February has been more settled than the very eventful January, but temperatures remain on something of a rollercoaster ride. Skyline Trail closed on 26th January due to dangerous weather conditions above the State Park boundary (5800 ft elevation). Snowshoes are not required anywhere on the established trail system, where snow is now too shallow, icy and compacted. They are not however required, depending upon your comfort level hiking on shallow variable snow, potentially mixed with slushy and icy patches. The Old fire, which started in San Bernardino, and the deadly flood that ravaged a campground in Devore were blamed for establishing the brittle ground that gave way when Jones fell to his death. Yesterday afternoon we checked Devils Slide trailhead at Humber Park, and measured an average snow depth of 26 inches.
PCTA is aware of the situation, and is hoping to start addressing it soon (weather permitting). Spikes are not required. 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. Steady melting of snow, especially on sun-exposed slopes, and freeze-thaw cycles will combine to change trail conditions and potentially the preferred equipment for the terrain. 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. Currently, and increasingly as snow conditions change, spikes are strongly recommended for the foreseeable future everywhere above about 7000 ft, lower in places. Note however that snow depth itself is rarely indicative of the difficulty (or otherwise) of hiking a particular trail. There are several campgrounds in and around the area and at several of the trailheads. At the Peak on Monday 23rd January 2023 at 1010 the air temperature was 11.1F (-11C), with a windchill temperature of -16.2F (-26C), 47% relative humidity, and a bitter NNE wind sustained at 20 mph gusting to 27.7 mph. It is a very popular mountain with several trails that lead to the summit. 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. That said, a moderate snow storm is forecast for Sunday 29th to Monday 30th January, with up to six inches of snow forecast above about 5000 ft, possibly up to 12 inches above 10,000 ft, and a freeze level down to 4000 ft. At San Jacinto Peak (10,810ft/3295m) on Monday 23rd January 2023 at 1010 the air temperature was 11.1F (-11C), with a windchill temperature of -16.2F (-26C), 47% relative humidity, and a bitter NNE wind sustained at 20 mph gusting to 27.7 mph. Hikers who have an ice axe (and know how to use it) may find it useful in places on this short section of trail. Snowshoes are not advisable due to the angle of the icy snow. They are not however required, depending upon your comfort level hiking on shallow variable snow, mixed with slushy and icy patches. 7. There were posthole tracks heading south from Saddle Junction toward Chinquapin Flat. With some melting already underway and compaction caused by freeze-thaw cycles and hiker traffic, conditions will deteriorate for snowshoeing over the next few days, especially on more heavily traveled trails below 9000ft. SNOW DEPTHS measured on 12th November 2022 are as follows (measured on 15th for Deer Springs Trail locations). South Ridge Road (5S11) remains closed to vehicle traffic. They are not however required, depending upon your comfort level hiking on shallow variable snow, potentially mixed with slushy and icy patches. Summertime tends to be the most crowded but it is a great mountain to climb anythime of year. Only saw one person all day on the way down (started at 5:30 am). Snowshoes will remain valuable anywhere off trail above about 8000 ft for the foreseeable future. Details of snow depths measured at various locations on the trail system are given at the foot of this posting. Note however that snow depth itself is rarely indicative of the difficulty (or otherwise) of hiking a particular trail. The latter includes interpreting the snow/ice conditions, understanding your physical and mental abilities, and conservative decision making. Many hikers may find spikes are already useful, and will become increasingly so during and after this weekend with melting and compaction. On my ascent I put crampons on at Wellmans Cienega (9300 ft) and they were more-or-less essential for traversing the icy slopes of the Peak Trail. The track on Deer Springs Trail largely follows the existing trail route up to Little Round Valley. With such mild storms this winter, it is interesting to speculate how much snow would currently be around the high peaks if air temperatures had been just a couple of degrees cooler. There were no visible hiker tracks on Marion Mountain, Seven Pines, or Fuller Ridge trails, as of 15th February. Trail crews are back in the wilderness! It climbs just fast enough to avoid being frustrating on the ascent, but is gentle enough so as to not be pounding on the descent. Put on snowshoes and went up to the base of San Gorgonio . About 46 inches have fallen in the past eight days. Spikes will likely become more increasingly useful over the next few days and weeks as established trails become consolidated by hiker traffic and undergo freeze-thaw cycles. Altitudes are approximate. He didn't know the area, and he was in ice with [boot spikes] he just got at Christmas," Goodman said. As always after storms in the San Jacinto range be aware of considerable ice fall from overhead trees. That fair weather in the valleys has fooled too many hikers, Weston said. UPDATE Tuesday 13th December 2022: This morning Anabel and I broke trail up South Ridge Road and South Ridge Trail to Old Lookout Flat (7600 ft). I put in a posthole track the entire way up, but crampons (with an ice axe) were essential at that time on the upper switchbacks above about 8300 ft due to the typical steeply angled ice obscured underneath 6-12 inches of powder (photos below). Ali Aminian, 51, of Newbury Park was an experienced Sierra Club member who went hiking alone in the same area Jan. 11, while Koh was still missing. Conversely in places scouring by the wind means the depths are well below the average. Dcouvrez les 9 joyaux cachs visiter et planifiez votre prochaine aventure ds maintenant autour de Yucaipa.
It has been a grim winter for search-and-rescue teams. Apartments with air conditioning for rent in San Clemente. As discussed above, additional snowfall expected on 10th and 14th-16th January will further complicate the trail conditions. 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. Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. This is frankly grossly misleading and in reality both trails no longer exist and are so completely overgrown I strongly advise hikers do not attempt to follow them. http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sbnf/news-events/?cid=STELPRD3846020. The freeze level has remained around 7500 ft for most of today, but is forecast to drop overnight closer to 6000 ft. Most of this snow had melted prior to my hike to San Jacinto Peak on 31st December. If closed in the early hours of the morning, you must park in the lower overflow lot. 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. 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. Nice postcard view of Dry Lake covered in untouched snow. A major warming trend will significantly change conditions on the trail system in the next week or two. 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). Since the depths given in the previous Report, there has been some melting at higher elevations which have been above the cloud at times, and below 7000 ft where temperatures have remained above freezing for several days. In combination with the four inches of rain since Saturday, not to mention the many inches of rain earlier this winter, the mid elevations, including the mountain communities, are now best described as a very soggy and slushy mess. Your contribution keeps the Report available to all, free from advertising or paywalls, and independent from agencies. On South Ridge Trail spikes at least, but preferably crampons, are required for the uppermost switchbacks. Here's the closure order: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4302/25275/
Looking for partner (s) for these tentative scheduled hikes - see my Meetup SoCal Mountain Running & Mountaineering or DM me for more info. Given the importance of this trail for the safety of northbound PCT hikers in particular, it is one of several trails adopted by the Trail Report. "Warning, Extreme Icy Conditions Do Not Hike Alone," stated fliers handed out with hiking permits in the San Gorgonio district of the San Bernardino National Forest beginning Wednesday. Take a look here . Although not essential, spikes are recommended and many hikers will find them useful especially for descending. The primary purpose of this update is an advisory of imminent major snow accumulation forecast due to a triple storm sequence. Spikes are currently recommended throughout the trail system above about 7500 ft. momyer-open-map. 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. March 2 - Marion Mountain to San Jacinto and return same route. This information will be updated daily over the next week as details are changing significantly with every new forecast. 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. Zelle, Venmo, and PayPal are all options. 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. Discover your local Girl Scout council: about Girl Scouts, what they do, what activities are available locally, and how to contact us. This rain produces huge masses of ice in the trees, including chunks I have estimated as weighing 40-100 lb this winter, which can dislodge dramatically once direct sunlight warms the trees. Spikes are recommended, at least for descending. Rain has continued solidly today in Idyllwild, with another 0.90 inch since 0700 this morning. Avalanche risk in the high country is currently minimal due to snow depths and conditions, with the exception of the traditionally unstable north face of San Jacinto Peak which avalanches to some extent every winter. Ironically the closure is due to unprecedented snow fall, although such snow fall was average prior to this century, and would have even been below average in the 1970s. Be prepared for trails above about 7500 ft (lower in places) obscured by moderate to deep snow, and even fresh tracks being erased by spindrift snow in places. The USFS gate at Humber Park remains closed. Provisional forecasts suggest the later storm systems, around 25th-27th February, could produce much more significant snowfall, potentially 10-12 inches in Idyllwild and 24+ inches at the highest elevations. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-hikers22jan22,1,1003736.story?coll=la-home-local
Hikers Warned to Avoid Icy Risks
Four are dead and two missing in Southland mountains. 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. A double storm has been forecast as a possibility between Monday 28th November and Sunday 4th December. A weather system, possibly in two waves across a broad time window between 2nd and 5th December, is currently forecast to produce light precipitation at all elevations, including a possible dusting of snow in the high country [update 1st December: no precipitation is now expected from these storms passing to the north of us]. Palm Springs Desert Sun. 71729 San Gorgonio Road, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 is a single family listed active at $939,000. Map showing recreational areas. Hiked the South Fork trail to Dry Lake where we camped for the night. There was a further 0.5 inch dusting of snow above 8000 ft on Thursday 29th (as I describe in this video). 2; 2; 1 month, 1 week ago. 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. (909) 382-2682 (Voice)
On the morning of Wednesday 15th February I ascended via the east side (Devils Slide, Wellman, Peak, and East Ridge routes), descending the western side via roughly Deer Springs Trail. 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). This may mean rain and/or freezing rain as high as 10,000 ft, and challenging layers of icy or mixed snow/ice conditions at all elevations, including the possible melting of some or most preexisting snow below about 8000 ft due to rainfall. Be prepared for ice and deep snow, bring crampons and /or snow shoes and above all do not hike past your limits. Darren Goodman of the sheriff's search-and-rescue team. These data only reflect snowfall measurements, and do not incorporate rainfall totals. Trail Conditions. If you have found this Report useful, please consider using this link to the Donate page. Snowshoes will remain valuable anywhere off trail above about 8000 ft for the foreseeable future. Length 19.0 miElevation gain 5,492 ftRoute type Out & back. San Gorgonio, located in the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area. Snow cover is a patchy 20% from Strawberry Junction north for about 1.5 mile (roughly 8600 ft). Note that average depth is given; due to strong winds accompanying the storm there is extensive drifting, often particularly accumulating in the trails. A short video summary of what we found is available here. They tend to be especially useful for descending. These impacts are especially striking in Southern California mountains, where the sun is relatively potent even in midwinter and where even on the coldest days temperatures at mid elevations may fluctuate either side of freezing. The Caramba Trail from near Reeds Meadow through Laws Camp and on to Caramba, and the Cedar Trail from Willow Creek Trail to Laws, are described by the Forest Service as not maintained. 3407 Calle Sin Rival is a 2956 square foot property with 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. This trail will become significantly more treacherous as it is expected to add freezing rain and/or layers of snow and ice over the next ten days. Some hikers will find spikes are useful at least for descending. Current road and parking lot condition for South Fork Trailheda, 11/5/2022- First 3 miles of the Forsee Creek Trail, Trail report Momyer up Falls Creek up Dollar to San G and down Viv. The highest peaks appeared to add slightly less snow than some lower locations, probably because they were above the cloud for some of the precipitation events. Vehicles not parked in these spaces may be ticketed and/or towed. the snowfall predicted in some forecasts. In my recent experience off-trail snow is now also largely too shallow and/or patchy for snowshoes. South Ridge Road is clear of ice and snow. There is a well-traveled track on light icy snow from Long Valley/Tram to Wellman Divide. Does anybody have accurate GPS or other reading of the actual total elevation gain? "If he's not hurt, he's on the move somewhere. As always after storms in the San Jacinto range be aware of considerable ice fall from overhead trees. This will likely continue to be the case for several weeks, given fresh snowfall expected. Florian Boyd kindly reported this morning that snow has dusted down to 4500 ft on the lower (open) section of Skyline Trail. It stopped snowing at about 0800. Hikers who have an ice axe (and know how to use it) may find it useful in places on this short section of trail. Just no way this is accurate. Early on Wednesday 18th January I barebooted up Devils Slide Trail (which I had broken to Saddle the previous morning). Snow cover remains >95% through Little Round Valley up to San Jacinto Peak. The South Fork Trailhead (officially known as South Fork Trail 1E04) lies about 2.5 miles off of Rt 38, close to the town of Angelus Oaks. It's nearly 20 miles, a 5,600 foot elevation gain and it reaches 11,503 feet! 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. On the morning of Wednesday 11th January, getting an Alpine start, I broke trail the entire way from Humber Park to San Jacinto Peak via Devils Slide, PCT, Wellman, Peak, and East Ridge trails. While my snowshoe track continues from Saddle Junctions through to San Jacinto Peak via Wellman Divide, this may rapidly become obscured by additional light snowfall and/or drifting snow from strong winds. This latest storm was again very mild, as expected from an atmospheric river system pulling moisture in from warmer latitudes.
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