Although not essential, spikes are recommended and many hikers will find them useful especially for descending. With such dramatic rainfall throughout the mountain range in the past two days, and with snow now available for melting in the high country, I do not expect to be reporting on water conditions until next year. 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. That face of the mountain is 10,000 feet big, he said as he referenced the photo. no traction device) to the Peak on a generally well-traveled and compacted track through light icy snow. Moderate snow has continued for the past few hours at San Jacinto Peak, with a storm total so far of about 7.5 inches. Snow from the moderate storm on 8th-9th November (summarized here) has been melting steadily at mid elevations but more slowly in the high country given the relative weakness of the sun at this time of year. Note that averages are given; due to strong winds accompanying storms there is extensive drifting. PCTA is aware of the situation, and is hoping to start addressing it soon (weather permitting). One major treefall hazard is across the trail almost exactly midway between the trailheads at Humber Park and Tahquitz View Drive. Although not essential in the moderate depth powder, spikes are strongly recommended and many hikers will find them useful especially for descending. Spikes are recommended, especially for descending, as snow is icy and compacted. In Idyllwild at 5550 ft, rainfall storm total today is 1.14 inches. Snowshoes can be used for ascending the highest peaks, but with considerable caution. MT. Use this relief map to navigate to mountain peaks in the area of Mount San Jacinto Peak. PCT Mile 179.9 (8070 ft): 2 inches (was 3 inches on 9th), Devils Slide Trail at Humber Park (6550 ft): patchy 0.5-1.0 inch (was 2.5 inches on 9th). 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. No, it wasn't snowfall in the Santa Cruz Mountains or at Mt. Note however that snow depth itself is rarely indicative of the difficulty (or otherwise) of hiking a particular trail. Trails above about 7500 ft currently remain lightly covered with patchy icy snow (more continuous above about 9000 ft). Time of day, temperature, and sun exposure all have significant impacts on the nature of the snow, in turn changing the conditions underfoot, and hence both the hiking difficulty and the preferred traction device (if any). The Thursday system will be significantly warmer, with a freeze level not dropping below about 7000 ft. Precipitation at the elevation of Idyllwild should therefore be rain (0.5-0.7 inch currently forecast), which may therefore largely melt and remove the snow that had fallen earlier in the week at that elevation. The next comprehensive update to the Report will hopefully be tomorrow evening, Friday 6th. 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. Snowshoes can be rented at our Adventure Center. Spikes are recommended but not strictly essential depending upon your comfort level hiking on angled icy snow. Most major trails now have a track through the snow to follow, details have been updated below. Note that snow depth itself is rarely indicative of the difficulty (or otherwise) of hiking a particular track or trail. Winters are highly variable in Mount San Jacinto State Park. Hikers should expect to encounter new treefall hazards due to the enormous weight of ice from freezing rain associated with the early November storm, followed by recent Santa Ana winds, and after the passage of Tropical Storm Kay in September. Mt. Although good tracks are now in place for most major trails (details below), cautious navigation is recommended everywhere. Back-to-back Pacific storm systems already the tenth and eleventh storms of this winter are forecast for Saturday 14th and then from late Sunday 15th January to the early hours of Tuesday 17th January. MT. That said, temperatures in the high country are much more typical of December than April! 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). 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. The intensity of snowfall at San Jacinto Peak this afternoon is the best Ive seen since late 2019. In the week since the last storm we have surveyed trails around Tahquitz Peak twice, plus South Ridge, Spitler Peak, and Marion Mountain trails, among others. 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. Once you reach the snow tongue of Snow Creek you will need crampons and ice axe. 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 steadily melting 1-2 inches of icy snow. Precipitation turned to occasional light snow in Long Valley at about 1330, with an accumulation by 1550 of just 0.5 inch. 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. Currently the snow is relatively powdery and benign; this will steadily change over the next few days and weeks. They tend to be especially valuable for descending trails. Altitudes are approximate. Webcams. Locations in between, especially those on the western and southern slopes, added more with up to five inches at Saddle Junction (8100 ft). 32mi . Between the dustings of snow yesterday and today, high country tracks are becoming obscured and cautious navigation is strongly advised. Many thanks to Florian Boyd for bringing this to my attention. At San Jacinto Peak (10,810ft/3295m) on Tuesday 27th December 2022 at 0850 the air temperature was 31.2F (-1C), with a windchill temperature of 15.1F (-9C), 31% relative humidity, and a sharp WSW wind sustained at 17 mph gusting to 26.1 mph. This will likely continue to be the case for several weeks, given fresh snowfall expected. Snow depths are currently excellent for snowshoeing above about 7000 ft, where trails havent been too heavily traveled and compacted. While all time and effort is volunteered, the San Jacinto Trail Report requests small private donations to cover costs. Idyllwild (at 5550 ft): 3.0 inches (storm total 3.0 inches). 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 icy snow. [UPDATE 1st December 2022: the double storm system that looks likely to bring significant precipitation to northern and central California appears to be missing the San Jacinto mountains, despite optimistic forecasts over the previous week. They are not however required, depending upon your comfort level hiking on shallow variable snow, potentially mixed with slushy and/or icy patches (depending upon time of day). If you have found this Report useful, please consider using this link to the Donate page. WEATHER UPDATE 23rd December: forecasts have been shifting dramatically in recent days. This is especially dangerous on portions of trails that are . The latter includes interpreting the snow/ice conditions, understanding your physical and mental abilities, and conservative decision making. Altitudes are approximate. Snow Play at Mount San Jacinto Park Easily accessible from Palm Springs, this snowy mountain top is only a short ride up the mountain. Note that tracks discussed here may become obscured by heavy drifting of snow from strong winds combined with extensive ice fall from trees overhead. 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). 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. 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. These icy slopes are notoriously treacherous. 7-Day Weather Live Satellite & Weather Radar. Altitudes are approximate. However, snowshoes will become increasingly useful as conditions warm sufficiently for snow to become soft above about 8000 ft, especially on sunny slopes and afternoons. The chart s below show s past snowfall recorded this year near San Jacinto, CA for the last few years. The first storm system comes through overnight on Tuesday 27th, with precipitation continuing into the morning of Wednesday 28th. SNOW DEPTHS measured on 23rd January 2023 (unless otherwise indicated) are as follows. Winter is a real bona fide season at Mount San Jacinto State Park. Hikers in the past have died, and more have been seriously injured. The Wellman Trail from Annies Junction to Wellman Divide has about 40% icy snow cover. Currently only two major trail routes have been traveled and even those may become partially obscured by drifted snow and fresh icefall. All trails above about 5500 ft are largely snow-covered (wholly snow-covered above about 7000 ft). South Ridge Trail [updated 24th December] has about 30% icy snow cover from the top of South Ridge Road to Old Lookout Flat (7600 ft). A second forecast storm system may bring some light precipitation to the San Jacinto mountains on 2nd December, and possibly again on 4th-5th. Snow cover is continuous from there, with a posthole track to Tahquitz Peak. Schwartz, who has lived in more avalanche-prone areas of New York state and Vermont, said Sunday was her first time seeing an avalanche. KPBS. Spikes are recommended especially in the morning as the snow is now hard, compacted and very icy in places. At San Jacinto Peak (10,810ft/3295m) on Monday 19th December 2022 at 0920 the air temperature was 31.3F (0C), with a windchill temperature of 20.7F (-6C), 9% relative humidity, and a light WNW wind sustained at 5 mph gusting to 9.9 mph. 16 F. They are not currently recommended for traversing moderate angle slopes above 9000 ft that have challenging ice underlying shallow powder. For example, San Jacinto Peak received about 9 inches of fresh powder (on top of about 2-4 patchy inches of icy snow remaining from November) on Sunday 11th, with an additional inch falling on Monday 12th. Altitudes are approximate. On Fuller Ridge Trail there are five major treefall hazards obstructing the trail in the 1.5 mile section nearest to the campground (PCT Miles 189-190.5). All trails above about 6500 ft are currently snow-covered, and partially snow-covered above 5500 ft. Generally considered a challenging route. PCT Mile 181.8 (9070 ft): 5.5 inches (storm total 5 inches), Marion Mountain Trail at junction with PCT (8700 ft): 6 inches (storm total 5 inches), Long Valley (8600 ft): 5-6 inches (storm total 5 inches) [thanks to Kyle Eubanks for this measurement], Strawberry Junction (8100 ft): 3-4 inches (storm total 3-4 inches), Saddle Junction/approx. 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. Be prepared for trails above about 8000 ft (possibly lower in places) obscured by moderate snow, and even fresh tracks being erased by spindrift snow in places. Overall, melting is proceeding somewhat faster than expected but this holiday weekend trails will remain very icy. 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. From Laws east to Caramba the route of the original Caramba Trail has been well-cairned by myself and others and can largely be followed with very careful route-finding. Even when the gate is closed there are nine legal parking spaces this side of the locked gate (near the upper Ernie Maxwell trailhead). It remains well above freezing there, currently at 41F. Conditions remain very unsettled for the first week of January. I measured an average of about four inches of snow at Old Lookout Flat, although with some deeper drifts in the trail. Some 37 trees are down on the Forest Service section of this trail between Skunk Cabbage Junction and the State Park boundary (23rd September 2022 survey). Black Mountain Road also closed on 7th November to vehicle traffic at the gate 1.7 miles up from Highway 243. Average snow cover is 60%, but is nearly continuous near Humber Park. Conditions prior to this storm had been unsettled for several days, with a minor storm overnight on 27th-28th December. Bear in mind that half the winter total, 26 inches, have fallen in the past five days! Conversely in some places scouring by the wind means the depths are well below the average. You'll need to leave pups at home dogs aren't allowed on this trail. As forecast, the storm came in two main waves, with the bulk of the precipitation falling for most of the daylight hours of Sunday 11th, followed by a remarkably calm and clear night, and then a much less intense period of snowfall between about 0800-1300 on Monday 12th. Overall, melting is proceeding faster than expected, especially with warmer than forecast temperatures, but this weekend trails will be very icy. On both days I was able to ascend barebooting to about 8800 ft on 30th and to 9200 ft on 1st, before putting on crampons. San Jacinto Peak (10810 ft): 45-48 inches (includes about 24 inches snow in latest storms), heavily drifted to 60 inches in places, especially on the East Ridge. Forecasts suggest a further 2-3 inches are possible tonight. Generally considered a moderately challenging route. Spikes are recommended especially in the morning as the snow is now hard, compacted and very icy in places. My blogging throughout the storms gave more day-to-day detail and is available here. At San Jacinto Peak (10,810ft/3295m) 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. There are two new treefall hazards to pass on the upper trail. The snow continues unabated, although the pace has slowed somewhat in the past hour. Spikes are not required. Two powerful systems will bring heavy snow and areas of blizzard conditions across southern and interior Alaska. Snow. A positive start to the new year, this is a summary of conditions following the fifth Pacific storm (but only the third significant snowfall) of winter 2022/23 to impact the San Jacinto mountains. This will make trail conditions more complicated, and if in any doubt whatsoever carry and use traction devices accordingly (see discussion in introduction above). 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