The northerly wind was bitter at the Peak and got stronger throughout the morning as we descended. Complete list of supporters, I-10/San Gorgonio Pass to I-15/Cajon Pass, Hwy-14/Agua Dulce to Hwy-58/Mojave-Tehachapi, Hwy-58/Mojave-Tehachapi to Hwy-178/Walker Pass, Hwy-138/Mt. This is the flattest portion of the PCT in the San Jacinto mountains, and snow depth currently averages about 13 inches. Forest Service campgrounds at Boulder Basin, Marion Mountain, and Fern Basin are closed for the season. Snow depths are expected to change multiple times over the next ten days due to mixed precipitation, including even possibly loss of snow at mid elevations due to rainfall. Altitudes are approximate. These are free and self-issued. Snow from the moderate storm on 8th-9th November (summarized in a prior Report) has been melting steadily as temperatures in the past week have been above seasonal. Give yourself plenty of time if taking this route as the snow adds much effort. A short video giving a feel for current snow conditions at San Jacinto Peak is available here on YouTube. 3407 Calle Sin Rival is a 2956 square foot property with 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. Forecasts suggest a further 2-3 inches are possible tonight. This may change after the weekend. San Jacinto Peak (10810 ft): storm total 12 inches (total depth 17-20 inches), Wellman Divide (9700 ft): 8 inches (total 9 inches), Annies Junction/approx. Included in the re-opening were hiking trails outside of the burned area. Donate via PayPal using the link below. Otherwise, reliable posthole tracks are in place from Saddle Junctions through to San Jacinto Peak via Wellman Divide, but parts will become obscured by any additional light snowfall and/or especially by drifting snow from strong winds. Thursday 5th January saw the fifth storm in the past ten days in the San Jacinto mountains. Conversely in places scouring by the wind means the depths are well below the average. Length 19.0 miElevation gain 5,492 ftRoute type Out & back. Melting of snow on sun-exposed slopes and freeze-thaw cycles will combine to change trail conditions and potentially the preferred equipment for the terrain. Rainfall may continue at mid elevations potentially for several consecutive days, and the relative warmth of the air masses may produce rain and/or freezing rain as high as San Jacinto Peak, challenging layers of icy or mixed snow/ice conditions at all elevations, and perhaps melting of much preexisting snow below about 8000 ft. Current forecasts for precipitation suggest as much as three inches of rain around the elevation of Idyllwild (5000-6000 ft) between the afternoon of Tuesday 27th December 2022 and Wednesday 4th January 2023. Even when the gate is closed there are nine legal parking spaces this side of the locked gate (near the upper Ernie Maxwell trailhead). I was very happy to find no new treefall hazards down on Spitler Peak Trail. With significant further snowfalls expected in the next week (at least), and moderate to strong winds in the high country expected for many of those days causing some daily drifting of snow, much of the trail system may remain completely or somewhat obscured by snow throughout most or all of January. If you have found this Report useful, please consider using this link to the Donate page. The State Park campground at Stone Creek is also closed. Must have crampons/and Alpine boots, trails are iced and very dangerous. This rain produces huge masses of ice in the trees, including chunks as large as a small microwave weighing 40-80 lb, which then dislodge as soon as direct sunlight warms the trees. 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). Both storms produced more snow than was generally forecast. Be aware that firewood can harbor insects and diseases that threaten California's valuable forest resources. For day use a permit is required on any of the trails in the San Gorgonio Wilderness. PM me if you are interested. You can check out the latest hike logs from San Gorgonio here. 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. Reports are that the Vivian Creek Trail to San Gorgonio is basically clear of snow. Yesterday afternoon we checked Devils Slide trailhead at Humber Park, and measured an average snow depth of 26 inches. The system averaged colder than the November storm, with more snow at lower elevations, although it was still notable that it initially rained as high as 9500 ft on the morning of Sunday 11th. Spikes are recommended. The forecast for the last ten days of December differs radically from what was predicted just a week ago, and a major warming trend is expected rather than another cold Pacific storm. Snowfall in Long Valley (8600 ft) has been steady until largely stopping by 1600, with close to 10 inches added since yesterday for a total accumulation there of nearly three feet. Spikes are especially valuable for descending even when they are no necessarily needed for ascending. On Fuller Ridge Trail there are five major treefall hazards obstructing the trail in the 1.5 mile section nearest to the campground (PCT Miles 189-190.5). Fire lookouts at Black Mountain and Tahquitz Peak were closed for the season ahead of schedule in anticipation of the snow storm in early November. However excellent well-traveled and compacted tracks are now in place for almost all major trails (details below). The trail descriptions list this route as being 16 miles round trip. We removed nine treefall hazards on 18th November and the trail is now completely clear again, bringing to 56 the number of trees we have removed from this trail since mid 2021. Get involved with local programs, from participating in the Cookie Sale and attending Girl Scout camp to registering for in-person and virtual programming on digital storytelling, aviation, and more! I descended via Deer Springs Trail, breaking trail snowshoeing through virgin powder all the way down to the Suicide Rock Trail junction. We talk about his top SoCal mountains, tips & advice for long day hikes and newbie hikers, salsa dancing up Half Dome, redemption on San Gorgonio, disappearing on Ontario Peak, completing the Six Pack of Peaks challenge in one month, Cactus to Clouds vs Iron Mountain, summit cypher, dance origins, and the one hike he would re-live all over again. Black Mountain Road also closed on 7th November to vehicle traffic at the gate 1.7 miles up from Highway 243. Devils Slide Trail has a moderately traveled track to Saddle Junction. Devils Slide Trail has a very lightly traveled track to Saddle Junction in place. An official website of the
If this lower lot is full or you do not have your Forest Adventure Pass with you, park in the smaller gravel lot to the left. Lost Creek Trail via Dry Lake 12.9 miles, 5,182' gain
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 November). Temperatures have been largely above seasonal in the first week of the month, then following a brief cold spell another period of temperatures well above seasonal is forecast for 8th-10th. Devils Slide Trail has a well traveled and compacted track to Saddle Junction in place already. 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). 41082 Cheyenne Trail, Beaumont, CA 92223 Property Records Note that snow depth itself is rarely indicative of the difficulty (or otherwise) of hiking a particular trail. The 0.4 mile section of South Ridge Trail between Chinquapin Flat/PCT and Tahquitz Peak [checked 20th January] has no steps to follow through the steeply angled ice with overlying deep snow. Snow depths are currently suitable for snowshoeing everywhere above about 8000 ft, possibly lower in places. Map showing recreational areas. Still one of the most scenic trails in San Gorgonio, Now is the time to do this hike before the weather changes. Amrhein said searchers had seen "not a thing, not a thing." Three significant trees are now down across the trail, including two major hazards that are not easy to hike around both roughly halfway along the trail. Spikes are recommended at least for descending upper Deer Springs Trail. Snow depths are currently suitable for snowshoeing everywhere above about 8000 ft, potentially lower in places. Initially a cold system that brought 2-3 inches of snow to elevations between 4500 ft and 9000 ft. A short video summary of what we found when we broke trail up Devils Slide that morning. Vehicles not parked in these spaces may be ticketed and/or towed. They cleared, repaired, and defined 200 yards of trail tread in various places, removed 4 trees from across the trail, rebuilt a trail tread retaining wall, and cut back 100 feet of brush growing over the trail. Dark Canyon Road (4S02, the access to Seven Pines Trail) and Santa Rosa Truck Trail (7S02) closed to vehicle traffic for the season on 7th November 2022. Snow cover remains >95% through Little Round Valley up to San Jacinto Peak. Temperatures will be below seasonal for December for at least the next week, with many days cloudy or at least partly cloudy. "Everything he has done indicates he was not an experienced hiker. At the Peak on Saturday 31st December 2022 at 1650 the air temperature was 24.9F (-4C), with a windchill temperature of 4.8F (-15C), 62% relative humidity, and a bitter WSW wind sustained at 18 mph gusting to 30.1 mph. 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. Please allow at least 72 hours for processing of permits. 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). Taking the Pacific Coast Highway is one of the best road trips from Los Angeles and the best choice when taking a road trip to mountainous Big Sur. Ice covers trails and slopes frequented by hikers, he said. Forest Service campgrounds at Boulder Basin, Marion Mountain, and Fern Basin, and the State Park campground at Stone Creek, are closed for the season. The Ernie Maxwell Trail [surveyed 5th January] has patchy snow along its entire length, however it is largely clear for long sections, and the remaining snow is soft. Every year seems to have its unique challenges and 2022 has been no exception. but her friend Joyce Schwartz took some short videos from which this still image is taken. Eventually with compaction of the trails caused by increasing hiker traffic and freeze/thaw cycles snowshoes may steadily become less useful, however they will likely remain valuable for off-trail travel in the high country into February. On 24th the road had about 30% patchy ice cover. If you have found this Report useful, please consider using this link to the Donate page. Currently the snow is relatively powdery and benign; this will steadily change over the next few days and weeks. With the light dusting of fresh powder overnight, accompanied by strong winds causing extensive drifting, prior tracks had been partially obscured everywhere and almost completely erased above 8900 ft so I was again breaking trail in the high country. The track on Deer Springs Trail largely follows the existing trail route up to Little Round Valley. Time: ~10 hours.
Although that day was not as cold and windy as 15th, I ascended in heavy cloud conditions with steady snowfall for the first three hours. Amounts listed may (
Temperatures are expected to remain below average for January for the remainder of the month in Strawberry Valley (Idyllwild area), but are forecast to swing well above average (above freezing) for the highest elevations on 21st-26th January. The freeze level was above 7000 ft for most of the storm, with freezing rain plastering the vegetation as high as 10,000 ft. If you want to hike during the week, you have a better chance of getting a permit. Snowshoes are recommended everywhere with snow above 4000 ft, potentially lower in places, and spikes are invaluable anywhere that has been cleared or compacted. Such unseasonably warm temperatures led to rapid snow melt everywhere, despite the low sun angle at this time of year, while in many areas freeze/thaw cycles have resulted in icy trails and roads especially in the early mornings. There is an average of 9-10 inches of fresh powder so far today at San Jacinto Peak, and about 5 inches in Long Valley. One of the most visited National Forest in Southern California. In general temperatures are expected to warm to above average into next month at all elevations, especially at the highest elevations in the first week of February. The first couple of days early next week (20th-21st) may warm slightly above seasonal, before promptly dropping well below average again, accompanying another unsettled period of multiple consecutive storm systems on 22nd-28th. Snowshoes are useful in lower angle terrain with adequate snow depth above about 8000 ft, for example the Tahquitz area meadows near Saddle Junction, sections of Deer Springs Trail, and Long Valley/Round Valley. Two 17-year-old hikers were rescued on Friday after getting lost on the Pacific Crest Trail, near the San Gorgonio Mountain, during a winter storm earlier in . Measured snow depths as of late morning/early afternoon today are: San Jacinto Peak (10,810 ft) 38 inches, at least 14 new in this storm; Wellman Divide (9700 ft) 30 inches, with 15 new in this storm; Annies Junction at 9070 ft the highest point of the PCT in Southern California 30 inches, with 14 new in this storm; Saddle Junction (8100ft) 15 inches, about 7-8 new in this storm; Devils Slide Trailhead at Humber Park (6520 ft) 2 inches, all from this storm. PCT Mile 179.9 (8070 ft): <1 inch (was 3 inches on 9th), Devils Slide Trail at Humber Park (6550 ft): 0 inch (was 2.5 inches on 9th), Idyllwild (at 5550 ft): 0 inch (was <1 inch on 9th), [UPDATED 24th November: we took a brisk hike up and down Marion Mountain and upper Deer Springs trails to San Jacinto Peak early this morning. The State Park boundary is not marked but is near the site of the old Florians Cache, below Flat Rock. Other than that the trailhead is a 30 minute drive over a sometimes rough road from the highway, I found little reason this should be the least popular route. Spikes tend to be especially useful for descending trails. On multiple recent ascents of San Jacinto Peak I have generally ascended and descended via the east side (Devils Slide, Wellman, Peak, and East Ridge routes). but probably light rain and/or about an inch of snow at the elevation of Idyllwild. Nevertheless Seven Pines remains a genuine wilderness trail unlike the relatively wide, bare, and obvious routes of, for example, Devils Slide or Marion Mountain trails. Your contribution keeps the Report available to all, free from advertising or paywalls, and independent from agencies. 2-3 inches on 9th), Saddle Junction/approx. That said, it has just started gently snowing in both locations, so storm totals may increase slightly over the next couple of hours. So we recommend getting your permit in advance! Momyer trailhead is now open. Fengguikou. Spikes are recommended especially in the morning as the snow is now hard, compacted and very icy in places. Some 37 trees are down on the Forest Service section of this trail between Skunk Cabbage Junction and the State Park boundary (23rd September 2022 survey). 2-3 inches on 9th November), Saddle Junction/approx. Spikes are not needed yet, but that will change soon with increasing compaction and freeze/thaw cycles.
Spikes will likely become increasingly useful over the next few days and weeks as established trails become consolidated by hiker traffic and undergo freeze-thaw cycles. United States government. Forest, San Gorgonio Wilderness, San Jacinto Wilderness and State Park. San Gorgonio Wilderness Hiking Guide | Outdoor SoCal Snow cover is shallow up to about 7000 ft, but relatively heavy above 8000 ft.
Marion Mountain Trail [updated 22nd December] has a well-defined but lumpy posthole track throughout. Mike, You might want to use this one instead
For water information, please visit the PCT Water Report. 3; 8; 3 months ago. Current Trail Conditions Sold: 251 Broadriver Trail, Beaumont, CA 92223 | 2 Beds / 2 Full Baths 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. Currently crampons, always with an ice axe, and advanced knowledge of how to use this equipment, are required. Conditions will remain very unsettled well into the third week of January. Caming is allowed. 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. The South Fork Trail is over 10 miles one-way. Conversely in some places scouring by the wind means the depths are well below the average. Many hikers will nevertheless find spikes useful in places, especially for descending. Similarly, Long Valley (8600ft) added about two inches overnight for a storm total of about seven inches and a current total depth of about 15 inches. Overnight in Idyllwild we had three inches of snow, the first notable snowfall of this latest storm series, but temperatures actually warmed during the night (presumably with the arrival of the latest atmospheric river) and before dawn it was raining on top of the snow. Currently there is about 1.5 inches of fresh snow at San Jacinto Peak, on top of the very patchy and icy 2-4 inches remaining from early November. The next comprehensive update of the Report will likely be in the evening of Wednesday 11th. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Major snowfall months have also occurred recently, in winters that did not otherwise end up with exceptional annual totals. The Barton Flats Visitor Center on Hywy 38 and the Fawnskin Ranger Station in Big Bear also can issue these permits. 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. 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.