snowpack on mt san jacinto

Spikes are recommended. All trails above about 6500 ft remain lightly (or above 9000 ft, moderately) snow-covered. With compaction of the trails over the next few days, snowshoes will become less useful on-trail, however they will remain valuable for off-trail travel at the highest elevations for the foreseeable future. Snowshoes will remain valuable anywhere off trail above about 8000 ft for the foreseeable future. A light snowfall on the evening of Tuesday 21st will be accompanied by very strong winds, and is expected to largely or completely eliminate all tracks above about 7000 ft. On 14th, about 2.0 inches fell in Idyllwild, with an inch all the way down to 3500 ft (and a dusting even lower), but upper elevations received a similar amount, with 2.5 inches in Long Valley (8600 ft) and at Wellman Divide (9700 ft), and no more than three inches at San Jacinto Peak. Some hikers will find spikes are useful at least for descending. Snow cover is shallow up to about 7000 ft, but relatively heavy above 8000 ft. Melting on sun-exposed slopes is already well underway, e.g., on lower Devils Slide Trail, South Ridge and lower Deer Springs trails. I kept those on for the rest of the ascent, and almost all of the descent, finally removing them most of the way down Devils Slide Trail. Such unseasonably warm temperatures mean that snow melt will be rapid everywhere while in many areas freeze/thaw cycles will result in icy trails in the early mornings above about 7000 ft. By late morning snow conditions will become poor for hiking (soft, slippery, and even slushy) especially in sun-exposed areas. Latest details are given in the introduction above. With another storm imminent tomorrow, I do not plan a thorough update until Wednesday 15th. UPDATE 17th November 2022: as predicted, and even as melting proceeds steadily, trails are getting increasing icy due to daily freeze/thaw cycles, and spikes are recommended throughout the trail system above about 7000 ft. On my hike to San Jacinto Peak this morning, again I did not need spikes to ascend, but they were invaluable for descending all the way down to upper Devils Slide Trail. The advice above should be used with this in mind, and if in any doubt carry the necessary traction devices that you will be most comfortable using. Icy snow cover is 60% overall, becoming increasingly patchy below about 7000 ft, and again in the sun-exposed areas above 8000 ft. Spikes are useful, especially for descending. I stubbornly kept on my snowshoes to 10,100 ft elevation on the Peak Trail, despite some lateral slipping as I traversed the icy snow slopes. Conditions are currently excellent for avalanches on specific terrain in the San Jacinto high country, as proven below. Indeed a wild wind in the high country that day was erasing tracks within hours or even minutes (see photos below). Storm total at San Jacinto Peak is about 14 inches for a current total depth of 36+ inches (but very heavily drifted). However the combined effect of the two minor storms, in combination with wild gusty winds pushing spindrift snow all over the high country, had completely erased the few tracks that were in place by the morning of Wednesday 15th. South Ridge Road (5S11), Dark Canyon Road (4S02, the access to Seven Pines Trail), and Santa Rosa Truck Trail (7S02) are currently closed to vehicle traffic, as is Black Mountain Road at the gate 1.7 miles up from Highway 243. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Between November 2021 and May 2022, 61 downed trees were removed and almost the entire trail thoroughly trimmed and cleared. Snow from the moderate storm on 8th-9th November (discussed here) continues to melt slowly. From there the Peak Trail was easy going, having been well-traveled by hikers coming up the Tram. If you have found this Report useful, please consider using this link to the Donate page. Sadly this phenomenon has become much more of a factor in the past 5-10 years with freezing rainfall (rather than snow) occurring at higher elevations at higher frequency with much warmer weather systems. Unusually for me, I followed the entire route of the established trail down to Little Round Valley. There is a very well-traveled track through increasingly patchy thin icy snow from Saddle Junction to Tahquitz Peak. Steady heavy snow started in Idyllwild at about 0830 but stopped at about 1400. They are not however required, depending upon your comfort level hiking on shallow variable snow, potentially mixed with slushy and icy patches. It warmed last night to just above freezing below 6000 ft, with a mixture of rain and sleet falling on top of the prior snow, turning it increasingly to wet slush at mid elevations (we measured about 0.25 inch rain in Idyllwild). Back-to-back Pacific storm systems already the tenth and eleventh storms of this winter are forecast for Saturday 14th and then from late Sunday 15th January to the early hours of Tuesday 17th January. Although excellent tracks are now in place and clearly visible for almost all major trails cautious navigation remains recommended. At San Jacinto Peak (10,810ft/3295m) on Thursday 15th December 2022 at 0715 the air temperature was 28.0F (-2C), with a windchill temperature of 13.9F (-10C), 52% relative humidity, and a chilly WNW wind sustained at 9 mph gusting to 14.5 mph. Hamilton, we saw snow falling and covering the Saratoga Hills, just about 15 minutes from town. South Ridge Trail [updated 24th December] has about 30% icy snow cover from the top of South Ridge Road to Old Lookout Flat (7600 ft). In summary there are good tracks in place through the very shallow snow, and spikes are not required (but may be useful for some hikers depending on their experience in thin icy snow). However it is thinning rapidly everywhere, and will look radically different in a week or so. These icy slopes are notoriously treacherous and have been an area of multiple hiker fatalities in winter conditions in recent decades. The primary purpose of this update is an advisory of imminent major snow accumulation forecast due to a triple storm sequence. 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, the Wellman Trail, and uppermost South Ridge Trail, on both flanks but especially on the north face of Tahquitz Peak. In total,. In the high country temperatures will be 10-20F above seasonal and, more significantly regarding snow/ice conditions, well above freezing for at least a week. Spikes are currently recommended throughout the trail system above about 7500 ft. The 0.4 mile section of South Ridge Trail between Chinquapin Flat/PCT and Tahquitz Peak has a well-traveled and level track to follow through the slowly melting inch of patchy icy snow (photo below from 30th). Spikes at least, but preferably crampons, plus an ice axe (and thorough knowledge of how to use it) are currently required for traversing these slopes. For those that are unclear, the Skyline Trail is the first segment of the C2C (Cactus to clouds) from Palm Springs up to Grubbs Notch (Long Valley). Skyline Trail closed on 26th January due to dangerous weather conditions above the State Park boundary (5800 ft elevation). Potentially dangerous cold is currently forecast for the highest peaks for 14th-23rd January at least. However avalanche risk may become significant over the next week if we receive a major wind-loaded snowfall on top of the deep, hardened base of snow currently in place. After such a long, hot, and largely dry last 6-7 months, it was a real pleasure to see and hear water running in all of the ephemeral streams and springs on my descent on 9th November. Fresh snowfall, melting, and freeze/thaw cycles will all combine to change trail conditions and potentially the preferred equipment for the terrain over the next week or two. This storm is expected to have two periods of precipitation, one each on 11th and 12th. San Bernardino County declared a state of emergency Monday after residents in mountain communities were left stranded and snowed-in due to this week's winter storm. Largely a day for digging out again, and getting prepared for the next major snowfall, due tonight. While we have to be grateful for any precipitation received given our rapidly warming mountain climate, it was not the significant snow-producing storm that had been generally forecast in recent days. However the remaining snow patches are icy in the morning. 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. Snowshoes are no longer required on the established trail system, which is now too compacted for snowshoes. There is a well-traveled track to follow through the very light and patchy 1-3 inches of icy snow. There is a relatively well-traveled track on the Round Valley Trail from Long Valley through to Wellman Divide. Snow cover is continuous from there, with a posthole track to Tahquitz Peak. Details of snow depths measured at various locations on the trail system are given at the foot of this posting. Spikes are not generally required for ascending, but most hikers will find them useful for descending. Hikers who have an ice axe (and know how to use it) may find it useful in places on this short section of trail. Three significant trees are now down across the trail, including two major hazards (one new in gale force winds on 26th January) that are not easy to hike around both roughly halfway along the trail. Additional moderate snowfall is tentatively forecast for 28th February-1st March. Spikes are not essential for ascending, but most hikers will find them useful at least for descending. Snowshoes are not advisable due to the angle of the icy snow. Firstly because it is really unsafe, that is a busy and winding mountain road, not remotely a route designed for pedestrians. This will continue to be the case for at least a week, given fresh snowfall expected. If there are Road Closed signs further down as was often the case last winter especially at weekends and holiday periods after fresh snowfall then those nine spaces are also unavailable for legal parking. Above Little Round Valley there are multiple tracks through the snow ascending toward San Jacinto Peak, none of which entirely accurately follow the established trail. This western side of the mountain was better protected from winds and drifting snow, and this track should largely survive until the weekend. At the Peak on Wednesday 11th January 2023 at 0915 the air temperature was 24.0F (-4C), with a windchill temperature of 5.8F (-15C), 74% relative humidity, and a bitter NNW wind sustained at 19 mph gusting to 24.5 mph. In fact on my hike to San Jacinto Peak on Monday 13th through steady morning snow I could barely tell the difference in snow depths from the previous week, as the few inches of fresh snow had almost exactly replaced the few inches of depth that had melted over the previous week. Black Mountain Road closed on 7th November to vehicle traffic at the gate 1.7 miles up from Highway 243 (see Forest Service website regarding this closure here). per adult. Details of snow depths measured at various locations on the trail system are given at the foot of this posting. I recorded a short video at the Peak late morning on the 13th, available here on YouTube. Update until Wednesday 15th winding mountain road, not remotely a route designed for pedestrians the foot this. Expected to have two periods of precipitation, one each on 11th and 12th Jacinto! Consider using this link to the angle of the mountain was better protected from winds and drifting snow and! 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