SoCal Trail RunningCactus To Clouds

Skyline

4/26/11  Exactly two weeks after my successful Cactus to Clouds summit in the snow, I was back again. This time the goal was to get my Dad up the Skyline trail to Long Valley. 10 miles and almost 8500' of elevation gain is a tough day for anyone. And he made it!
Leaving the desert floor from the Art Museum. All of the following pictures are geo-tagged, so you can click the "Map" button to see exactly where the picture was taken on the topo map. You won't see any indications of a trail though, since Cactus to Clouds isn't an official trail!
1 Leaving the desert floor from the Art Museum. All of the following pictures are geo-tagged, so you can click the "Map" button to see exactly where the picture was taken on the topo map. You won't see any indications of a trail though, since Cactus to Clouds isn't an official trail!
 Palm Springs from about 1500'.
2 Palm Springs from about 1500'.
 The foreboding trail sign.
3 The foreboding trail sign.
 I have officially taken a picture of this cactus on every trip up here.
4 I have officially taken a picture of this cactus on every trip up here.
Interesting rock formations.
5 Interesting rock formations.
 More interesting rocks.
6 More interesting rocks.
 A panoramic look at Palm Springs from 2000'. View Full Size
7 A panoramic look at Palm Springs from 2000'. View Full Size
 I have since learned that these are called Beavertail cactii.
8 I have since learned that these are called Beavertail cactii.
Palm Springs from about 3500'.
9 Palm Springs from about 3500'.
 Dad taking in the view. View Full Size
10 Dad taking in the view. View Full Size
 The wildflowers are in full bloom.
11 The wildflowers are in full bloom.
 The first view of Mt. San Gorgonio in the distance.
12 The first view of Mt. San Gorgonio in the distance.
Dad making his way up the increasingly steep trail at about 5700'.
13 Dad making his way up the increasingly steep trail at about 5700'.
 Dad in the chapparal tunnel.
14 Dad in the chapparal tunnel.
 The trail is starting to get steep, but Dad keeps powering along. Palm Springs is now over 6000' below. View Full Size
15 The trail is starting to get steep, but Dad keeps powering along. Palm Springs is now over 6000' below. View Full Size
 Dad posing 6000' above Palm Springs.
16 Dad posing 6000' above Palm Springs.
A rare picture of me on the trails.
17 A rare picture of me on the trails.
 Starting to get into alpine territory almost 7000' above sea level.
18 Starting to get into alpine territory almost 7000' above sea level.
 Panorama from 7000'. View Full Size
19 Panorama from 7000'. View Full Size
 Hard to believe we started way down there.
20 Hard to believe we started way down there.
This was a challenging section in the snow, but there's no snow here today.
21 This was a challenging section in the snow, but there's no snow here today.
 The first official patch of snow at about 7600'.
22 The first official patch of snow at about 7600'.
 The last couple miles to Long Valley are brutal and our pace starts to slow. We're now at around 7800'.
23 The last couple miles to Long Valley are brutal and our pace starts to slow. We're now at around 7800'.
 Another pic at around 7800'.
24 Another pic at around 7800'.
Coffman's Crag with a little different lighting than past trips (a little later in the day).
25 Coffman's Crag with a little different lighting than past trips (a little later in the day).
 We made it! A self picture of us in front of the Skyline trail warning sign on the edge of Long Valley at 8400' above sea level, 8000' above our starting point, and almost 8500' of total elevation gain. Around 11 hours total time (about double my fastest solo time), but not bad for an old man!
26 We made it! A self picture of us in front of the Skyline trail warning sign on the edge of Long Valley at 8400' above sea level, 8000' above our starting point, and almost 8500' of total elevation gain. Around 11 hours total time (about double my fastest solo time), but not bad for an old man!
 No snow left in Long Valley today. The weather has been hot since my trip here two weeks earlier.
27 No snow left in Long Valley today. The weather has been hot since my trip here two weeks earlier.
 Dad in front of the Long Valley ranger station.
28 Dad in front of the Long Valley ranger station.
We walked around for a little while in Long Valley. The temperature is probably in the 40s, but still comfortable. We've had perfect weather all day.
29 We walked around for a little while in Long Valley. The temperature is probably in the 40s, but still comfortable. We've had perfect weather all day.
 There's lots of water up here from the recent snow melt.
30 There's lots of water up here from the recent snow melt.
 Sand to snow. Hard to believe we were posing in front of the sandy desert earlier in the day.
31 Sand to snow. Hard to believe we were posing in front of the sandy desert earlier in the day.
 A view of the summit as we head up to the lodge. The summit will have to wait for another day.
32 A view of the summit as we head up to the lodge. The summit will have to wait for another day.
Dad on the lodge balcony looking down at Palm Springs 8000' below. View Full Size
33 Dad on the lodge balcony looking down at Palm Springs 8000' below. View Full Size
 A picture of me on the lodge balcony.
34 A picture of me on the lodge balcony.
 Panorama from the balcony. View Full Size
35 Panorama from the balcony. View Full Size
 The night lights of Palm Springs from the tram as we head back down. Another awesome Cactus to Clouds day complete!
36 The night lights of Palm Springs from the tram as we head back down. Another awesome Cactus to Clouds day complete!
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