san gorgonio trail conditions san gorgonio trail conditions

Note that average depth is given; due to strong winds accompanying the storm there is extensive drifting, often particularly accumulating in the trails. Note that temperatures fluctuating either side of freezing are forecast for mid to upper elevations (at least >6000 ft) for the foreseeable future. Snowshoes are dangerous due to the angle of the icy snow. I postholed barebooting to 8900 ft before putting on crampons. Snowshoes are no longer required on the established trail system, which is now too compacted for snowshoes. While all time and labor is volunteered, the San Jacinto Trail Report uses small private donations to help cover costs. They are not however required, depending upon your comfort level hiking on shallow variable snow, potentially mixed with slushy and icy patches. 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). Ernie Maxwell Trail has good tracks to follow along its entire length, through the continuous snow cover a few inches deep. Snow cover is about 60% from Strawberry Junction north for about 1.0 mile (roughly 8500 ft), and thereafter >90% to San Jacinto Peak. In Idyllwild (at 5550 ft) additional light rain this morning has added up to 0.1 inch. Spikes are expected to remain extremely useful over the next few weeks given the unpredictable weather. Baldy. The second storm on 15th-16th is expected to be colder with a lower freeze level which may result in 1-2 inches of snow down to 5000 ft or possibly even lower. PCT Mile 181.8 (9070 ft): 1-2 inches (was 6 inches on 9th), Deer Springs Trail at top of Marion Mountain Trail (8700 ft): 1-3 inches, Tahquitz Peak (north side trail, 8700 ft): 1-2 inches [measured 19th November], Tahquitz Peak (south side trail, 8500-8700 ft): 0-1 inch [measured 19th November], Long Valley (8600 ft): 0-1 inch (was 2-3 inches on 9th), Strawberry Junction (8100 ft): 0-1 inch (was approx. Bear in mind that half the winter total, 26 inches, have fallen in the past five days! Snowshoes can be used for ascending the highest peaks, but with considerable caution. Per "Tarol" 6-21-2011 These storms are each expected to produce a further 4-6 inches of snow. SNOW DEPTHS measured on 12th November 2022 are as follows (measured on 15th for Deer Springs Trail locations). Altitudes are approximate. South Ridge Road (5S11) is currently closed to vehicle traffic but is rapidly clearing [checked Saturday 17th] of snow. However I was surprised to find almost all of this had melted by the time I hiked to San Jacinto Peak on 31st December. Such warm conditions will soon be a distant memory. It is starting to turn to light sleet now as temperatures drop to near freezing. (231), Climber's Log Entries 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). Reliable tracks are in place (at least) for Devils Slide Trail through to San Jacinto Peak via Wellman Divide, and for the entire Deer Springs Trail. Days are short and nights are very cold. When you are 3.3 miles into the trail, stay left and turn towards High Creek. I put spikes on at the Peak for the descent and ultimately kept on my Kahtoola microspikes until about 9000 ft, one mile north of Saddle Junction. It has been a grim winter for search-and-rescue teams. Spikes tend to be especially useful for descending trails. 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. When to go: June-October. Spikes are not required for ascending, but some hikers will find them useful for descending. That said, the going was extremely easy as the rain layer on top of the snow remaining for earlier storms had completely frozen, so I was only having to break trail through an inch or two of fine powder. I put in a posthole track the entire way up, but crampons (with an ice axe) were necessary on the upper switchbacks above about 8300 ft due to the usual steeply angled ice obscured underneath 6-12 inches of powder. Were so happy to be back! All water crossings easy for anyone. Overall, melting is proceeding somewhat faster than expected but this holiday weekend trails will remain very icy. If there are Road Closed signs further down as was often the case last winter especially at weekends and holiday periods then those nine spaces are also unavailable for legal parking. LockA locked padlock (800) 735-2922 (TDD/TTY), Offices may be closed on select federal holidays, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sbnf/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=26575&actid=50. A storm currently predicted for Wednesday 22nd February is tentatively forecast to have near record low (i.e. I kept those on for the rest of the ascent, and almost all of the descent, finally removing them most of the way down Devils Slide Trail. Spikes could potentially be used to ascend to the highest peaks at this time, although crampons are certainly safer for traversing (e.g., see photo below). The forecasts are very unsettled for the next week, but significant snowfall arrives on Saturday 31st (12+ inches expected in the high country) and may continue on/off until Friday 6th January 2023, potentially totaling 2-3 feet above 10,000 ft elevation. Snowfall at the elevation of Long Valley (8600 ft) has been similarly steady, and 3-4 inches of fresh powder there takes the total depth close to one foot. Consequently I put on crampons at Wellmans Cienega, keeping them on all day until low down on Deer Springs Trail. The second system may be more substantial, with precipitation expected most of the day and night of Saturday 31st December into Sunday 1st January. 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). However the combined effect of the two minor storms, in combination with wild gusty winds pushing spindrift snow all over the high country, had completely erased the few tracks that were in place by the morning of Wednesday 15th. Hikers should be prepared for temperatures below freezing in the high country, and far below freezing when considering wind chill effects (see below for my recent weather observations from San Jacinto Peak). (406), Comments If there are Road Closed signs further down at the junction with Forest Drive sometimes the case at weekends and holidays when snow is present then those nine spaces are also theoretically unavailable for legal parking. Four hikers have been found dead in three weeks, none of them novices. Reliable tracks are in place (at least) for Devils Slide Trail. When the gate is closed there are still nine legal parking spaces this side of the locked gate (which still require an Adventure Pass or equivalent to be displayed). The first number is the current total snow depth, followed in parentheses by the greatest depth of the winter to date following the latest storm on 11th-12th December. Your contribution keeps the Report available to all, free from advertising or paywalls, and independent from agencies. Hikers should be prepared for temperatures below freezing in the high country, and far below freezing when considering wind chill effects (see below for my recent weather observations from San Jacinto Peak). PCT Mile 181.8 (9070 ft): 0-1 inch (was 6 inches on 9th November), Deer Springs Trail at top of Marion Mountain Trail (8700 ft): 0-1 inch, Tahquitz Peak (north side trail, 8700 ft): 0-1 inch, Tahquitz Peak (south side trail, 8500-8700 ft): 0 inch, Long Valley (8600 ft): 0-1 inch (was 2-3 inches on 9th November), Strawberry Junction (8100 ft): 0 inch (was approx. Spikes could potentially be used to ascend to the highest peaks at this time, although crampons are certainly safer for traversing. Spikes are not needed yet, but that will change soon with increasing compaction and freeze/thaw cycles. Marion Mountain Trail (surveyed at least weekly in past month) has a very well-defined track to follow. "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. This will likely continue to be the case for several weeks, given fresh snowfall expected. SNOW DEPTHS measured on or around 28th November 2022 are as follows, with depths after the last significant storm (on 9th November) for comparison in parentheses where known. Approximately 200-250 people will be running on the Pacific Crest Trail south of Lake Hughes in Angeles National Forest on April 22, 2023. So rather than being a once-in-a-generation event, this may prove to be a once-in-a-lifetime event for most Idyllwild residents. Elevation Gain: 5,449 feet. Snowshoes are not required anywhere, as recent experience has shown that off-trail snow is now too shallow and/or patchy for snowshoes. Most major trails now have a track through the snow to follow, details have been updated below. The USFS gate at Humber Park remains closed. 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. Early on Monday 23rd January I ascended San Jacinto Peak via the east side (Devils Slide, Wellman, and Peak trails) that I had broken last Wednesday 18th, and descended the west side via (more-or-less) Deer Springs Trail. The TOPOZONE MAP states an elevation of 11,499 feet shown at the trail's end at the higher summit. PCT Mile 151) this morning, and recorded a short video available here on YouTube. On 21st I again barebooted (i.e. Currently only one major trail route has been traveled and even that is partially obscured by icefall, melting and drifted snow. 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. Three periods of cold, cloudy days are now expected over the next ten days, but little if any precipitation.]. The trail descriptions list this route as being 16 miles round trip. There are two new treefall hazards to pass on the upper trail. [Checked 18th January by Anne and Anabel. Snow depths are currently excellent for snowshoeing everywhere above about 8000 ft, potentially lower in places.