Hikers should expect to encounter new treefall hazards due to the enormous weight of ice from freezing rain currently in the trees and the high winds associated with the storm. I was pleased to see that over the weekend some posthole tracks were added on top of my snowshoe track from last week all the way up Deer Springs Trail to San Jacinto Peak. Above Little Round Valley there are at least half-a-dozen tracks ascending toward San Jacinto Peak, none of which accurately follow the established trail route. Relatively mild temperatures combined with a weakening sun at this time of year means that snow melt may be slow at upper elevations, and conditions will be ideal for freeze/thaw cycles and hence icy trails everywhere above 6000 ft. At San Jacinto Peak (10,810ft/3295m) on Monday 14th November 2022 at 0910 the air temperature was 33.3F (1C), with a windchill temperature of 20.7F (-6C), 25% relative humidity, and a cool NW wind sustained at 7 mph gusting to 12.9 mph. Just a short . However the route is largely well-traveled and compacted. SNOW DEPTHS measured on or around 28th November 2022 are as follows, with depths after the last significant storm (on 9th November) for comparison in parentheses where known. San Jacinto Peak (10810 ft): 6-8 inches (12-14 inches on 12th December), Little Round Valley (9800 ft): 8 inches (10-12 inches on 12th December), Wellman Divide (9700 ft): 0-2 inches (7 inches on 12th December), Annies Junction/approx. Some of the storms are expected to be very cold with snow levels below 3000 ft, and, for example, Garner Valley may receive between 6-12 inches of snow by early March. Altitudes are approximate. Deer Springs Trail has a broken track to follow all the way to San Jacinto Peak. The flow of atmospheric river storm systems continues unabated across California. By dusk today it had rained 0.68 inch in Idyllwild, and Long Valley had 1.5 inches of fresh snowfall. Spikes are currently usefulthroughout the trail system above about 7000 ft, possibly lower in places on cold (icy) mornings. At the Peak on Monday 6th February 2023 at 0930 the air temperature was 11.1F (-12C), with a windchill temperature of -11.0F (-24C), 59% relative humidity, and a frigid NNW wind sustained at 12 mph gusting to 20.2 mph. UPDATE Tuesday 10th January: Another minor and relatively warm storm is passing through our mountains today. Steady melting of snow, especially on sun-exposed slopes, and freeze-thaw cycles will combine to change trail conditions and potentially the preferred equipment for the terrain. Altitudes are approximate. Most of the upper half of the trail had 3-4 inches of lovely fluffy powder. Details of snow depths measured at various locations on the trail system are given at the foot of this posting. Forecasts the expected snowfall amount, snow accumulation, and with snowfall radar. In general most hikers will likely prefer to use spikes at least for descending down to about 10,000 ft (or lower). However, snowshoes will become increasingly useful as snow depths increase over the coming days; they may initially be useful as low as 4000 ft, steadily rising to 5000-6000 ft next week. They are now invaluable on heavily traveled, compacted, icy tracks (before they clear of snow in the coming weeks) such as Devils Slide, Ernie Maxwell, and Deer Springs trails, at least, especially mornings when conditions tend to be most icy, and for descending. Webcams. no traction device) to the Peak on a generally well-traveled and compacted track through light icy snow. Skyline Trail has a good track to follow through light icy snow above about 7200 ft (the Traverse to Grubbs Notch). Steady melting is expected with warming temperatures this week, especially at mid elevations and on sun-exposed slopes. Spikes are currently usefulthroughout the trail system above about 5000 ft, potentially lower in places. Live Streams. Long Valley at 8600 ft on the east slope received only about two inches of fresh snow. A positive start to the new year, this is a summary of conditions following the fifth Pacific storm (but only the third significant snowfall) of winter 2022/23 to impact the San Jacinto mountains. 10 inches on 9th November), Wellman Divide (9700 ft): 0-1 inch (was 4 inches on 9th November), Annies Junction/approx. Zelle, Venmo, and PayPal are all options. Temperatures are forecast to remain at or even slightly below seasonal averages into the second half of November, with freezing conditions every night above about 5500 ft elevation. Forecasts are currently indicating about 30-40 inches of snow for the highest peaks of the San Jacinto mountains (>10,000 ft) between 21st and 25th February, and about 18-30 inches for Idyllwild (5000-6000 ft elevations). My track from last week largely followed the established route of the trail, especially below the Fuller Ridge junction, but higher up the track is much more direct in places. Snow. Largely a day for digging out again, and getting prepared for the next major snowfall, due tonight. A well-traveled snowshoe track is in place up to Strawberry Junction. Consequently I put on crampons at Wellmans Cienega, keeping them on all day until low down on Deer Springs Trail. Although not essential in the moderate depth powder, spikes are strongly recommended and many hikers will find them useful especially for descending. Spitler Peak Trail (surveyed 18th November) is clear of snow. The section where the avalanche occurred rarely has people on it, he said, because climbing options are limited to a very technical route that is typically attempted only by experienced climbers later in the season. On Friday 20th I broke South Ridge Trail to Tahquitz Peak. Note however that snow depth is rarely indicative of the challenge (or otherwise) of a given trail. Cautious navigation remains required for those who do not have significant experience of hiking this trail. Note that generally the maximum depths so far this winter were immediately following the major storm sequence on 14th-17th January 2023 (details of those depths available here). South Ridge Trail [surveyed 10th Feb] is largely snow free until Old Lookout Flat at 7600 ft (c.15% snow cover). In the high country temperatures will be more like April or May, some 10-20F above seasonal, before finally cooling (but still remaining above average) in the last couple of days of the year. Note that average depth is given; due to strong winds accompanying the storm there is extensive drifting, often particularly accumulating in the trails. This rain produces huge masses of ice in the trees, including many chunks I have estimated as weighing 40-100 lb this winter, which can dislodge dramatically once direct sunlight warms the trees. Forest Service campgrounds at Boulder Basin, Marion Mountain, and Fern Basin are now closed for the season. My track largely follows the established trail routes, with some modifications for the conditions. They are not however required, depending upon your comfort level hiking on shallow variable snow, potentially mixed with slushy and icy patches, and on the quality of your footwear (tread grip, in particular). per adult. I was surprised to find that no one had made it through on the Wellman Trail over the weekend, so I postholed somewhat over my snowshoe tracks from 15th until Wellman Divide. The Trail Report has adopted Seven Pines Trail as a priority for maintenance work as the trail has had a disproportionate number of lost hiker rescues in the past decade. Snowshoes are not currently advisable on these slopes due to the angle of the underlying ice. As described above, crampons (always in conjunction with an ice axe) are currently recommended on certain moderate and higher angle slopes, at a minimum on the Peak Trail above Wellman Divide, and uppermost South Ridge Trail, especially on the north face of Tahquitz Peak. Currently the USFS gate at Humber Park is closed. Starting in late morning the ice and icy snow is getting very slick due to a thin layer of meltwater on the surface, especially in sun-exposed areas. Spikes are not required. Note that average depth is given; due to strong winds there has been extensive drifting, often particularly accumulating in the trails. Some winters are better than others, with wet years producing several feet of snow in the high country, while dry years producing a dusting or two. On my hike up to San Jacinto Peak it started snowing gently at 1025 in the high country. PCT Mile 181.8 (9070 ft): 2-3 inches (5.5 inches on 12th December), Marion Mountain Trail at junction with PCT (8700 ft): 3-4 inches (6 inches on 12th December), Long Valley (8600 ft): 1-2 inches (5-6 inches on 12th December), Strawberry Junction (8100 ft): 0-1 inches (4 inches on 12th December), Saddle Junction/approx. On my hike up to San Jacinto Peak late this morning there was a little drizzle on most of Devils Slide Trail, then an on/off mix of drizzle, freezing rain,, and fine snow in the high country. Although I made a concerted effort to put in a track as faithful to the trail routes as conditions permitted, wild winds and spindrift powder on all the exposed slopes rendered that fairly pointless. While my snowshoe track continues from Saddle Junctions through to San Jacinto Peak via Wellman Divide, this may rapidly become obscured by additional light snowfall and/or drifting snow from strong winds. but her friend Joyce Schwartz took some short videos from which this still image is taken. Schwartz said her and a friend were driving west on Interstate 10, making their way to Palm Springs. It is safest for all concerned that hikers hike the Trail rather than the highways. Your contribution keeps the Report available to all, free from advertising or paywalls, and independent from agencies. South Ridge Trail (surveyed 26th and 30th November) is now functionally clear of snow to Tahquitz Peak with only 1-2% icy snow cover overall. The PCT on the south-facing slope (Angels Glide) for about 1.0 mile north of Saddle Junction is largely clear of snow (spikes not required). 51mi . 59mi . The highest probability of precipitation is early morning on Friday 2nd. They are not currently recommended for traversing moderate or higher angle slopes above 9000 ft that have challenging ice underlying powder. Locations in between, especially those on the western and southern slopes, added more with up to five inches at Saddle Junction (8100 ft). Fire lookouts at Black Mountain and Tahquitz Peak were closed for the season ahead of schedule in anticipation of the snow storm last week. In Idyllwild (at 5550 ft) it started raining at 1100, where it has been relatively slow to accumulate so far, with 0.4 inch by 1500. 2-3 inches on 9th November), Saddle Junction/approx. Snow started in Idyllwild at about 1015 on Sunday 29th, ultimately accumulating about 3.5 inches (at 5550 ft) by the afternoon of 30th, while San Jacinto Peak (10,810 ft) added only two inches of powder. Western side of the range is holding more snow than eastern side. Half the time I go up planning to snow-shoe, I wind up staying in Micro-Spikes. from. Currently few major trail routes have been traveled and even those may become partially obscured by drifted snow and fresh icefall. Currently the USFS gate at Humber Park is closed. Spikes tend to be especially useful for descending trails. Currently crampons, always with an ice axe, and advanced knowledge of how to use this equipment, are required. Black Mountain Road also closed on 7th November to vehicle traffic at the gate 1.7 miles up from Highway 243. Forecasts remain more uncertain about the second wave of stormy weather on 16th-18th January. Lightly-traveled snowshoe and/or posthole tracks radiate away from Saddle Junction around the meadow trail and south toward Chinquapin Flat, but I have not checked how accurately they follow established trail routes or how far they continue. Potentially dangerous cold is currently forecast for the highest peaks for 14th-23rd January at least. These icy slopes are notoriously treacherous. There is a well-traveled track to follow through the very light and patchy 1-3 inches of icy snow. Check out the Mount San Jacinto State Park, CA WinterCast. SNOW DEPTHS measured on 11th January 2023 are as follows. Altitudes are approximate. Note however that snow depth itself is rarely indicative of the difficulty (or otherwise) of hiking a particular route. Wednesday. The average snow depth in this area is only about five inches, but on this slope it is heavily drifted in places at 10-12 inches. There is a well-traveled track from Saddle Junction to Tahquitz Peak. . Note that average depth is given; due to strong winds accompanying the storm there is extensive drifting, often particularly accumulating in the trails. This rain produces huge masses of ice in the trees, including chunks I have estimated as weighing 40-100 lb this winter, which can dislodge dramatically once direct sunlight warms the trees. My route down to Little Round Valley will not be especially helpful to ascending hikers, as I made the most of conditions to take a direct glissading route. The high country added only another couple of inches of snow overnight. Note that averages are given; due to strong winds and light powder there is extreme drifting. Both of these storms are expected to be relatively mild at first with rain a possibility up to 9000 ft before freeze levels drop down to 6000 ft. With two further snowfalls expected in the next ten days, and moderate to strong winds in the high country expected for most of those days causing some daily drifting of snow, much of the trail system may remain completely or somewhat obscured by moderate snow at least into the third week of January. When the gate is closed there are still nine legal parking spaces this side of the locked gate (which still require an Adventure Pass or equivalent to be displayed). PCT Mile 179.9 (8070 ft): 0-1 inch (was 3 inches on 9th November), Devils Slide Trail at Humber Park (6550 ft): 0 inch (was 2.5 inches on 9th November), Idyllwild (at 5550 ft): 0 inch (was <1 inch on 9th November). With such dramatic rainfall throughout the mountain range last week, and with snow now available for melting in the high country, I do not expect to be reporting on water conditions until next year. To Tahquitz Peak snow cover averages about 40%, alternating on the 18 switchbacks between those that are largely clear (south-facing) and those that are largely snow-covered (north-facing). SNOW DEPTHS measured on 22nd-27th December 2022 are as follows. This is a summary of conditions following the tenth and eleventh Pacific storms of winter 2022/23 to impact the San Jacinto range, that were basically a double atmospheric river event spread across 14th-17th January. Snowshoes are no longer required on the established trail system, which is now too compacted for snowshoes. I barebooted to 9000 ft, then snowshoed the rest of the way through lovely light powder. Note that there are about a dozen stream crossings and sections of the trail with water flowing in them, at times for tens of feet. Two moderate snow storms in the next ten days or so are expected to have a major combined impact on the San Jacinto mountains. Note that average depth is given; due to strong winds accompanying the storm there is extensive drifting, often particularly accumulating in the trails. He has just reported storm snow totals of 5-6 inches at Wellman Divide (9700 ft) and four inches in both Round and Long valleys from his descending hike. Both storms were relatively cold, the second in particular dusting snow below 3500 ft elevation. The freeze level is currently at about 7500 ft and it has been periodically snowing gently above that elevation, with Long Valley (8600 ft) having added a few inches overnight, for a current total depth of about 24 inches. I also reported on the storm in real time over the past couple of days (available here) which has more detail than this summary. Be prepared for trails above about 8000 ft (perhaps lower in places) completely or largely obscured by moderate to deep snow; very cautious navigation is strongly recommended everywhere. The rain has becoming heavier in the past hour or so. Marion Mountain Trail has a very well-defined track throughout. Eli Lilly cuts insulin prices up to 70% amid federal pressure to lower costs of life-saving medication, 60 million under winter weather alerts as massive storms roll across US; New York finally gets snow: Live updates, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy.
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