We started at 5:10 am from the Palm Springs Art Museum, Elevation - 500 Feet.
In the first mile I was already nervous if I was going to be able to make it. There were a few scrambling parts but a lot of climbing. There are a few different trails/paths but we followed the white dots for the most part going up. We got to the first set of picnic tables and I thought that they would have been farther along. The sunrise was beautiful and there were a few times I stopped to enjoy it - and catch my breath.
Going up a little farther we hit rescue box 1. We passed a lot of people on the trail and a few of them looked like they already needed to turn around at this point.
I tried not to stop much and continue with my slow pace even if it meant not taking much of a break so I could try to not fall too far behind the group. Ever couple of miles they would be waiting for me. Right before Rescue box 2 we all stopped and I had to have a larger snack. I was already feeling it and knew that the next couple miles were the most challenging.
It seemed like I would take 20 steps and have to stop so my head would stop pounding. I finished the water in my camelback (3 liters) at this point and still had a little Gatorade and spare 1 liter water bottle left. These were both frozen solid the night before and had melted all the way but were still cold and heavenly! At one point I soaked my hat with water to try to cool off. We had beat the heat for the most part but at times the sun was blazing.
In these last two miles, I had many thoughts that I would bail at skyline and just call it a day.
I was wondering how much father I had to go as I sat for another break, when I got called on the radio asking where I was. I wasn't really sure how to answer, so when he describe the large slab rock and said I only had about 15 more minutes I was excited! Once to the top of skyline, it was still questionable if I really wanted to continue but I gave myself a turn around time and decided to go for it. We got the permit (free and you fill it out) from the ranger station and they were talking about a rescue they had to do on the skyline trail. By the sounds of it this is very common. The main thing with the skyline trail is at some point you need to continue up rather than going down even if you feel like you cannot continue because of the heat. At the base on the day we hiked it was 94 degrees. If you hike down you are more likely suffer due to the heat.
We refilled our water and two of the guys decided they were done for the day and headed to the tram and home (it didn't sound like a bad plan). The 5 of us continued on.
It wasn't long and I had fallen behind again. Once I got to round valley they were waiting for me. It was always nice to see them and I tried to judge how much slower I was. I said hi and continued walking before they got up so I could get a little ahead. They caught up quickly and continued at a pretty quick pace. It was motivation to keep going knowing that they would be waiting.
Once I was almost to the peak I heard the radio again and they said they would wait for me for a picture because I was pretty close! I was happy I made it before the turn around time I set in my head. I had my lunch, took our pictures, and we headed back down.
Once I knew I was close to the 12 hour mark I started to walk a little quicker. My original goal was anything under 13 hours but it was awesome to be under 12 hours!
I am super happy that I completed this trail and I am not sure that it is one that I would want to do again!
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| Hiking up at sunrise |
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| One day I hope to keep up with them! |
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| My reward! Ice cream & Margarita |
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