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. Although not essential in the moderate depth powder, spikes are strongly recommended and many hikers will find them useful especially for descending. Often spikes are especially valuable for descending even when they are no necessarily needed for ascending. February is forecast to be somewhat more settled than the very eventful January. Hikers should expect to encounter new treefall hazards due to the enormous weight of ice from freezing rain associated with the early November storm, followed by recent Santa Ana winds, and after the passage of Tropical Storm Kay in September. 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. Forecast models have a higher degree of confidence for the Tuesday storm than the storm next weekend. WATCH: Rare Southern California Avalanche Caught On Camera Surreal scene out of Southern California where an avalanche was captured on video crashing down the north face of the San Jacinto Mountains after a recent storm. Currently the USFS gate at Humber Park remains open and the parking area has been largely plowed. Most significantly in terms of snow conditions daytime temperatures at all elevations will be well above freezing for about a week starting 20th. Vehicles not parked in these spaces may be ticketed and/or towed. Hiking Mount San Gorgonio via Vivian Creek Trail is quite the challenge. We are leveraging crowd-sourced info for water availability and other conditions. Of those, 27 are in the 0.6 mile section between Willow Creek crossing and the State Park boundary. Through and below Little Round Valley, my track almost entirely follows the established trail. Hikers should be prepared for temperatures generally below freezing in the high country, and well below freezing when considering wind chill effects (see below for my recent weather observations from San Jacinto Peak). South Ridge Trail [surveyed 10th Feb] is largely snow free until Old Lookout Flat at 7600 ft (c.15% snow cover). scotchybob. Devils Slide Trail has a moderately traveled track to Saddle Junction. http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/CABDF/2015-06-17-1915-Lake-Fire/picts/2015_06_24-16.53.57.084-CDT.pdf, As of July 16th 2015: Two and three-tenths miles further is High Creek Camp (water available - 9,200'). Palm Springs Desert Sun. San Bernardino Nat. Forest, San Gorgonio Wilderness, San Jacinto There is precipitation forecast from Wednesday 28th into the first week of 2023. South Fork camps such as Dry and Dollar Lakes are also filling several weeks in advance. The 0.4 mile section of South Ridge Trail between Chinquapin Flat/PCT and Tahquitz Peak has no steps to follow through the steeply angled icy snow. Early morning hikes to San Jacinto Peak have generally had icy snow underfoot with sufficient bite for grippy boots, allowing me to bareboot all the way to San Jacinto Peak. My blogging throughout the storms gave more day-to-day detail and is available here. Every year seems to have its unique challenges and 2022 has been no exception. Cactus to Clouds (C2C) - Modern Hiker MLS #219090979 UPDATE Saturday 17th December 2022: Early this morning we hiked South Ridge Trail to Tahquitz Peak, and I broke trail from Tahquitz Peak to and from Chinquapin Flat through moderate snow. Be prepared for trails above about 8000 ft (perhaps lower in places) completely or largely obscured by moderate to deep snow. Snow depths are currently suitable for snowshoeing everywhere above about 8000 ft, potentially lower in places. Your contribution keeps the Report available to all, free from advertising or paywalls, and independent from agencies. Camp on a durable surface at least 100 feet away from trails and water sources. Black Mountain Road also closed on 7th November to vehicle traffic at the gate 1.7 miles up from Highway 243. It's remote trailhead is probibly the only reason it's not as popular as the other routes. By 1st February there was a somewhat meandering snowshoe track from Round Valley (and presumably Long Valley) up to San Jacinto Peak, ultimately using the East Ridge route from near Miller Peak, that generally followed lower angle terrain and avoided the traversing slopes of the Peak Trail. 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! A few cleared patches are developing below 7000 ft. Indeed the final third of December may be one of the warmest on record for the holiday period. While fresh snow may be optimum for snowshoeing for the next couple of weeks, snow at all elevations will become increasingly firm and icy following multiple freeze-thaw cycles, and compaction by increasing hiker traffic in places, and I cannot overemphasize the importance of having both appropriate equipment and the right skill set for the terrain. The northerly wind was bitter at the Peak and got stronger throughout the morning as we descended. UPDATE Thursday 23rd: Idyllwild woke up to about four inches of fresh snow overnight, and it snowed fairly consistently today (averaging 0.75 inch/hour), adding six more inches by late afternoon. From Laws east to Caramba the route of the original Caramba Trail has been well-cairned by myself and others and can largely be followed with very careful route-finding. The wilderness encompasses an incredible transition between desert, and mountain environments, including an enormous variety of thriving plant and animal species, in addition to bear, deer, mountain lion and bighorn sheep. (6), Images The snowfall of this 20th storm of the winter brings the seasonal total here to 71.8 inches of snow, which is 233% of the average water year snowfall for Idyllwild. The peak is one of eleven peaks that are over 10,000 feet in elevation in the southeast portion of the San Bernardino Mountains. Coldwell Banker. Spitler Peak Trail has a very visible boot track through light snow to the PCT. On 2nd, 5th, and 6th we barebooted to San Jacinto Peak on well-traveled and compacted tracks through increasingly patchy light icy snow. 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. Although most of the downed trees reported this summer were cleared in July, four more major trees came down in Tropical Storm Kay in September. Snowfall in the high country has been somewhat below expectations, with nine inches at San Jacinto Peak (for a current total depth of about 16-18 inches), and 5-6 inches in Long Valley (8600ft, total c.6 inches). Mu Zhi Mountain. Zelle, Venmo, and PayPal are all now options. On the afternoon of Monday 6th I was treated to moody clouds and virga, a cloud base just above my head at San Jacinto Peak, and the briefest possible flurry of small snow flakes while at the Peak (but nothing settled). Expect crowding. By comparison, approximately 42 inches were recorded in February 2023 (provisional data). Currently the snow is relatively powdery and benign; this will steadily change over the next few days and weeks. If you have found this Report useful, please consider using this link to the Donate page. Altitudes are approximate. Take a look here . 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. With a rapidly changing climate in the region in recent years, it has become increasingly common for there to be little or no difference in snow quantities at mid and higher elevations, often because the high country remains above the cloud, and this system was no exception. 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. 3407 Calle Sin Rival is a 2956 square foot property with 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. This will continue to be the case for at least a week, given fresh snowfall expected. Two significant further atmospheric river storm systems are forecast, on Tuesday 10th, and then again on Saturday 14th-Sunday 15th. After that you have one of the best and most encouraging views of the summit of any route. Trail conditions are updated below. It continued to drizzle in Idyllwild all day, slowly accumulating to about 0.25 inch of rain. However excellent well-traveled and compacted tracks are now in place for almost all major trails (details below). The finally push to the summit from Sky High trail was relatively easy. Although good tracks are now in place for most major trails (details below), cautious navigation is recommended everywhere. 2; 2; 1 month, 1 week ago. From near Miller Peak I put in a track up the East Ridge, rather than continuing on the Peak Trail round to Summit Junction, but this track was being partially erased by spindrift within minutes. At the Peak 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. Reliable tracks are in place (at least) for Devils Slide Trail. Section B. Warner Springs to I-10/San Gorgonio Pass. On the morning of Monday 6th February I ascended San Jacinto Peak for the fifth time in the past two weeks, this time via the east side (Devils Slide, Wellman, Peak, and East Ridge trails), descending the same way. It leaves the Willow Creek Trail exactly 1.0 mile from Saddle Junction (0.46 mile from the Skunk Cabbage turning), descending largely on established deer trails for 1.2 miles, meeting Willow Creek just upstream from the old Laws Camp. The summit of San Gorgonio (11,499') is 3 miles beyond High Creek, which you can also camp at. MLS# EV23025164. Of course, this February was notable in that roughly 80% of the total fell all in the last week of the month, with no respite for significant melting. Every year seems to have its challenges and it is clear already that 2023 will be no exception. Currently crampons, always with an ice axe, and advanced knowledge of how to use this equipment, are required. 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. These concerns may steadily increase over the next few weeks with (eventually) temperatures fluctuating either side of freezing, seasonally stronger insolation, and highly variable snowmelt. San . I switched to crampons and then finished breaking the Peak Trail through to near Miller Peak (photo below). They are not currently recommended for traversing moderate or higher angle slopes above 9000 ft that have challenging ice underlying powder. Although the snow is not particularly deep (10-12 inches) it is heavily drifted and steeply angled, and has at least one ice layer underneath the fresh powder. 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. 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. A second forecast storm system may bring some light precipitation to the San Jacinto mountains on 2nd December, and possibly again on 4th-5th. Steady heavy snow started in Idyllwild at about 0830 but stopped at about 1400. PCTA is aware of the situation, and is hoping to start addressing it soon (weather permitting). The forecasts remain wildly inconsistent for the potential storms next week but it is looking increasingly likely that the systems will miss us to the north.]. My tracks from today (Friday 6th January) from Humber Park to San Jacinto Peak and back will be largely visible but will be somewhat obscured in places. An additional 5.5 inches of snow fell in Idyllwild overnight, rather more than forecast, meaning we had to dig out yet again this morning. Snowshoes will remain valuable anywhere off trail above about 8000 ft for the foreseeable future. I descended via Deer Springs Trail, breaking trail through virgin powder all the way down to the Suicide Rock Trail junction. San Gorgonio Wilderness Association; Google Search for 'San Gorgonio Wilderness' Lots of useful links. Please check this page for periodic updates throughout the storm (the most recent is at the top). A well-traveled snowshoe track is in place up to Strawberry Junction. There are layers of hard ice and firm icy snow beneath the fresh powder, and crampons are ideal at present everywhere above 9000 ft, potentially lower in places. As described above, crampons with hiking poles and an ice axe, depending on terrain are currently very useful everywhere above about 9000 ft. The Peak Trail has about 90% cover of icy snow to 9900 ft elevation, and then >95% cover to San Jacinto Peak. They are not however required, depending upon your comfort level hiking on shallow variable snow, potentially mixed with slushy and/or icy patches (depending upon time of day). Trip Report. A few minor patches exist close to the top. 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). Conversely in some places scouring by the wind means the depths are well below the average. Round Valley is the campsite along the trail to San Jacinto from the Long Valley ranger station. Snow cover is about 80% from Strawberry Junction north for about 1.0 mile (roughly 8500 ft), and thereafter essentially continuous to San Jacinto Peak. As I snowshoed down past 9000 ft elevation it was clear from a layer of ice underfoot that after a light snowfall, there had been rain on top of snow, before it started snowing again on top of that Sunday morning. The first number is the current average total snow depth at that location followed in parentheses where known by the combined fresh snowfall from the two minor storms on 13th-14th February. It was very disturbing to see. more We were heading NB from Horsethief Canyon to the Interstate 15. Snow cover remains virtually continuous, but a few small patches are clearing below 7000 ft. Spikes are strongly recommended, at least for descending. For day use a permit is required on any of the trails in the San Gorgonio Wilderness. San Gorgonio Mountain (5.8km) Lake Peak (6.7km) Jepson Peak (7.3km) Charlton Peak (7.3km) . 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). Forest Service campgrounds at Boulder Basin, Marion Mountain, and Fern Basin are now closed for the season. Forest Headquarters Spikes will likely become more increasingly useful over the next few days as established trails become consolidated by hiker traffic and undergo freeze-thaw cycles. There are five new major treefall hazards, plus many other limbs and branches, across the trail between the Suicide Rock junction and the Marion Mountain Trail junction. To the west, along the Pacific Crest Trail, a second team was searching for Ronald Barbour, 69, of La Crescenta, who set out on a combined bike ride and hike Sunday. Please report trail conditions. Currently the snow is relatively powdery; this will steadily change over the next few days and weeks. Three numbers are given: the first number is the current average total snow depth at that location, followed in brackets by the new snow accumulation from the storm on 29th-30th January, and finally in parentheses by the maximum depth where known so far this winter, generally on 18th January following the major storm sequence on 14th-17th January 2023. Instructional Assistant I 3.5 hrs. - Multiple Sites and times Details of snow depths measured at various locations on the trail system are given at the foot of this posting. Conversely in some places scouring by the wind means the depths are well below the average. There were no visible hiker tracks on Marion Mountain, Seven Pines, or Fuller Ridge trails, as of 15th February. MikeH. At 11,499 feet, San Gorgonio Mountain is the highest peak in California south of the Sierra. The Wellman Trail track was disappearing under spindrift as I re-broke it on Monday 23rd. The natural traction was superb, and I barebooted all the way to just above Wellman Divide (9700 ft) before finally putting on Kahtoola microspikes, accompanied by an ice axe. 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. Altitudes are approximate. This makes for less than perfect snowshoeing conditions, but still preferable to postholing. The 0.4 mile section of South Ridge Trail between Chinquapin Flat/PCT and Tahquitz Peak has no steps to follow through the steeply angled icy snow. Mike, You might want to use this one instead The top ten snowfall totals by winter for Idyllwild are as follows: While many hundreds of hours of time and labor are volunteered annually, the San Jacinto Trail Report uses small private donations to help cover modest operating costs. Sadly this phenomenon has become much more of a factor in recent years with freezing rainfall (rather than snow) occurring at higher elevations at higher frequency with much warmer weather systems.

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