Cactus to Clouds

imike · Post by **imike** » Feb 23 2010 4:38 pm

Hoping to be on track to finally do a nice hike: San Jacinto Peak, sans tram ride... weather and snow allowing. April 25, 2010. I will be heading over there the week before, but if anyone wants to meet out there, I'll be hiking the various approaches to the peak all week

BobP · Post by **BobP** » Feb 23 2010 5:13 pm

I'll be on a beach that weekend...otherwise I'd join you.

JimmyLyding · Post by **JimmyLyding** » Feb 26 2010 7:05 pm

I just remembered that my cousin is getting married on Saturday April 24 here in Phoenix so that throws a complication into my plan. The wedding's @ 2 PM so that shouldn't be a problem, but I was planning on staying @ my aunt & uncle's house in Morongo Valley that Saturday, and I'm sure they're not only coming to the wedding, but staying Saturday night in Phoenix. We'll see.

imike · Post by **imike** » Mar 01 2010 10:07 am

JamesLyding wrote:I just remembered that my cousin is getting married on Saturday April 24 here in Phoenix so that throws a complication into my plan. The wedding's @ 2 PM so that shouldn't be a problem, but I was planning on staying @ my aunt & uncle's house in Morongo Valley that Saturday, and I'm sure they're not only coming to the wedding, but staying Saturday night in Phoenix. We'll see.

I'll be out there for a couple of weeks. I'm doing c2c with a friend from Tucson on May 1st... (she does not like to hike with groups...?) and I will likely be going up/down a number of times to check out the possibility of going back in the fall to complete a double. I will not really be trained up this spring, but hoping that after a summer in Colorado I might be ready for a huge day. I want to complete a 20,000'+ day sometime this year.

So... there are a number of day options to join me in doing that hike.

PLC92084 · Post by **PLC92084** » Mar 01 2010 11:33 am

I put myself down as a possible... If I'm still alive after my Skeleton Cave and Peter's Canyon excursions, I may be able to do this. The elevation has me a little concerned but, hey... there's always the Tram!!

imike · Post by **imike** » Mar 01 2010 12:30 pm

it is nice to have that ride down the hill to cover any issues that come up... also, I'm communicating with some of the folks out there for another hit in the fall, going for a double without the tram... for some reason, most of them all seem to use the tram all the time.

joebartels · Post by **joebartels** » Mar 02 2010 12:52 am

What's the snow like in late April, ten feet?

BobP · Post by **BobP** » Mar 02 2010 8:24 am

I saw your posts on the other board...when we did it in Nov there was already snow...although it was pretty...it was a nuisance. 68 miles and over 20k gain...If you plan it I will come...I would say mid late Oct. I would do the out and back but the double sounds really

. Maybe when I turn 60

imike · Post by **imike** » Mar 02 2010 9:15 am

This year the snow may be a problem this spring... but, if it is just up on top we may stage snow shoes and gear waiting for us.... in October I have a R2R2R+ planned, then the following week, the Mt. Lemmon marathon... so, it will have to be the week or so after those outings... lots of plans... just have to see how it all goes.

BobP · Post by **BobP** » Mar 02 2010 9:35 am

imike wrote:in October I have a R2R2R+ planned

me too... with the guy formerly known as wallyf

mt lemmon marathon :yuck: (just the marathon part not Mt. Lemmon

)

imike · Post by **imike** » Mar 02 2010 9:38 am

..yeah, I have to agree about the marathon part, but I've never done one, and as part of the 60th year celebration I figured it was finally time... and, since they finally put one on a nice mountain and do not require prequalifying... just seemed the right thing to do. Now, all I have to do is become a runner!

PLC92084 · Post by **PLC92084** » Mar 02 2010 9:57 am

While technically "old", I've been a runner for 3 years (see what I get for doing things out of spite...). To my never-ending surprise, I discovered I actually enjoy it!! I mostly stick to trails (many around my locale). Marathons, while catering to borderline S&M enthusiasts (IMHO), are about 20 miles too long for this codger! Making someone run one on Mt. Lemmon elimiates the borderline classification... I'm guessing there's got to be a 2-3 day time limit on completion!?

imike · Post by **imike** » Mar 02 2010 4:30 pm

they are giving a nice 10 hour cutoff... I think you have to average just a touch over 2.5 miles per hour. My normal uphill walking pace is 3 mph on grades less than 800' per mile (2.5mph on 1,000' per mile grades... with a pack). With luck, I can fake the running and make the cutoff...

imike · Post by **imike** » Mar 10 2010 7:46 am

Been corresponding with the hikers out in southern cal about this hike... it is interesting, sounds as if none of them ever hike the full hike; they all ride the tram down the hill. They do multiple loops, x3 on their Skyline hike, 5 people so far... (just up to the tram and back down) and x2 for C2C with the tram. Their argument is that you can enjoy the day and not get sore legs or knees! I'm hoping to go back out in the fall and do a full double without the tram to finish up my 6oth year program... and, I'll bet they'll follow suit. Can't see them letting some yokel from HAZ take their mountain... especially, an old guy...

PLC92084 · Post by **PLC92084** » Mar 10 2010 8:02 am

imike... you're making me feel worse about this C2C hike with each new entry! I'm still planning on making it if, for no other reason, to see what Superman Senior looks like in his present form...

Now... where did I put that Kryptonite?

imike · Post by **imike** » Mar 10 2010 8:59 am

I've spent the winter training at 200-210 pounds, so don't really look like much but an old, fat guy... if all goes well, I'll cut to 170 for the spring and summer.. then to 160 for the event in the fall. I really never look like I'm in shape. It is more about the specifics of training and adaptation of the knees and endurance aspects overall. Success of event days like that are often more about pacing and not making mistakes... food, hydration, foot care... and, a whole lot of luck. In the process, enjoy the outing...

BobP · Post by **BobP** » Mar 10 2010 9:06 am

In response to imike:
I just noticed the last part of your intial post...you'll be there all week. I may do a round tripper with you if your up there on the 21st or 22nd. Do you like to start early say 1-2am? I'll keep you posted as it gets closer..

PLC92084 · Post by **PLC92084** » Mar 10 2010 9:21 am

rlrjamypaddy wrote:Do you like to start early say 1-2am?

We could go right after we close the bar... :stretch:

imike · Post by **imike** » Mar 10 2010 9:51 am

rlrjamypaddy wrote:In response to imike:
I just noticed the last part of your intial post...you'll be there all week. I may do a round tripper with you if your up there on the 21st or 22nd. Do you like to start early say 1-2am? I'll keep you posted as it gets closer..

early starts are nice... this year, weather may be something of an issue, or at least the snow and ice left. I'll try to be up there around the 15th to check out the conditions and form a reasonable game plan. early may not be as critical of an issue relative to heat or storms, so it is just the issue of what feels right. I'm up for whatever works.

BobP · Post by **BobP** » Mar 10 2010 10:07 am

In response to imike:

for me early was just to be up high to see the incredible sunrise...

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