A hiker has been rescued on Skyline by helicopter
http://mtsanjacinto.info/viewtopic.php?t=2400

A second hiker has been rescued. At 1.30 am this morning the temperature was 89 degrees in Palm Springs. The high reaches 110 degrees in the afternoon.
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http://mtsanjacinto.info/viewtopic.php?t=2403

Cy: I took the tram up yesterday at 10 am and did a nice easy loop hike to San Jacinto and back, but it was pretty warm even up at 8500' yesterday (80 degrees in the afternoon). When I got back down to the lower Tram Parking lot it was over 100 degrees at 2500' above sea level.

That said, there were some young runners out and about in that 100+ weather in Palm Springs enjoying a nice afternoon run, but they're acclimated to that heat. I think people hear about people who live and train out in the desert going up Skyline in the summer and think they can do it too, but if they're not acclimated for the heat it's like playing Russian Roulette hiking up Skyline or anywhere in the desert in the summer.

Thanks for that report Kathy. A Chris Miller was also rescued last December in snow (the second hiker)
http://rmru.org/missions/2009/2009-019.html
The runners might have been training for Badwater to Whitney on July 12
http://badwater.com

Cy Kaicener wrote:Thanks for that report Kathy. Chris Miller was also rescued last December in snow (the second hiker)

I was about to froth in outrage, except if the December and July news reports are accurate, Chris Miller has aged nine years in seven months. Prolly not the same Chris Miller. I hope not anyway.

"The temperature was in the mid 20 degrees F. One hiker was wearing shorts and the other was in cotton jeans and tennis shoes."

perhaps ceasing rescue operations would be a better option. Enter at Your Own Risk.

MoabPeakBagger wrote:perhaps ceasing rescue operations would be a better option. Enter at Your Own Risk.

Agreed!!!

Dougb wrote:Oh, and I left my brain cell at home to lighten my fanny pack.

It's still funny!

Frequently, when I'm out hiking a peak or just wandering the local trails, I see obviously dehydrated, suffering people on the trail holding empty pint-sized water bottles. They have no packs, food, or jackets either, unless their running shorts can hold an energy bar. Sometimes people approach me when they're lost and then start arguing with me when I tell them, kindly, where they are and how to get where they want to go. I see way too many unprepared people. It makes me sad and frustrated at the same time.

It would really suck if C2C was closed because some people won't think things through and be realistic about what they're getting themselves into.

Dougb wrote:I remember once I was at Trail Camp just watching the people go by, and there was this fellow, he had nothing, no pack, no jacket, no water, zip. But he had this large fixed-blade hunting knife in his waistband. After a while I thought about it, he could probably brandish it in an emergency and get what he needed by force. Maybe he wasn't as unprepared as I first thought.

LOL Doug!

mrchad9 wrote:

Dougb wrote:I remember once I was at Trail Camp just watching the people go by, and there was this fellow, he had nothing, no pack, no jacket, no water, zip. But he had this large fixed-blade hunting knife in his waistband. After a while I thought about it, he could probably brandish it in an emergency and get what he needed by force. Maybe he wasn't as unprepared as I first thought.

LOL Doug!

Sometimes you can be prepared and the heat can still get you. Last October seven marines were rescued on Skyline.
http://rmru.org/missions/2009/2009-016.html

The problem is that "Cactus to Clouds" is such a euphonious name. The trail should be renamed "Cactus to Corpses" and labeled as such.

MoapaPk wrote:The problem is that "Cactus to Clouds" is such a euphonious name. The trail should be renamed "Cactus to Corpses" and labeled as such.

Take a page from Hunter S Thompson and call it "The Fat Trail."

The Desert Sun in Palm Springs just came out with this article

Foolhardy hikers can pay for their own rescue
http://mydesert.com/article/20100714/NE ... own+rescue
2 pages