Slushy in places in the afternoon. If there are Road Closed signs further down as was often the case last winter at weekends and holidays then those nine spaces are also unavailable for legal parking. When plowed Humber will remain very icy for the next few days at least. Some hikers will find spikes preferable. Very shallow snow is often icy and potentially perilous, while deeper powder can actually be much safer, albeit slow-going for hiking. 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. We survey the trail system daily, with hikes via different routes to San Jacinto Peak several times per week, Tahquitz Peak and vicinity at least weekly, and many other trails on other days. While all time and labor is volunteered, the San Jacinto Trail Report uses small private donations to cover costs. The advice above should be used with this in mind, and if in any doubt carry the necessary traction devices that you will be most comfortable using. Spikes are not needed yet, but that will change soon with increasing compaction and freeze/thaw cycles. 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). 32mi . They tend to be especially useful for descending. Altitudes are approximate. Spitler Peak Trail (surveyed 18th November) is clear of snow. If there are Road Closed signs further down often the case at weekends and holidays when snow is present then those nine spaces are also unavailable for legal parking. Mt. Snow depths measured at various locations on the trail system are given at the foot of this posting. 16 F. Spikes are recommended, at least for descending. This will make trail conditions more complicated, and if in any doubt whatsoever carry and use traction devices accordingly (see discussion in introduction above). The East Ridge Trail (from near Miller Peak to San Jacinto Peak) has a handful of tracks through the continuous snow, though none (including mine) accurately follow the trail route. There had been an additional six inches of snow (plus an unknown amount of rain) since my measurement two days earlier, for a current total snow depth of about 21 inches at Saddle Junction. The first number is the depth of fresh snow from this latest storm, followed in parentheses by the current total snow depth. Consequently the trail conditions and snow depths reported herein will change dramatically over the next few days. Trails above about 7500 ft currently remain lightly covered with patchy icy snow (more continuous above about 9000 ft). Big Bear Mountain Resort. The USFS gate at Humber Park remains closed. The Trail Report has adopted Seven Pines Trail as a priority for maintenance work as the trail has had a disproportionate number of lost hiker rescues in the past decade. At the Peak on Monday 7th November 2022 at 1715 the air temperature was 28.4F (-2C), with a windchill temperature of 12.7F (-11C), 93% relative humidity, and a fresh WSW wind sustained at 10 mph gusting to 22.0 mph. Current forecasts for precipitation suggest as much as three inches of rain around the elevation of Idyllwild (5000-6000 ft) between the evening of Tuesday 27th December 2022 and Friday 6th January 2023. You will encounter 35 to 45 degree snow slopes, with the angle increasing as you get near the top. The high country added only another couple of inches of snow overnight. 2-3 inches on 9th), Saddle Junction/approx. The atmospheric river of moisture from lower latitudes was weaker than the storm in early November, although snowfall was ultimately slightly greater in this storm than in November, perhaps in part due to the colder temperatures. Both of these storms are expected to be relatively mild at first with rain a possibility up to 9000 ft before freeze levels drop down to 6000 ft. Average snow cover is 40%, but is nearly continuous near Humber Park. In my recent experience off-trail snow is now also largely too shallow and/or patchy for snowshoes. The high country was above the weather most of the night, and added an inch of fresh snow at most, however there were 2.25 inches in Idyllwild, and also roughly the same fresh snow depth at Humber Park and Saddle Junction. Altitudes are approximate. 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. no traction device) to 9000 ft on a lightly traveled and lumpy posthole track through thin icy snow. Early on cold mornings, the icy snow is grippy, and I did not find spikes necessary on 5th. Minor snow storm update 11th January 2023, Weather and trail update 27th December 2022, Moderate snow storm 11th-12th December 2022, Moderate snow storm 8th-9th November 2022. 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. 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. Thereafter a cooling trend will take temperatures well below seasonal again including the possibility of minor precipitation on 11th-15th February. 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. With compaction of the trails over the next few days, snowshoes will become less useful on-trail, however they will remain valuable for off-trail travel at the highest elevations for the foreseeable future. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Crunchy layers as high as 9800 ft elevation told me it had rained that high at the start of the storm yesterday, but conversely there was very light snow (<1 inch) down to 5500 ft in Idyllwild. High freeze levels may mean rain and/or freezing rain at the highest peaks at times, and icy or mixed snow/ice conditions at all elevations. On Mount San Jacinto, the conditions just arent good for avalanches with the slopes and amount of trees we have, he said. 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. Snow cover is essentially continuous from Strawberry Junction to San Jacinto Peak, although patches are starting to clear below 8500 ft (south of the top of the Marion Mountain Trail). Thank you so much for your support. Seven Pines Trail has not been traveled since the early November storm, at least not in its uppermost section, and there is no track to follow through the snow. The powder was lovely and soft, and overlying a firm icy layer (from all the freezing rain). After a relatively benign day, it started snowing gently at 1340, and has become steady with large wet flakes in the past hour or so. The second significant Pacific storm of winter 2022/23 is currently impacting the San Jacinto mountains. This will likely continue to be the case for several weeks, given fresh snowfall expected. I descended via Deer Springs Trail, breaking trail through virgin powder all the way down to the Suicide Rock Trail junction. The storm expected on 28th November failed to materialize, producing only below average temperatures, wind, and spectacular clouds (photos below). Temperatures will be near or generally below seasonal for the next ten days at least. They are not currently recommended for traversing moderate or higher angle slopes above 9000 ft that have challenging ice underlying powder. 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 unavailable for legal parking. 68mi . At San Jacinto Peak (10,810ft/3295m) 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. An informal use trail to Laws is much more direct and avoids all of the very challenging bushwhacking of the former trails (local hikers Charles Phelan and Mark Gumprecht kindly nicknamed it the King Trail when I established the route in 2019). Be prepared for trails above about 8000 ft (perhaps lower in places) completely or largely obscured by moderate to deep snow; very cautious navigation is strongly recommended everywhere. Excessive precipitation of 1.3" (33mm) is anticipated. Conditions are currently excellent for avalanches on specific terrain in the San Jacinto high country, as proven below. but her friend Joyce Schwartz took some short videos from which this still image is taken. At least two further minor storm systems are forecast, overnight on Monday 2nd into Tuesday 3rd, and then again all day on Thursday 5th. Both storms were relatively cold, the second in particular dusting snow below 3500 ft elevation. SNOW DEPTHS measured on 1st January 2023 are as follows. Currently, and increasingly as snow conditions change, spikes are strongly recommended for the foreseeable future everywhere above about 7000 ft, lower in places. 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. In Idyllwild (data from 5550 ft) there was 1.14 inches of rain on Sunday 11th which turned to snow that afternoon, settling to 0.5 inch. I have typically postholed barebooting to 8900-9200 ft before putting on crampons. Snow, weather, and trail conditions for the San Jacinto mountains. There is a lightly traveled compacted snowshoe track on the East Ridge between Miller Peak and San Jacinto Peak but it does not accurately follow the route of the East Ridge Trail. Check out the Mount San Jacinto State Park, CA WinterCast. My pre-dawn hike up Devils Slide Trail on 11th January was delightful, primarily because there was the noise of running water almost everywhere. Precipitation is predicted to start falling by 6 p.m. Monday with lows in the mountains of 28 to 36 degrees and gusts up to 60 mph, according to the National Weather Service in San Diego. Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Admission Ticket. The number given is the current average total snow depth. There are five new major treefall hazards, plus many other limbs and branches, across the trail between the Suicide Rock junction and the Marion Mountain Trail junction. Dutch Flat, at about 5600 ft elevation between Idyllwild and Pine Cove, recorded 0.86 inch of rain by 1300. Spikes are not required for ascending, but some hikers will find them useful for descending. . Three periods of cold, cloudy days are now expected over the next ten days, but little if any precipitation.]. 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. Zelle, Venmo, and PayPal are all options. Mountain High. Conversely in places scouring by the wind means the depths are well below the average. Snowshoes will remain valuable anywhere off trail above about 8000 ft for the foreseeable future. At the Peak on Thursday 24th November 2022 at 0810 the air temperature was 29.0F (-2C), with a windchill temperature of 5.7F (-15C), 16% relative humidity, and a severe NNW wind sustained at 25 mph gusting to 35.1 mph. Although my original track accurately followed the trail above Little Round Valley, there are now a fair number of alternate shortcut tracks across this slope, so cautious navigation is advised. Above seasonal temperatures will continue until Sunday 27th November. PCT Mile 179.9 (8070 ft): 4 inches (storm total 3.5 inches), Devils Slide Trail at Humber Park (6550 ft): 3.5 inches (storm total 3.5 inches). The PCT throughout the San Jacinto mountains (roughly Miles 207-151) has a clear track to follow, including Fuller Ridge Trail, which has been traversed by a handful of sobo PCT hikers. Yesterday afternoon we checked Devils Slide trailhead at Humber Park, and measured an average snow depth of 26 inches. Across the three storm days, locations above about 9000 ft all generally added at least two feet of snow (admixed with layers of freezing rain in areas up to 10,000 ft). The route does not follow the established trail for the most part, and steepens considerably as it nears Wellman Divide. At the Peak on Wednesday 18th January 2023 at 1115 the air temperature was 16.8F (-8C), with a windchill temperature of -3.6F (-20C), 27% relative humidity, and a frigid NNW wind sustained at 10 mph gusting to 25.8 mph. San Jacinto Peak (10810 ft): 39-44 inches (new snow 8 inches), Little Round Valley (9800 ft): 44-48 inches, heavily drifted, Wellman Divide (9700 ft): 42 inches (6 inches), Seven Pines Trail junction with Deer Springs Trail (8700 ft): 35 inches (6 inches), Annies Junction/PCT Mile 180.8 (9070 ft): 46 inches (5 inches), Long Valley (8600 ft): 22 inches (4 inches), Strawberry Junction (8100 ft): 16 inches (5 inches), Saddle Junction/PCT Mile 179 (8070 ft): 22 inches (6 inches), Devils Slide trailhead at Humber Park (6550 ft): 3-6 inches (6 inches, partly melted by afternoon of 15th), Idyllwild (at 5550 ft): 2 inches (5 inches, largely melted by afternoon of 15th). Temperatures on the morning of 15th were the lowest of this winter, and among the lowest of the past decade. Remarkably Tropical Storm Kay did not add any new treefall hazards to this trail. 10 inches on 9th November), Wellman Divide (9700 ft): 0-1 inch (was 4 inches on 9th November), Annies Junction/approx. If there are Road Closed signs further down as was often the case last winter then those nine spaces are also unavailable for legal parking. Skyscrapers & Towers. Monday 5th was the first day since the snow storm in early November that I did not use spikes for descending, as the icy snow in the high country was crisp and grippy in cold, cloudy conditions. Winter is a real bona fide season at Mount San Jacinto State Park. 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. However excellent well-traveled and compacted tracks are now in place for almost all major trails (details below). A very mild system with rain to 9000 ft elevation (and consequently very icy conditions), and one inch of fresh snow above about 9000 ft elevation, increasing to 1.5 inch above 10,000 ft. A winter storm will continue to move through California today then into the Four Corners on Sunday bringing significant mountain snow, strong winds with blizzard conditions, lower elevation snow where snow is unusual, and well below normal temperatures. Snow on this east slope is drifted, and remains 3-8 inches deep in places. and snow conditions. Note that there are about a dozen stream crossings and sections of the trail with water flowing in them, at times for tens of feet. Currently the snow is relatively powdery; this will steadily change over the next few days and weeks. 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. Two ascents of San Jacinto Peak in three days had challenging snow and weather, but both were hugely enjoyable. The second system may be more substantial, with precipitation expected most of the day and night of Saturday 31st December into Sunday 1st January. [Checked 18th January by Anne and Anabel. Snowshoes are no longer required anywhere on the established trail system, where snow is now too shallow, icy and compacted. Take the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (the world's largest rotating tram car and not for the faint of heart), up and away to the top of Mount San Jacinto Park. There is a well-traveled track on light icy snow from Long Valley/Tram to Wellman Divide. Again the freeze levels may be relatively high, with little more than an inch or two of snow likely below 6000 ft, a forecast 2-6 inches of fresh snowfall in the high country scattered across two or more days, and roughly 0.5-1.0 inch of rain (perhaps mainly freezing rain) throughout the mid elevations. 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. Devils Slide Trail has a very lightly traveled track to Saddle Junction in place. "The biggest issue with the snow levels is the . 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. If camping in the Mt. Holden said he could not recall the last time there had been an avalanche on Mount San Jacinto. Extremely cautious navigation is strongly recommended everywhere. Nothing unduly dangerous, but something to be aware of for the next couple of days. Devils Slide Trail is functionally clear of snow below 7600 ft, about two miles up, and then snow cover is about 60% up to Saddle Junction but becoming almost continuous within 0.2 mile of the junction. My blogging throughout the storms gave more day-to-day detail and is available here. Idyllwild (data from 5550 ft) received a prodigious 4.01 inches of rain in the 31 hours starting at midnight on Monday 7th. This will change later this week. Indeed it rained as high as San Jacinto Peak multiple times on 7th and 8th November. Spikes are not required. On 13th, Idyllwild received 2.75 inches, and I measured five inches at San Jacinto Peak, with 3-4 inches at locations in between. Spikes are not required. Hikers who have an ice axe (and know how to use it) may find it useful in places on this short section of trail. PCT Mile 179.9 (8070 ft): 3 inches (4 inches on 12th December), Devils Slide Trail at Humber Park (6550 ft): 0-1 inches (3.5 inches on 12th December). South Ridge Road is clear of ice and snow. Yesterday afternoon we snowpack on mt san jacinto Devils Slide trailhead at Humber Park, and measured an average depth. 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