Some hikers may continue to find spikes useful for some of the minor icy patches but they are no longer required. Strong winds expected on 11th-12th, and again on 14th, will likely obscure many tracks. At the Peak on Thursday 15th December 2022 at 0715 the air temperature was 28.0F (-2C), with a windchill temperature of 13.9F (-10C), 52% relative humidity, and a chilly WNW wind sustained at 9 mph gusting to 14.5 mph. Details of snow depths measured at various locations on the trail system are given at the foot of this posting. The steep escarpment of its north face, above Snow Creek, climbs over 10,000 feet (3,000 m) in 7 miles (11 km). While all time and labor is volunteered, the San Jacinto Trail Report uses small private donations to cover costs. The Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail has a well-traveled track to follow throughout, snow cover is 90%. As described above, crampons with hiking poles and an ice axe, depending on terrain are currently very useful everywhere above about 9000 ft. 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. With such dramatic rainfall throughout the mountain range last week, and with snow now available for melting in the high country, I do not expect to be reporting on water conditions until next year. The rainfall totals at mid elevations were unremarkable, especially compared to those of the storm in early November (discussed here). The first number is the current total snow depth, followed in parentheses by the greatest depth of the winter to date following the latest storm on 11th-12th December. It continued to drizzle in Idyllwild all day, slowly accumulating to about 0.25 inch of rain. 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. With some melting already underway and compaction caused by freeze-thaw cycles and hiker traffic, conditions will deteriorate for snowshoeing over the next few days, especially on more heavily traveled trails below 9000ft. Trails down to 4000 ft elevation currently have shallow snow cover. Temperatures may be mild enough to produce rain at mid elevations, for example totaling less than 0.25 inch in Idyllwild, while snow accumulation above 10,000 ft elevation is currently forecast to be a dusting, perhaps few inches at most. 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. Consequently I put on crampons at Wellmans Cienega, keeping them on all day until low down on Deer Springs Trail. At this time there is no further significant precipitation forecast prior to mid February. Details of snow depths measured at various locations on the trail system are given at the foot of this posting. With at least two further snowfalls expected in the next few days, and strong winds in the high country expected for the next week causing substantial daily drifting of snow, much of the trail system will remain largely obscured by light to moderate snow until the second week of January. The 0.4 mile section of South Ridge Trail between Chinquapin Flat/PCT and Tahquitz Peak has a well-traveled and level track photo below to follow through the light 3-4 inches of powder (drifted to six inches in places). Rainfall in Idyllwild (at 5550ft) has also maintained a steady pace, with close to 0.7 inch so far today. Such unseasonably warm temperatures led to rapid snow melt everywhere, despite the low sun angle at this time of year, while in many areas freeze/thaw cycles have resulted in icy trails and roads especially in the early mornings. There is already a moderately traveled posthole track on Devils Slide Trail, and I was surprised to find that below 7000 ft some of the trail was already slushy simply due to relatively warm air temperatures as there was no direct sun. If you have found this Report useful, please consider using this link to the Donate page. Spikes are not required. 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. PCT Mile 179.9 (8070 ft): <1 inch (was 3 inches on 9th), Devils Slide Trail at Humber Park (6550 ft): 0 inch (was 2.5 inches on 9th), Idyllwild (at 5550 ft): 0 inch (was <1 inch on 9th), [UPDATED 24th November: we took a brisk hike up and down Marion Mountain and upper Deer Springs trails to San Jacinto Peak early this morning. "Here's the thing, who would realize it was an avalanche?" 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). If there are Road Closed signs across Fern Valley Road at its junction with Forest Drive likely the case at least on weekends and holidays when significant snow is present then those nine spaces are also unavailable for legal parking. For our first foray into snowshoeing, we chose a really easy option taking the Palm Springs Aerial Tram up to Mount San Jacinto State Park. Consequently cautious navigation is recommended everywhere. Black Mountain Road closed on 7th November to vehicle traffic at the gate 1.7 miles up from Highway 243 (see Forest Service website regarding this closure here). This may result in very strong winds and bitterly cold windchill temperatures at upper elevations. These icy slopes are notoriously treacherous and have been an area of multiple hiker fatalities in winter conditions in recent decades. Three numbers are given: the first number is the current average total snow depth at that location, followed in brackets by the new snow accumulation from the storm on 29th-30th January, and finally in parentheses by the maximum depth where known so far this winter, generally on 18th January following the major storm sequence on 14th-17th January 2023. A key feature of this sequence of storms will be the relative warmth of the air masses which will lead to high freeze levels. SNOW DEPTHS measured on 9th November 2022 are as follows. Thankfully it was relatively straightforward in crampons as the underlying snow was very solid due to freeze/thaw cycles, and the overlying powder was generally shallow. A major warming trend will significantly change conditions on the trail system in the next week or two. My tracks from Wednesday 18th January from Humber Park to/from San Jacinto Peak will be largely visible but may become somewhat obscured in places. Skyline Trail has a good track to follow through light icy snow above about 7200 ft (the Traverse to Grubbs Notch). 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. Your contribution keeps the Report available to all, free from advertising or paywalls, and independent from agencies. This was a very mild system, producing 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 >10,000 ft). The Mammoth Mountain ski resort has received 41.5 feet (12.6 meters) of snow since October and could be on a path to break the all-time snow season record of 55.7 feet (17 meters) set in 2010-2011. Spitler Peak Trail has a very visible boot track through light snow to the PCT. Zelle, Venmo, and PayPal are all options. UPDATE Thursday 5th January 2023: We are just catching the southern edge of the highly-publicized storm currently passing through central California. Another tree came down near the start of this trail close to Saddle Junction in Tropical Storm Kay. 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. No tracks had made it as far as Chinquapin from Saddle Junction at that time. Prior to that Idyllwild (at 5550 ft) had received 1.04 inches of rain, with a little hail and sleet mixed in. Snowshoes will remain valuable anywhere off trail above about 8000 ft for the foreseeable future. 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. Trail conditions are updated below. Devils Slide Trail is functionally clear of icy snow to Saddle Junction. Trails above about 7500 ft currently remain lightly covered with patchy icy snow (more continuous above about 9000 ft). Snow cover is about 60% from Strawberry Junction north for about 1.0 mile (roughly 8500 ft), and thereafter >90% to San Jacinto Peak. Top Stories. Conditions are forecast to remain very unsettled for the first week of January. 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. Winter Hiking: Dangerous conditions exist when snow and ice conditions are present. Compacted trails such as Devils Slide, Deer Springs, Marion Mountain, South Ridge are extremely icy between 7400-8900 ft due to the rain yesterday which has now frozen. This is a summary of conditions following the tenth and eleventh Pacific storms of winter 2022/23 to impact the San Jacinto range, that were basically a double atmospheric river event spread across 14th-17th January. The main track is clearest just above LRV and again close to the Peak junction. When the gate is closed there are nine legal parking spaces this side of the locked gate (which still require an Adventure Pass or equivalent to be displayed). 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. UPDATE Thursday 23rd: Idyllwild woke up to about four inches of fresh snow overnight, and it snowed fairly consistently today (averaging 0.75 inch/hour), adding six more inches by late afternoon. The first number is the current average total snow depth at that location followed in parentheses where known by the combined fresh snowfall from the two minor storms on 13th-14th February. but probably light rain and/or about an inch of snow at the elevation of Idyllwild. Spikes are recommended. South Ridge Trail [hiked 13th and 17th December] has a well-traveled posthole track through shallow snow as far as Tahquitz Peak. This trail will become significantly more treacherous as it undergoes freeze/thaw cycles and compaction over the next week or two. 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. Three periods of cold, cloudy days are now expected over the next ten days, but little if any precipitation.]. 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. The Get it Done app can help you report blocked storm drains, potholes, and broken streetlights. The State Park campground at Stone Creek is also closed. All trails above about 7500 ft remain lightly snow-covered. Thereafter a cooling trend will take temperatures well below seasonal again including the possibility of minor precipitation on 11th-15th February. However they will remain valuable for off-trail travel at elevations above about 9500 ft for the foreseeable future. Forecasts suggest a further 2-3 inches are possible tonight. The snow continues unabated, although the pace has slowed somewhat in the past hour. This is a genuine relief after such a long, hot, and largely dry last 6-7 months. Todays rainfall total has passed an inch in Idyllwild, and various locations in Pine Cove (5800-6500 ft) were reporting 1.1 to 1.3 inches two hours ago. At the on Monday 5th December 2022 at 0840 the air temperature was 24.1F (-4C), with a windchill temperature of 2.8F (-16C), 20% relative humidity, and a bitter WSW wind sustained at 18 mph gusting to 33.0 mph. Forest Service campgrounds at Boulder Basin, Marion Mountain, and Fern Basin are closed for the season. 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. Spikes are not essential, but many hikers may find them useful depending on their comfort level hiking on thin icy snow. A significant triple storm system had a major impact on 21st-26th February, and those updates are posted below also. There I generally put on Kahtoola microspikes for the descent. At the Peak on Sunday 1st January 2023 at 0830 the air temperature was 17.9F (-8C), with a windchill temperature of -2.3F (-19C), 100% relative humidity, and a sharp WSW wind sustained at 11 mph gusting to 21.1 mph. 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. Two significant further atmospheric river storm systems are forecast, on Tuesday 10th, and then again on Saturday 14th-Sunday 15th. San Jacinto hike from the tram was such an epic way to hike this mountain in the snow! Minor storm overnight on 27th-28th December. Dutch Flat, at about 5600 ft elevation between Idyllwild and Pine Cove, recorded 0.86 inch of rain by 1300. Spikes will likely become more increasingly useful over the next few days and weeks as established trails become consolidated by hiker traffic and undergo freeze-thaw cycles. South Ridge Road itself is now functionally clear of ice and snow. Thank you so much for your support. Your contribution keeps the Report available to all, free from advertising or paywalls, and independent from agencies. 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. We removed nine treefall hazards on 18th November and the trail is now completely clear again, bringing to 56 the number of trees we have removed from this trail since mid 2021. 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. Zelle, Venmo, and PayPal are all options. Trails remain icy due to daily freeze/thaw cycles and compaction from hiker traffic, and spikes are useful throughout the trail system above about 9000 ft (lower in places). Your contribution keeps the Report available to all, free from advertising or paywalls, and independent from agencies. In general most hikers will likely prefer to use spikes at least for descending down to about 10,000 ft (or lower). Fresh snowfall in Long Valley is now at about four inches. Note that average depth is given; due to strong winds accompanying the storm there is extensive drifting, often particularly accumulating in the trails. South Ridge Trail from the top of South Ridge Road to Tahquitz Peak has a well-traveled track to follow through the very light and patchy 1-3 inches of icy snow. Snowshoes are no longer required anywhere on the established trail system, where snow is now too shallow, icy and compacted. The Wellman Trail from Annies Junction to Wellman Divide has about 40% icy snow cover. We have surveyed the high country almost daily, with hikes taking in San Jacinto Peak at least twice per week, Tahquitz Peak area once per week, and a variety of other trails on other days (World Cup viewing permitting of course). They tend to be especially useful for descending. We have had an excellent start to 2023 regarding the water and snow situations in the San Jacinto mountains. It remains well above freezing there, currently at 41F. 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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