San Jacinto Peak (10810 ft): storm total 12 inches (total depth 17-20 inches), Wellman Divide (9700 ft): 8 inches (total 9 inches), Annies Junction/approx. This morning the PCT at the top of Spitler Peak Trail (roughly Mile 168.5) was basically clear of snow. Note that average depth is given; due to strong winds accompanying the storm there is extensive drifting, often particularly accumulating in the trails. There is a compacted, well-traveled track on continuous light icy snow from Long Valley/Tram to Wellman Divide. 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. There was a dusting of snow in Garner Valley (4300 ft). 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. Currently crampons, always with an ice axe, and advanced knowledge of how to use this equipment, are required. Snow on this east slope is drifted, and remains up to 12 inches deep in places. After an interesting month of weather, the remainder of January into February is forecast to be somewhat more settled. Extremely cautious navigation is strongly recommended everywhere. 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. There was a further 0.5 inch dusting of snow above 8000 ft on Thursday 29th (as I describe in this video). If you have found this Report useful, please consider using this link to the Donate page. Conversely in places scouring by the wind means the depths are well below the average. 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. per adult. However, relatively well-traveled tracks are now in place for most major trails (details below). Deer Springs Trail (surveyed 8th December) is functionally clear of ice to Strawberry Junction (8100 ft). 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. Snow at all elevations will become increasingly firm and icy following multiple freeze-thaw cycles, and compaction by increasing hiker traffic in places, and I cannot overemphasize the importance of having both appropriate equipment and the right skill set for the terrain. A double storm has been forecast as a possibility between Monday 28th November and Sunday 4th December. This latest storm was again very mild, as expected from an atmospheric river system pulling moisture in from warmer latitudes. Although good tracks are now in place for most major trails (details below), cautious navigation is recommended everywhere. Mount San Jacinto State Park is all about the San Jacinto Mountains. Mountain High. Snow levels could reach as low as 1,500 feet Wednesday morning and areas in the San Bernardino Mountains were projected to receive one to two feet. $30.00. Note that average depth is given; due to strong winds accompanying the storm there is extensive drifting, often particularly accumulating in the trails. Deer Springs Trail has a broken track to follow all the way to San Jacinto Peak. Early morning hikes to San Jacinto Peak have generally had icy snow underfoot with sufficient bite for grippy boots, allowing me to bareboot all the way to San Jacinto Peak. When plowed Humber will remain very icy for the next few days at least. Remarkably Tropical Storm Kay did not add any new treefall hazards to this trail. 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). I snowshoed the rest of the way to San Jacinto Peak through lovely light powder. I have typically postholed barebooting to 8900-9200 ft before putting on crampons. Mt. With compaction of the trails over the next few days, snowshoes may become less useful, however they will remain valuable for off-trail travel at the highest elevations for the foreseeable future. Vehicles not parked in these spaces may be ticketed and/or towed. Snow depths measured at various locations on the trail system are given at the foot of this posting. Skyline Trail has a good track to follow through light icy snow above about 7200 ft (the Traverse to Grubbs Notch). They are not however required, depending upon your comfort level hiking on shallow variable snow, potentially mixed with slushy and icy patches, and on the quality of your footwear (tread grip, in particular). I recorded a short video at the Peak, available here on YouTube. Trails above about 7500 ft currently remain lightly covered with patchy icy snow (more continuous above about 9000 ft). Currently, and increasingly as snow conditions change, spikes are strongly recommended for the foreseeable future everywhere above about 7000 ft, lower in places. The primary purpose of this update is an advisory of imminent major snow accumulation forecast due to a triple storm sequence. Waterproof or highly water resistant footwear is recommended. Crampons are recommended for the traversing slopes. 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. You will encounter 35 to 45 degree snow slopes, with the angle increasing as you get near the top. She used her cellphone to grab the picture, and assumes not many people around her noticed it as traffic did not slow at all from drivers taking a look. At San Jacinto Peak (10,810ft/3295m) on Friday 6th January 2023 at 0930 the air temperature was 25.7F (-4C), with a windchill temperature of 14.7F (-10C), 44% relative humidity, and a chilly NNW breeze sustained at 5 mph gusting to 10.6 mph. Spitler Peak Trail (last surveyed 18th November) is clear of snow. Zelle, Venmo, and PayPal are all options. However there was no sign of that route by 6th, due to drifting snow. At the Peak on Monday 21st November 2022 at 1610 the air temperature was 36.5F (3C), with a windchill temperature of 28.0F (-2C), 9% relative humidity, and a steady WSW breeze sustained at 6 mph gusting to 9.2 mph. Conversely in some places scouring by the wind means the depths are well below the average. Seven Pines Trail has not been traveled since the storm in mid December, at least not in its uppermost section, and there is no track to follow through the snow. At the Peak on Monday 13th February 2023 at 1010 the air temperature was 16.8F (-10C), with a windchill temperature of -1.3F (-19C), 95% relative humidity, and a wintry NNW wind sustained at 7 mph gusting to 13.2 mph. Sadly this phenomenon has become much more of a factor in recent years with freezing rainfall (rather than snow) occurring at higher elevations at higher frequency with much warmer weather systems. Currently the snow is relatively powdery and benign; this will steadily change over the next few days and weeks. All trails above about 7500 ft are currently remain lightly (or above 9000 ft, moderately) snow-covered. See their announcement here. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway cuts about 6,000 feet of climbing off the hike . They tend to be especially useful for descending trails. The Wellman Trail from Annies Junction to Wellman Divide has about 40% icy snow cover. The same is largely true in the high country, however a short but severe Santa Ana wind event is forecast for 16th November. 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. However they are not required, depending on your comfort level with postholing in drifted snow of moderate depth. By using snowshoes, crampons, or even just microspikes, we were able to hike Mount San Jacinto's summit every month of the year. The latest Trail Report (linked here) mentions the increasing avalanche risk with recent heavy wind-loaded snowfall on top of the icy pre-existing snow, and how avalanches occur every winter on the north face (contrary to erroneous information in recent local media stories). The strange rollercoaster ride that has been winter 2022/23 so far will continue for the foreseeable future. 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. If you have found this Report useful, please consider using this link to the Donate page. Currently, and increasingly as snow conditions change, spikes are strongly recommended for the foreseeable future everywhere above about 7000 ft, lower in places. Jean Peak (3252 m) 1.9 km: 2. but her friend Joyce Schwartz took some short videos from which this still image is taken. Snow is virtually continuous from there to San Jacinto Peak, with an excellent track to follow. Light or moderate rain is currently forecast daily at mid elevations (possibly totaling one inch in Idyllwild), with an uncertain possibility of light snow in the high country (<3 inches above 10,000 ft elevation). Conversely in places scouring by the wind means the depths are well below the average. Both trails were virtually completely clear of snow. 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. 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). 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. Temperatures will be below seasonal for December for at least the next week, with many days cloudy or at least partly cloudy. Current expectations are only for 1-2 inches of snow at mid elevations (e.g., Idyllwild) and not much more at higher elevations, perhaps 2-3 inches with each storm. Secondly, because there is really very little snow on the PCT. 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. 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. Seven Pines Trail has one set of hiker tracks through the snow since the storm in early November 2022. Although not required, many hikers will find spikes useful especially for descending. The peak is also frequently called Mount San Jacinto. Spikes at least, but preferably crampons, plus an ice axe (and thorough knowledge of how to use it) are currently required for traversing these slopes. Long Valley (8600 ft) has added about two inches, where it continues to snow gently this morning. I recorded a short video at San Jacinto Peak early on the morning of Monday 12th December (available here) which gives a feel for conditions as the storm was nearing its end. [Checked 18th January by Anne and Anabel. 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. For the foreseeable future hikers should be prepared for temperatures 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). The USFS gate at Humber Park remains closed. Conversely in places scouring by the wind means the depths can be well below the average. Wellman Divide (9700 ft): 4 inches snow with 1-2 inches of ice underneath, Round Valley (9100 ft): 4 inches [special thanks to Kyle Eubanks for this measurement], Annies Junction/approx. The trail is clearest above immediately above LRV and again close to the Peak junction. Conditions are forecast to remain very unsettled for the first week of January. All trails above about 5500 ft are largely snow-covered (wholly snow-covered above about 7000 ft). Florian Boyd kindly reported this morning that snow has dusted down to 4500 ft on the lower (open) section of Skyline Trail. They are not however required, depending upon your comfort level hiking on shallow variable snow, potentially mixed with slushy and icy patches, and on the quality of your footwear (tread grip, in particular). Snowshoes are not required anywhere on the established trail system, where snow is now too shallow, icy and compacted. I was pleased to see that over the weekend some posthole tracks were added on top of my snowshoe track from last week all the way up Deer Springs Trail to San Jacinto Peak. These impacts are especially striking in Southern California mountains, where the sun is relatively potent even in midwinter and where even on the coldest days temperatures at mid elevations may fluctuate either side of freezing. In places scouring by the wind means the depths can be well below the average all... The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway cuts about 6,000 feet of climbing off the hike dusted down to 4500 ft Thursday! Seven Pines Trail has a good track to follow about 6,000 feet of climbing off the hike on the Trail. Kay did not add any new treefall hazards to this Trail that has forecast. 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