Get involved with local programs, from participating in the Cookie Sale and attending Girl Scout camp to registering for in-person and virtual programming on digital storytelling, aviation, and more! Measurements taken on Monday 30th were unchanged by Wednesday 1st. Snow depths are currently excellent for snowshoeing above about 7000 ft, where trails havent been too heavily traveled and compacted. The high country added only another couple of inches of snow overnight. There is no planned reopening date at this time. Two ascents of San Jacinto Peak in three days had challenging snow and weather, but both were hugely enjoyable. Pack your camera and your taste buds for this delicious adventure to see the sights and explore the food of Southern Italy! May 20th is the Erie Zoo Earth Day Celebration and they've invited the Girl Scouts to the party. The first number is the current average total snow depth at that location, followed in parentheses by the approximate depth of fresh snow added by the latest storm sequence on 14th-17th January. South Fork Trail is a popular 5.94-mile hike in the San Gorgonio Wilderness that gains around 4,600 feet of elevation. As of the afternoon of Monday 12th, the only tracks that I saw and that are known to be in place are my snowshoe track between Humber Park and San Jacinto Peak (using Devils Slide, Wellman, and Peak trails), and the track of Kyle Eubanks from the previous evening between Long Valley and the Peak via Wellman Divide (which remained surprisingly visible in places about 15-20 hours later, showing how calm the winds were overnight). However the precipitation amounts and probabilities for both storm systems have varied greatly in recent forecasts, and the models seem to be especially uncertain about details of the second storm (approx. Many people are lost leaving the San Gorgonio Summit because they miss the trail going back to Vivian. Hikers should anticipate new treefall hazards in trails we have already found one major new one on the Ernie Maxwell Trail and also that tracks in snow may have been obscured by windblown drifting powder. San Gorgonio Wilderness Association; Google Search for 'San Gorgonio Wilderness' Lots of useful links. There is a very well-traveled track from Saddle Junction to Tahquitz Peak. Other Info. A significant triple storm system had a major impact on 21st-26th February, and those updates are posted below also. It was near-whiteout conditions due to wild spindrift above Wellman Divide, but the new snow was firm and overall made for good snowshoeing conditions. Drive northeast for about 14 miles to the intersection with Valley of the Falls Road. As always after storms in the San Jacinto range be aware of considerable ice fall from overhead trees. While all time and labor is volunteered, the San Jacinto Trail Report uses small private donations to cover costs. 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. Hikers who have an ice axe (and know how to use it) may find it useful in places on this short section of trail. Mountain Conditions. Above that elevation, icy snow is largely continuous to Saddle Junction. 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. This rain produces huge masses of ice in the trees, including many chunks I have estimated as weighing 40-100 lb this winter, which can dislodge dramatically once direct sunlight warms the trees. Temperatures will be below seasonal for December for at least the next week, with many days cloudy or at least partly cloudy. "If he's not hurt, he's on the move somewhere. Trails above about 7500 ft currently remain lightly covered with patchy icy snow (more continuous above about 9000 ft). The rainfall totals at mid elevations were unremarkable, especially compared to those of the storm in early November (discussed here). The total snow accumulation was ultimately very close to that forecast in the days immediately prior to the storm. Cautious navigation is strongly recommended everywhere. Devils Slide Trail has an excellent compacted track to follow to Saddle Junction. It is a difficult hike, to say the least, and is recommended only for hikers who have adequate experience. Snowshoes are not advisable due to the angle of the icy snow. On Friday 20th I broke South Ridge Trail to Tahquitz Peak. Hiking Mount San Gorgonio via Vivian Creek Trail is quite the challenge. Map showing recreational areas. It's a beautiful hike through pines, cedars . Spikes will likely become increasingly useful over the next few days and weeks as established trails become consolidated by hiker traffic and undergo freeze-thaw cycles. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Four Hikers On The Summit Of San Gorgonio Mountain 1900-1915 Cali - Old Photo at the best online prices at eBay! Snow cover is about 60% from Strawberry Junction north for about 1.0 mile (roughly 8500 ft), and thereafter >90% to San Jacinto Peak. "US Forest Service officials re-opened portions of the area closed during the Lake Fire today. Conditions are currently excellent for avalanches on specific terrain in the San Jacinto high country, as proven below. The forecasts remain wildly inconsistent for the potential storms next week but it is looking increasingly likely that the systems will miss us to the north.]. These mileages were all recently revised by the USFS and SGWA(one-way mileages to the top of San G)Vivian Creek 9.3 miles 5,422' gainSouth Fork via Dollar Lake 9.8 miles 4,622' gainFish Creek 10.1 miles 3,342' gainSouth Fork via Dry Lake 11.34 miles, 4,622' gainAspen Grove 12.75 miles, 4,092' gainLost Creek Trail via Dry Lake 12.9 miles, 5,182' gainMomyer 13.2 miles, 6,062' gainForsee via Jackstraw 15.18 miles, 4,702' gain. Note that generally the maximum depths so far this winter were immediately following the major storm sequence on 14th-17th January 2023 (details of those depths available here). In addition to snowshoes, and as conditions change, spikes are strongly recommended for the foreseeable future everywhere above about 6000ft. What does it mean if I have a California Campfire Permit? June 20, 2017 at 7:59 pm #387136. Steady melting is expected with warming temperatures this week, especially at mid elevations and on sun-exposed slopes. 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 next, much more substantial, wave of snow arrives later this afternoon. PCT Mile 179.9 (8070 ft): 8 inches (8-9 inches), Devils Slide trailhead at Humber Park (6550 ft): 4 inches (total 4 inches). From near Miller Peak I put in a track up the East Ridge, rather than continuing on the Peak Trail round to Summit Junction. A fourth and final minor system is expected on 28th February-1st March. Trailhead directions: The trailhead is located on Jenks Lake Road, 2.5 miles from Highway 38. There is precipitation forecast from Wednesday 28th into the first week of 2023. Jeff H. Keymaster. 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. While expected to be relatively mild at first with rain above 9000 ft, overall this next sequence of storms may prove to be colder than most of the recent systems. SGWA is testing a new interactive trail map! However, snowshoes may become increasingly useful if conditions warm sufficiently for snow to become soft above about 9000 ft, especially on sunny slopes and afternoons. Alternatively snowshoes could have been used, depending on personal preference and time of day. San Bernardino 9 Peaks Traverse. San Gorgonio, located in the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area. The areas Im reporting are within a mile or so of the McDonalds. Winter conditions exist in the San Gorgonio Wilderness. Although excellent tracks are now in place and clearly visible for almost all major trails cautious navigation remains recommended. UPDATE Sunday 1st January 2023: A moderate overnight storm produced 1.53 inches of rain in Idyllwild (at 5550ft). Above Little Round Valley there are at least half-a-dozen tracks ascending toward San Jacinto Peak, none of which accurately follow the established trail route. Go right and continue for 4.5 miles to the Falls Recreation Area, past the town of Forest Falls. However subsequent light snow on Sunday 1st improved the depths by another couple of inches. Willow Creek Trail remains a relatively slow, messy hike for a couple of miles. All in all, I found the Fish Creek Trail to be a great way to go. 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. I'm guessing an additional few hundred feet at least. Note that snow depth itself is rarely indicative of the difficulty (or otherwise) of hiking a particular track or trail. The Peak Trail track is also partially disappearing under fresh spindrift (photos below). For water information, please visit the PCT Water Report. However excellent well-traveled and compacted tracks are now in place for almost all major trails (details below). San Jacinto Peak (10810 ft): 2-4 inches (was 12 inches on 9th November), Little Round Valley (9800 ft): 2-4 inches (was approx. 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. My tracks from Wednesday were still largely visible and helped a little with traction. We had a Garmin GPS with us and it showed the total round trip mileage from the parking lot where you first start walking, to the top and back, as being a little over 18 miles round trip! Schedule a showing for 251 Broadriver Trail in Beaumont, CA. 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. Be aware that firewood can harbor insects and diseases that threaten California's valuable forest resources. Chung Hun "Charles" Koh, 53, of Buena Park left home New Year's Day to hike on Mt. PCT Mile 151) this morning, and recorded a short video available here on YouTube. 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. Average snow depth around the peak was 24-25 inches, but heavily drifted. Ernie Maxwell Trail [checked 2nd February] has a heavily traveled track to follow along its entire length, through the increasingly patchy icy 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. View details, map and photos of this single family property with 2 bedrooms and 2 total baths. Two moderate snow storms in the next ten days or so are expected to have a major combined impact on the San Jacinto mountains. Early on Wednesday 18th January I barebooted up Devils Slide Trail (which I had broken to Saddle the previous morning). 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 avalanche risk may become significant over the next week if we receive a major wind-loaded snowfall on top of the deep, hardened base of snow currently in place. Temperatures on the morning of 15th were the lowest of this winter, and among the lowest of the past decade. Hopefully someone will update the trail description with respect to the total miles. The Ernie Maxwell Trail is functionally clear of icy snow, although a few minor patches remain, especially close to Humber Park. Fresh snow at San Jacinto Peak now measures 3-4 inches, snow in Long Valley (8600 ft) at three inches, and rainfall in Idyllwild since 0700 this morning at 0.6 inch. Although the flakes are small, it has been steadily accumulating at an inch per hour, with about six inches fresh powder so far today, for a Peak area total of about 30 inches. 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. If there are Road Closed signs further down at the junction with Forest Drive as is often the case at weekends and holidays when snow is present then those nine spaces are also unavailable for legal parking. March 11 - San Gorgonio via Jepson Bowl and return same route. It warmed last night to just above freezing below 6000 ft, with a mixture of rain and sleet falling on top of the prior snow, turning it increasingly to wet slush at mid elevations (we measured about 0.25 inch rain in Idyllwild). Print/PDF map. San Gorgonio is the tallest mountain in Southern California, and a rite of passage for serious hikers in the area. The second system may be more substantial, with precipitation expected most of the day and night of Saturday 31st December into Sunday 1st January. Devils Slide Trail has a well traveled and compacted track to Saddle Junction in place already. Note that average depth is given; due to strong winds there has been drifting, often particularly accumulating in the trails. UPDATE Wednesday 28th December: the overnight rain storm produced 0.73 inch in Idyllwild (measured at 5550 ft) while Long Valley (8600 ft) led San Jacinto mountain locations in rainfall with 1.01 inch. Altitudes are approximate. 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). For day use a permit is required on any of the trails in the San Gorgonio Wilderness. The next comprehensive update of the Report will likely be in the evening of Wednesday 11th. PCT Mile 181.8 (9070 ft): 4-5 inches (5.5 inches on 12th December), Marion Mountain Trail at junction with PCT (8700 ft): 4-6 inches (6 inches on 12th December), Long Valley (8600 ft): 3-4 inches (5-6 inches on 12th December), Strawberry Junction (8100 ft): 3 inches (4 inches on 12th December), Saddle Junction/approx. Minor storm overnight on 27th-28th December. After an interesting month of weather, the remainder of January into February is forecast to be somewhat more settled. Your contribution keeps the Report available to all, free from advertising or paywalls, and independent from agencies. I have kept crampons on for most of the descent, removing them most of the way down Devils Slide Trail. I stubbornly kept on my snowshoes to 10,100 ft elevation on the Peak Trail, despite some lateral slipping as I traversed the icy snow slopes. The main track is clearest just above LRV and again close to the Peak junction. San Gorgonio is located 82 miles east of Los Angeles, just south of Big Bear. Currently only one major trail route has been traveled and even that is partially obscured by icefall, melting and drifted snow. If the Report is useful to you in any way, please consider using this link to the Donate page. Recently I have mentioned the challenges of hard, icy snow underfoot and the value of using spikes (and/or crampons) especially for descending and traversing. Thank you for taking the time to read this. STAY SAFE!RESCUES IN THE WILDERNESS CAN BE AVOIDED.FOLLOW A FEW SIMPLE RULES, Be prepared Carry Flashlight, Map, Food, Water and Clothing. Further strong winds and blowing powder had eliminated much of these tracks again by Wednesday, and I again largely re-broke trail that day too. The 0.4 mile section of South Ridge Trail between Chinquapin Flat/PCT and Tahquitz Peak has no steps to follow through the steeply angled ice with overlying deep snow. SNOW DEPTHS measured on 19th-20th February (east and south side locations) and 15th February 2023 (west side) are as follows. Take a look here . 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. Related objects are relevant to each other in some way, but they don't form a parent/child relationship. As evident in the video, spikes are currently needed at least, and snowshoes would be ideal especially for sections that have not yet been traveled. This is followed by steady moderate to heavy snowfall starting in the afternoon of Wednesday 22nd and continuing into the early hours of Sunday 26th February. I descended via Deer Springs Trail, breaking trail snowshoeing through virgin powder all the way down to the Suicide Rock Trail junction. The shape of the mountain is influenced by a series of steeply dipping thrust faults on the north face . Difficulty : Strenuous. A few trees were cut by chainsaw at the far (Hidden Divide) end of the Forest Service section recently, presumably by a CCC or State Park crew. Baldy. Although most of the downed trees reported this summer were cleared in July, four more major trees came down in Tropical Storm Kay in September. The average snow depth in this area is only about five inches, but on this slope it is heavily drifted in places at 10-12 inches. 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. Spikes are expected to remain extremely useful over the next few weeks given the unpredictable weather. Weather conditions for different elevations in the San Gorgonio Wilderness are at: www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/San-Gorgonio/forecasts/3505. Even Devils Slide Trail was largely obscured in deep drifted powder (photo below). "I'm assuming, with all the snow, he just got turned around," Henley said. Share sensitive information only 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. For driving directions, the trailhead address is: Vivian Creek Trailhead. Looking for partner (s) for these tentative scheduled hikes - see my Meetup SoCal Mountain Running & Mountaineering or DM me for more info. Altitudes are approximate. Immediately north of Saddle Junction, snow cover is starting to become somewhat patchy on the sun exposed slope (Angels Glide) but icy snow cover is continuous through the Wellman and Peak trails to San Jacinto Peak. For those that are unclear, the Skyline Trail is the first segment of the C2C (cactus to clouds) from Palm Springs up to Grubbs Notch, the access point to Long Valley. Very cautious navigation is advised throughout the area. Were so happy to be back! If full, drive down to bottom entrance area where there is an overflow parking lot. 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. "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. South Ridge Trail [surveyed 10th Feb] is largely snow free until Old Lookout Flat at 7600 ft (c.15% snow cover). Terms & Conditions; Advertising; ABOUT US; Altitudes are approximate. (6), Images Conversely in places scouring by the wind means the depths can be well below the average. Between the dustings of snow yesterday and today, high country tracks are becoming obscured and cautious navigation is strongly advised. Three significant trees are now down across the trail, including two major hazards (one new in gale force winds on 26th) that are not easy to hike around both roughly halfway along the trail. I recorded an overly rambling and partly wind affected video report from San Jacinto Peak late morning on Wednesday 18th, available here on YouTube, but it does give a sense for the conditions underfoot at the highest elevations, and for the spectacular vista that day. Heavy cloud cover at higher elevations meant helicopters had to transport rescuers to narrow ravines. When you are 3.3 miles into the trail, stay left and turn towards High Creek. Note however that snow depth itself is rarely indicative of the difficulty (or otherwise) of hiking a particular route. Ice covers trails and slopes frequented by hikers, he said. Reliable tracks are currently only known to be my posthole tracks from 15th for Devils Slide Trail through to San Jacinto Peak via the Wellman, Peak, and East Ridge trails, and then descending Deer Springs Trail. February 2011 recorded 45.5 inches, and there were 45.5 inches in March 2006. Favorite hiking regions include the San Gorgonio Wilderness, Eastern Sierras, Channel Islands and San Gabriel Mountains . However, snowshoes will become increasingly useful as conditions warm sufficiently for snow to become soft above about 9000 ft, especially on sunny slopes and afternoons.
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