snowpack on mt san jacintosnowpack on mt san jacinto

The intensity of snowfall at San Jacinto Peak this afternoon is the best Ive seen since late 2019. [UPDATE 1st December 2022: the double storm system that looks likely to bring significant precipitation to northern and central California appears to be missing the San Jacinto mountains, despite optimistic forecasts over the previous week. Cautious navigation remains required for those who do not have significant experience of hiking this trail. On Monday 14th we ascended San Jacinto Peak via the east side (Devils Slide, Wellman, and Peak trails) and descended the west side via Deer Springs Trail. Slushy in places in the afternoon. Idyllwild (at 5550 ft): 3.5 inches (total 3.5 inch). Very light precipitation well before first light this morning included a dusting of snow above 6000 ft, <0.25 inch below 8000 ft and about 0.25 inch above that elevation, plus 0.03 inch of drizzle in Idyllwild. SNOW DEPTHS measured on 23rd January 2023 (unless otherwise indicated) are as follows. The next full update will likely be on the afternoon of 25th. SNOW DEPTHS measured on 12th November 2022 are as follows (measured on 15th for Deer Springs Trail locations). but probably light rain and/or about an inch of snow at the elevation of Idyllwild. On the morning of Monday 12th a further 2.5 inches of snow settled in Idyllwild. However, Holden said that the one place where avalanches can sometimes happen is that north face. Deer Springs Trail is clear from the Highway 243 trailhead to the Suicide Rock trail junction at 7000 ft, and functionally clear from there to Strawberry Junction (8100 ft), with a few icy snow patches increasing in length and frequency as you ascend. At the Peak on Wednesday 9th November 2022 at 0820 the air temperature was 14.5F (-10C), with a windchill temperature of -7.8F (-22C), 100% relative humidity, and a sharp due West wind sustained at 20 mph gusting to 30.5 mph. UPDATE Thursday 15th December 2022: Early this morning I hiked to San Jacinto Peak from Humber via Devils Slide, Wellman and Peak trails. Even Devils Slide Trail was largely obscured in deep drifted powder (photo below). The route largely follows the established trail, but hikers coming from Long Valley over the weekend either did not find or follow my broken trail from last week, so in sections the route is unusual. The Ernie Maxwell Trail is clear of snow. Extremely cautious navigation is strongly recommended everywhere. Currently, and increasingly as snow conditions change, spikes are strongly recommended for the foreseeable future everywhere above about 6000 ft, lower in places. Potentially dangerous cold is currently forecast for the highest peaks for 14th-23rd January at least. Currently trails above about 7500 ft (lower in places) are largely obscured by moderate to deep snow. Indeed it rained as high as San Jacinto Peak multiple times on 7th and 8th November. However excellent well-traveled and compacted tracks are now in place for almost all major trails (details below). I recorded a short video at the Peak, available here on YouTube. It's still a tough 11 mile hike, but it's nothing like climbing to Mt San Jacinto from Palm Springs or Idyllwild. Hikers in the past have died, and more have been seriously injured. I recorded a short(ish) video report from San Jacinto Peak late morning on Monday 30th (available here on YouTube) that gives a feel for the conditions in the high country at that time. Consequently I put on crampons at Wellmans Cienega, keeping them on all day until low down on Deer Springs Trail. This latest storm was again very mild, as expected from an atmospheric river system pulling moisture in from warmer latitudes. Zelle, Venmo, and PayPal are all options. Currently, and as conditions change, spikes are strongly recommended for the foreseeable future everywhere above about 7000 ft. Spikes could potentially be used to ascend to the highest peaks at this time, although crampons are certainly safer for traversing. This is a genuine relief after such a long, hot, and largely dry last 6-7 months. Note that temperatures fluctuating either side of freezing are forecast for both mid and upper elevations. 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. Altitudes are approximate. Skyline Trail has a good track to follow through light icy snow above 7000 ft (the Traverse to Grubbs Notch). Forecast models have a higher degree of confidence for the Tuesday storm than the storm next weekend. Conditions remain very unsettled for the first week of January. 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. Above Little Round Valley in particular my track down from the Peak is very direct, steep, and would be a challenging ascent. Marion Mountain Trail (surveyed at least weekly in past month) now has only about 20% icy snow cover, largely in the central section between about 7400-8200 ft elevation which is less sun-exposed. This morning Anabel and I broke trail up Devils Slide Trail to Saddle Junction. The highest expected temperature is a subzero 21.2F (-6C), while the lowest temperature will be a freezing 17.6F (-8C). There are layers of hard ice and firm icy snow beneath the fresh powder, and crampons are ideal at present everywhere above 9000 ft, lower in places. but ideal for snowshoes, which I used from Saddle to San Jacinto Peak and back. Very cautious navigation is strongly recommended everywhere. Although snow depths are not generally sufficient to obscure the routes of the major trails, cautious navigation is recommended everywhere for the next few days in particular until tracks through the snow are in place. Temperatures on the morning of 15th were the lowest of this winter, and among the lowest of the past decade. Spikes could potentially be used to ascend to the highest peaks at this time, although crampons are certainly safer for traversing. Even if there is no precipitation, there will be temperatures well below seasonal on those days. Even when the gate is closed there are nine legal parking spaces below the locked gate (which still require an Adventure Pass or equivalent to be displayed). Altitudes are approximate. Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Admission Ticket. Remarkably Tropical Storm Kay did not add any new treefall hazards to this trail. 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. It continued to rain heavily overnight at mid elevations everywhere below about 7000 ft. Idyllwild at 5550 ft elevation recorded an impressive 4.01 inches of rain in the 24 hour period up to 0700 this morning. Forest Service campgrounds at Boulder Basin, Marion Mountain, and Fern Basin are now closed for the season. from. Snow cover is shallow up to about 7000 ft, but relatively heavy above 8000 ft. 7-Day Weather Live Satellite & Weather Radar. Top ways to experience San Jacinto Mountain and nearby attractions. Time of day, temperature, and sun exposure all have significant impacts on the nature of the snow, in turn changing the conditions underfoot, and hence both the hiking difficulty and the preferred traction device (if any). 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. There is an excellent snowshoe track to follow on the Wellman Trail and the Peak Trail up to San Jacinto Peak. The switchbacks up to Tahquitz Peak average only 20% icy snow cover, but the frequency and length of ice patches increases on the uppermost switchbacks. If you have found this Report useful, please consider using this link to the Donate page. 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. Idyllwild (at 5550 ft): 0 inch (3.0 inches on 12th December). Underlying that powder are layers of ice (largely from freezing rain storms) which are much more perilous. In general most hikers will likely prefer to use spikes at least for descending down to about 10,000 ft (or lower). At San Jacinto Peak (10,810ft/3295m) on Monday 19th December 2022 at 0920 the air temperature was 31.3F (0C), with a windchill temperature of 20.7F (-6C), 9% relative humidity, and a light WNW wind sustained at 5 mph gusting to 9.9 mph. From there to the top of Marion Mountain Trail the route is a lightly-traveled posthole track. So, that avalanche looks very large.. Tracks are in place around Skunk Cabbage Meadow, and south from Saddle Junction toward Chinquapin Flat. There is a compacted, well-traveled track on continuous light icy snow from Long Valley/Tram to Wellman Divide. Precipitation at the elevation of Idyllwild fell largely as rain (1.79 inches) before turning to thunder snow starting at 1235 on Sunday afternoon (currently accumulated to 1.5 inch but still snowing as I write this). The State Park boundary is not marked but is near the site of the old Florians Cache, below Flat Rock. We surveyed the PCT where it crosses Highway 74 (approx. Sadly at first light the precipitation turned to drizzle at all elevations on the western slope between (at least) Idyllwild and 8100 ft at Saddle Junction, and consequently the snow quality was deteriorating fast at mid elevations this morning. At San Jacinto Peak (10,810ft/3295m) on Friday 6th January 2023 at 0930 the air temperature was 25.7F (-4C), with a windchill temperature of 14.7F (-10C), 44% relative humidity, and a chilly NNW breeze sustained at 5 mph gusting to 10.6 mph. ON NOW. However the track is very useful and it is best to follow that route. Note however that snow depth itself is rarely indicative of the difficulty (or otherwise) of hiking a particular trail. The strange rollercoaster ride that has been winter 2022/23 so far will continue for the foreseeable future. A light overnight snowfall, which produced another three inches in Idyllwild, finally stopped at 0700 this morning. A strong and bitterly cold NNE wind made conditions interesting, with large parts of the broken tracks filling in overnight with spindrift (and wind blown ice blocks), so I found myself breaking lengthy sections of trail yet again. The cloud largely dissipated on my descent, affording some spectacular vistas. This was immediately followed by a milder storm on 22nd-23rd that brought heavy snowfall with 13 inches in Idyllwild across a 30 hour period (measured at 5550 ft), and about 18 inches in Long Valley (8600 ft). They will be especially valuable on well-consolidated tracks over the coming days and weeks before they clear of snow (e.g., Devils Slide, Ernie Maxwell, Deer Springs trails, at least), on colder mornings when conditions are icy, and for descending. 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