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. At the Peak on Wednesday 15th February 2023 at 1030 the air temperature was 4.9F (-15C), with a windchill temperature of -26.3F (-32C), 65% relative humidity, and a bitter due North wind sustained at 19 mph gusting to 27.7 mph. With compaction of the trails in the second week of January, snowshoes may steadily become less useful, however they will remain valuable for off-trail travel in the high country for the foreseeable future. There was a dusting of snow in Garner Valley (4300 ft). On 2nd, 5th, and 6th we barebooted to San Jacinto Peak on well-traveled and compacted tracks through increasingly patchy light icy snow. 2 night trip SB Peak Trail to Limber Pine, Trail Fork Springs and back. The primary purpose of this update is an advisory of imminent major snow accumulation forecast due to a triple storm sequence. However the remaining snow patches are icy in the morning. Deer Springs Trail [updated 22nd December] has an accurate track to follow all the way to San Jacinto Peak as I broke trail the entire way down to the Suicide Rock Trail junction on 15th December. San Jacinto Peak (10810 ft): 36-40 inches (winter max depth 45-48 inches), drifted >50 inches in places, Wellman Divide (9700 ft): 38 inches (45 inches), Annies Junction/PCT Mile 180.8 (9070 ft): 44 inches (48 inches), Long Valley (8600 ft): 20 inches (24 inches), Saddle Junction/PCT Mile 179 (8070 ft): 18 inches (22 inches), Devils Slide trailhead at Humber Park (6550 ft): 0-3 inches, partly melted by afternoon of 6th (6 inches), Idyllwild (at 5550 ft): <1.0 inch, largely melted by afternoon of 6th (4 inches). Even if there is no precipitation, there will be temperatures well below seasonal on those days. Through LRV and up to San Jacinto Peak, there are at least three tracks (two posthole, one snowshoe), none of which attempt to follow the trail route, and all are steep and very direct. The USFS gate at Humber Park remains closed. Distance : 17.3 miles. Combined with a weak sun at this time of year, snow melt will generally be very slow at upper elevations, and conditions will be ideal for freeze/thaw cycles and hence icy trails. So don't be fooled into thinking you are going for 16 miles. 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. Freeze levels will be well below 3000 ft at times, and for example Garner Valley (4300-4800 ft) could receive as much as 6-12 inches of snow this week. Here's the closure order: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4302/25275/ While the shallow icy snow should melt steadily over the next few days, 4WD/AWD vehicles are recommended. Pack your camera and your taste buds for this delicious adventure to see the sights and explore the food of Southern Italy! Conversely in places scouring by the wind means the depths are well below the average. Snow covered Mt. San Bernardino 9 Peaks Traverse. Snowshoes are very strongly recommended for any trails in, or leading to, the high country. Note that average depth is given; due to strong winds there has been extensive drifting, often particularly accumulating in the trails. Share. Please check this page for periodic updates the most recent is at the top throughout the multiple day storm sequence. 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. 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. My tracks from Wednesday were still largely visible and helped a little with traction. Donate via PayPal using the link below, Viewing 15 topics - 1 through 15 (of 533 total), Overnight Whitewater Preserve- 1/28/2023. The summit of San Gorgonio (11,499') is 3 miles beyond High Creek. Following an unusually warm weekend, multiple atmospheric river storms will bring cold, cloudy weather with variable precipitation from Tuesday 27th December well into the first week of January. Tracks of myself and a couple of others from recent days were largely visible up Devils Slide Trail, and I barebooted to Saddle Junction through thin powder overlying ice. San Bernadino Peak Trail Conditions. It is possible they may deteriorate even further with some warming from direct sunlight. From near Miller Peak, I did not continue to break trail on the Peak Trail, but instead turned up the East Ridge, breaking a track roughly along the route of the old East Ridge Trail. These are free and self-issued. Spitler Peak Trail is now functionally clear of snow. Emergency-Closure-Forest-Order-No.-05-12-00-23-02-SIGNED-1. 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. There is a relatively well-traveled track on the Round Valley Trail from Long Valley through to Wellman Divide. 2; 2; 1 month, 1 week ago. Searchers planned to be back out this morning looking for both men. Seven Pines Trail has no sign of any hiker traffic since the snow on 12th. Effective 26th January 2023 the State Park closed the section of Skyline Trail that falls within its jurisdiction, above 5800 ft elevation, until further notice due to dangerous weather conditions. no traction device) to the Peak on a generally well-traveled and compacted track through light icy snow. Spikes are strongly recommended as the snow is now hard, compacted and very icy in places. A significant triple storm system had a major impact on 21st-26th February, and those updates are posted below also. And as a reminder, self-issue permits are only good for that day. Although the snow is not currently particularly deep (10-12 inches) it is heavily drifted and has at least one ice layer underneath the fresh powder. The fresh snow overnight could have covered any tracks or other signs of a campsite, but "if he's still moving, we'd be able to see his footprints clearly," Amrhein said. Currently the snow is relatively powdery; this will steadily change over the next few days and weeks. The TOPOZONE MAP states an elevation of 11,499 feet shown at the trail's end at the higher summit. Fish Creek 10.1 miles 3,342' gain 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). 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). As mentioned above, crampons with hiking poles and an ice axe, depending on terrain are currently very useful everywhere above about 9000 ft. At San Jacinto Peak (10,810ft/3295m) on Wednesday 11th January 2023 at 0915 the air temperature was 24.0F (-4C), with a windchill temperature of 5.8F (-15C), 74% relative humidity, and a bitter NNW wind sustained at 19 mph gusting to 24.5 mph. Seven Pines Trail has one set of hiker tracks through the snow since the storm in early November 2022. There are two new treefall hazards to pass on the upper trail. The second significant Pacific storm of winter 2022/23 is currently impacting the San Jacinto mountains. All trails above about 6500 ft remain lightly (or above 9000 ft, moderately) snow-covered. 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. Visitors can call our Mill Creek Visitor Center (909) 382-2882 and our staff will help plan any enjoyable trip to the forest." Your contribution keeps the Report available to all, free from advertising or paywalls, and independent from agencies. Trails remain very icy due to daily freeze/thaw cycles and compaction from hiker traffic, so spikes are recommended throughout the trail system above about 8000 ft (lower in places). Currently, and as conditions change, spikes are strongly recommended for the foreseeable future everywhere above about 7000 ft. 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). 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). However there was no sign of that route by 6th, due to drifting snow. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 11 h 14 min to complete. 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. 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. The powder was lovely and soft, and overlying a firm icy layer (from all the freezing rain). It has stopped snowing both in Idyllwild (current storm total 0.75 inch snow plus 1.14 inches of rain) and at San Jacinto Peak (9 inches snow). Spikes are currently usefulthroughout the trail system above about 5000 ft, potentially lower in places. June 20, 2017 at 7:59 pm #387136. Lamentably this latest storm was again very mild, with rain falling as high as the elevation of San Jacinto Peak see photos below all morning on Tuesday 10th, until finally turning to light snow in the early afternoon (at about 1330 in Long Valley). My tracks from Wednesday 11th January from Humber Park to San Jacinto Peak and down Deer Springs Trail will be largely visible but may be somewhat obscured in places. While the snow was not especially deep, it still took about double the time of a completely dry ascent. All trails above about 6500 ft are currently snow-covered, and partially snow-covered above 5500 ft. 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. However they remain valuable for off-trail travel at elevations above about 9000 ft (potentially lower in places). At least two further minor storm systems are forecast, overnight on Monday 2nd into Tuesday 3rd, and then again all day on Thursday 5th. 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). Regarding snowfall, the high country may be above the cloud at times, with dustings of snow above about 7000 ft across much of the nine day period, but with the highest probability for a heavy snowfall on Saturday 31st December, totaling 8-15 inches. Estimated Time: 9-12 hours. and here's the map showing the closed area :: Please report trail conditions. Wore pants and gators expecting brush and my usual snake friends but both were absent. 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. There are two new treefall hazards to pass on the upper trail. As last week, I was able to ascend barebooting to about 9200 ft before putting on crampons. Lost Creek Trail via Dry Lake 12.9 miles, 5,182' gain However they are not required, depending on your comfort level with postholing in drifted snow of moderate depth. From there to the top of Marion Mountain Trail the route is a lightly-traveled posthole track. website belongs to an official government organization in the Be prepared for trails above about 8000 ft (perhaps lower in places) completely or largely obscured by moderate to deep snow. It has been a grim winter for search-and-rescue teams. Snowshoes are likely to become useful (even essential in early January), at least above about 9000 ft, if there is significant snowfall during the coming week or so as forecast. Mountain Conditions. 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. Time: ~10 hours. Icy snow cover is 60% overall, becoming increasingly patchy below about 7000 ft, and again in the sun-exposed areas above 8000 ft. Spikes are useful, especially for descending. Snow cover is shallow up to about 7000 ft, but relatively heavy above 8000 ft. Melting on sun-exposed slopes is already well underway, e.g., on lower Devils Slide Trail, South Ridge and Deer Springs trails. The storm forecast for 29th-30th January looks less dramatic than previously predicted, with the high country largely above the storm (only an inch of snow forecast), and only 2-4 inches now expected at the elevation of Idyllwild. 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. Very cautious navigation is advised throughout the area. However the fresh powder is very fine and drifting heavily in the strong SW wind, and I had 2-3 inches in places in the upper Peak Trail. There is a decapitated boar head hanging from the fence by its teeth about half a mile south of hikertown on 1/30/23. Section B. Warner Springs to I-10/San Gorgonio Pass. Zelle, Venmo, and PayPal are all now options. The other bonus was an immaculate set of fresh Mountain Lion tracks in the trail (photos below), with sign that the lion had crossed back-and-forth across Devils Slide in multiple locations further up also. The fourteenth and fifteenth storm systems of winter 2022/23 impacted the San Jacinto mountains back-to-back on 13th and 14th February, as discussed in the previous Report available here. Every year seems to have its unique challenges, and clearly 2023 will be no exception. 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. While all time and labor is volunteered, the San Jacinto Trail Report uses small private donations to cover costs. It is clear, based on information on the PCTA website closures page (linked here), that these closures will dramatically and negatively impact early season PCT hikers. The State Park boundary is not marked but is near the site of the old Florians Cache, below Flat Rock. Spikes are expected to remain extremely useful over the next few weeks given the unpredictable weather. San Gorgonio Wilderness Map. Vivian Creek 9.3 miles 5,422' gain http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sanbernardino/ap/. Skyline Trail has a good track to follow through light icy snow above about 7200 ft (the Traverse to Grubbs Notch).
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