snowpack on mt san jacinto

Temperatures during and after both storms are forecast to be below seasonal for late November, colder than the storm system in early November, and windy and hence especially cold in the high country. Early on cold mornings, the icy snow is grippy, and I did not find spikes necessary on 5th. Vehicles not parked in these spaces may be ticketed and/or towed. Currently the USFS gate at Humber Park is closed. 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.]. Snowshoes are useful in low to moderate 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. 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. Zelle, Venmo, and PayPal are all options. I have kept crampons on for most of the descent, removing them most of the way down Devils Slide Trail. As mentioned last week, current trail conditions are oddly reminiscent of spring, with snow distribution and iciness typical of April rather than December. . Obvious freeze/melting cycles. Hamilton, we saw snow falling and covering the Saratoga Hills, just about 15 minutes from town. Skyline Trail has a good track to follow through light icy snow above 7000 ft (the Traverse to Grubbs Notch). but probably light rain and/or about an inch of snow at the elevation of Idyllwild. However a brief frigid interlude on 5th-6th February included a very light overnight snowfall at all elevations above 5000 ft, with 0.75 inch in Idyllwild, increasing to 1.5 inch at San Jacinto Peak. Wednesday. Average snow cover is 60%, but is nearly continuous near Humber Park. I hope to provide more information on the high country situation on Sunday 26th, depending on conditions/weather. Lying within Mount San Jacinto State Park it is the highest both in the range and the county, and serves as the southern border of the San Gorgonio Pass. Remarkably Tropical Storm Kay did not add any new treefall hazards to this trail. This will likely continue to be the case for several weeks, given fresh snowfall expected. Although not essential in the moderate depth powder, spikes are strongly recommended and many hikers will find them useful especially for descending. Climbed Mt San Jacinto from Idyllwild. They are strongly recommended on certain moderate and higher angle slopes, at a minimum on the Peak Trail above Wellman Divide, the Wellman Trail, Deer Springs Trail above Little Round Valley, and uppermost South Ridge Trail, and on both flanks but critically on the north face of Tahquitz Peak. Snow depths are currently suitable for snowshoeing above about 9000 ft, potentially lower in places. Forest Service campgrounds at Boulder Basin, Marion Mountain, and Fern Basin are closed for the season. Idyllwild (at 5550 ft): 0 inch (3.0 inches on 12th December). Super Rare Avalanche on North Face of San Jacinto. Currently crampons, with an ice axe (and knowledge of how to use both), are strongly recommended. 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). A minor storm on the night of Tuesday 21st will include severe cold and severe winds, followed by milder, moderate storm on 22nd-23rd, and then an unusual atmospheric river combined with very cold air again producing heavy snowfall for 23rd-25th February. 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 next comprehensive Report update is not expected before Wednesday 18th January. 13:00. Vehicles not parked in these spaces may be ticketed and/or towed. 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. About 6-10 inches of snow are forecast for the high country on Saturday 14th, with 1-2 inches possible at the elevation of Idyllwild (preceded by 1-2 inches of rain). MT. 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. Melting may be slow and largely confined to the most sun-exposed slopes, but freeze/thaw cycles, compaction, and low overnight temperatures may lead to very icy conditions. Overall, melting is proceeding somewhat faster than expected but this holiday weekend trails will remain very icy. 32mi . However, forecast models suggest anywhere from 6-20 inches of snow above 10,000 ft elevation spread across at least two of the three days, and the possibility of several inches of snow at mid elevations (e.g., 2-4 inches in Idyllwild). The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Hike to Mt San Jacinto is a great way to bag Southern California's second highest peak without putting in a huge effort. San Jacinto Peak (10810 ft): 10 inches (was 12 inches on 9th), Little Round Valley (9800 ft): 7-8 inches (photo above), Wellman Divide (9700 ft): 3 inches (was 4 inches on 9th), Round Valley (9100 ft): was 4 inches on 9th, Annies Junction/approx. 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. Currently the USFS gate at Humber Park is closed. Underlying that powder are layers of ice (largely from freezing rain storms) which are much more perilous. San Jacinto Peak is the highest peak in the California State Park system, and the second-highest point in southern California. A less intense but slow moving multi-storm system is forecast for Friday 16th-Wednesday 21st. Seven Pines Trail has not been traveled since the storm in mid December, at least not in its uppermost section, and there is no track to follow through the snow. She used her cellphone to grab the picture, and assumes not many people around her noticed it as traffic did not slow at all from drivers taking a look. Relatively little snow is therefore expected throughout the mid elevations including Idyllwild. Snow is virtually continuous from there to San Jacinto Peak, with an excellent track to follow. All trails above about 6500 ft are currently lightly, or above 8000 ft moderately, snow-covered. Although good tracks are now in place for most major trails (details below), cautious navigation is recommended everywhere. All trails above about 5000 ft are currently lightly (or above 8000 ft, moderately) snow-covered. The number given is the current average total snow depth. It is possible they may deteriorate even further with some warming from direct sunlight. Conversely in places scouring by the wind means the depths are well below the average. 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. Just a short . Trails down to 4000 ft elevation currently have shallow snow cover. Every year seems to have unique challenges and 2023 is already proving to be no exception. Eventually with compaction of the trails caused by increasing hiker traffic and freeze/thaw cycles snowshoes may steadily become less useful, however they will certainly remain valuable for off-trail travel in the high country well into February at least. However the Tuesday storm is forecast to be much colder, with a freeze level dropping to 5000 ft, with several of inches of snow therefore possible at the elevation of Idyllwild. Fresh snowfall in Long Valley is now at about four inches. There are many ways to enjoy the snow in the San Jacinto Mountains, but snowshoeing is perhaps one of the most exhilarating. San Jacinto hike from the tram was such an epic way to hike this mountain in the snow! Spikes at least, but preferably crampons, are required for the uppermost switchbacks (see photo below). From there to the top of Marion Mountain Trail the route is a lightly-traveled posthole track. The Wellman Trail from Annies Junction to Wellman Divide has about 40% icy snow cover. This is a summary of conditions following the second significant Pacific storm of winter 2022/23 to impact the San Jacinto mountains. They are not however required, depending upon your comfort level hiking on shallow variable snow, mixed with slushy and icy patches. 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. Forecasts are currently predicting 30-50 inches of snow for the highest peaks of the San Jacinto mountains (>10,000 ft) mainly between 23rd and 25th February, and about 18-30 inches for the Idyllwild area (5000-6000 ft elevations). My blogging throughout the storms gave more day-to-day detail and is available here. New treefall hazards on several major trails have been reported, and those on Spitler Peak Trail have already been cleared by the Trail Report. A significant triple storm system had a major impact on 21st-26th February, and those updates are posted below also. That said, it has just started gently snowing in both locations, so storm totals may increase slightly over the next couple of hours. Note that near its junction with Deer Springs Trail, the route was not close to the established trail, so cautious navigation may be needed. Combined with a weakening sun at this time of year, snow melt will generally be slow at upper elevations, and conditions will be ideal for freeze/thaw cycles and hence icy trails. 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). South Ridge Road remains closed now with only about 35% icy snow cover. 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. No, it wasn't snowfall in the Santa Cruz Mountains or at Mt. Mountain rescue president says avalanches are rare on mountain. The storm sequence starts with a minor storm on the night of Tuesday 21st, which may only produce 2-3 inches of snow at all elevations, but accompanied by high winds and bitterly cold temperatures. Vehicles not parked in these spaces may be ticketed and/or towed. This may change after the weekend. Devils Slide Trail has an excellent compacted track to follow to Saddle Junction. Altitudes are approximate. My 2022 survey counted 97 trees down on this 2.1 miles of trail. Spikes will become increasingly useful over the next few days and weeks as established trails become consolidated by hiker traffic and undergo freeze-thaw cycles. The high winds forecast did not materialize, although gusts up to 35 mph have been enough to cause very heavy drifting. Lightly cloudy conditions made for a delightful hike on the evening of Monday 21st ascending San Jacinto Peak via Marion Mountain and Deer Spring trails, descending the east side (Devils Slide, Wellman, and Peak trails). Forest Service campgrounds at Boulder Basin, Marion Mountain, and Fern Basin are now closed for the winter. 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. A storm currently predicted for Wednesday 22nd February is tentatively forecast to have near record low (i.e. Thank you for taking the time to read this. The 0.4 mile section of South Ridge Trail between Chinquapin Flat/PCT and Tahquitz Peak [checked 9th January] has no steps to follow through the steeply angled icy snow. Even if there is no precipitation, there will be temperatures well below seasonal on those days. For example, San Jacinto Peak received about 9 inches of fresh powder (on top of about 2-4 patchy inches of icy snow remaining from November) on Sunday 11th, with an additional inch falling on Monday 12th. Seven Pines Trail has no sign of any hiker traffic since the snow on 12th. I measured an average of about four inches of snow at Old Lookout Flat, although with some deeper drifts in the trail. UPDATE Friday 20th January: Overnight Idyllwild had a very light dusting (<0.25 inch) of snow, but the high country was above the cloud so existing tracks should be unaffected. The freeze level will initially be above 10,000 ft, ultimately only falling to about 9000 ft, so many of the main access trails to the high country may get no new snowfall. All trails above about 6500 ft remain lightly (or above 9000 ft, moderately) snow-covered. Devils Slide Trail has an excellent compacted track to follow to Saddle Junction. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Two ascents of San Jacinto Peak in three days had challenging snow and weather, but both were hugely enjoyable. 2-3 inches on 9th November), Saddle Junction/approx. There was no evidence of hiker tracks on Fuller Ridge Trail or Seven Pines Trail as of Monday 23rd January. Spitler Peak Trail had 10 new treefall hazards, almost all in the upper switchbacks. When plowed Humber will remain very icy for the next few days at least. Spikes are expected to remain extremely useful over the next few weeks given the unpredictable weather. At the Peak on Sunday 1st January 2023 at 0830 the air temperature was 17.9F (-8C), with a windchill temperature of -2.3F (-19C), 100% relative humidity, and a sharp WSW wind sustained at 11 mph gusting to 21.1 mph. An excellent track is easy to follow to Little Round Valley. An excellent track is easy to follow to Little Round Valley. UPDATE Sunday 12th February: back-to-back minor snow storms are forecast for this evening and all day Tuesday 14th. In southern California hugely enjoyable the number given is the current average total snow depth with! 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