

[Davis2001r6]

Well I finally made it back over there to finish this hike.

Last spring I came with a group and we threw in the towel once we made it to the tram. So it's been laughing at me everytime I've drove past it.

4 of us came up from Phoenix Saturday afternoon. He had a good pasta dinner in Palm Springs and stayed at the Royal Sun Inn for $65. The hotel was actually pretty good for the price. We got to bed early and planned to leave at 3am for the TH.

We were on the trail at 3:20 and making good progress. The 4 of us have done a good amount of hiking together in AZ and all have about the same abilities so that helped alot. We were never stretched of by more than 100 feet. The weather was perfect and the night sky looked great over Palm Springs, the sunrise was great on the trail too.

We made it up to the tram in 6 hours even, that included 45 minutes of breaks along the way. We headed up to the ranger station and took another 45 minute break there and ate some lunch.

Then it was back on the trail to the Peak this time. Easy trail but I was really drained from the main climb. I needed a break at the saddle and regrouped before making the final push up top. The weather was really perfect the whole day. My buddy and I had each brought up a tall boy of Coors light, so we enjoyed a celebratory beer up top. After some pictures was we headed back down.

Made it back to the tram right at 12 hours. Then the worst part came of having to drive back to Phoenix after the hike.

We all said we would do the skyline again, but probably not continue onto the Peak. That and do it over a 3 day weekend so we could stay another night in Palm Springs and enjoy some drinks sitting in the hot tub afterwords.

I'll post a link to my pictures when i get them loaded tonight, only took a dozen though.

-TIM-

[Cy Kaicener]

Thanks for the trip report Tim, and congratulations on making it all the way. I am looking forward to your pictures. I have the Arizonahikers.com link on my website with a c2c slide show. You were wise to start early. Two friends of mine
Doreen and Jack started at 5.00 am on Saturday and were frying at 5000 feet where they had the temperature at 87 degrees. It is supposed to be much cooler this week end.

[Davis2001r6]

Yeah thats not a hike I would want to mess with in the heat of the day. Plus I just love the way the city looks at night, we were watching planes take off when we were around 4000-5000 feet. I would like to hike it with a full moon one time. Would be fun to hike up there and be waiting for the 1st tram up for a ride down.

As it was I still drank about 130oz just to get to the tram. I will say I was a little dissapointed with the size of the pinecones this year. I swear last year I remember some huge ones bigger than pineapples.

I'm hoping to make another trip out there in late spring, maybe I can plan it for a full moon.

-TIM-

[Davis2001r6]

Ok, I have my pics up, nothing special, was lazy taking pictures. For some reason I was tired on the trail?
Click Here

[Hikin_Jim]

Nice pics, and good to know about the AZ hikers forum.

[Davis2001r6]

My friend Scott posted a much better trip report here:

http://www.arizonahikers.com/forum/view ... 6417#96417

-TIM-