san gorgonio trail conditions san gorgonio trail conditions

Self-issue permits aren't always available - they oftentimes run out, or get stolen. Explore this 19.0-mile out-and-back trail near Forest Falls, California. There is a decapitated boar head hanging from the fence by its teeth about half a mile south of hikertown on 1/30/23. The The initial freeze level was at about 9000 ft but has already dropped. Ft. 3919 Calle Andalucia, San Clemente, CA 92673. Both storms were relatively cold, the second in particular dusting snow below 3500 ft elevation. Note that temperatures fluctuating either side of freezing are forecast for both mid and upper elevations for the foreseeable future. There are two new treefall hazards to pass on the upper trail. In Palm Springs, artist Lauren Bon displays The Smallest Sea with the Largest Heart. For water information, please visit the PCT Water Report. San Jacinto Peak (10810 ft): 6-8 inches (12-14 inches on 12th December), Little Round Valley (9800 ft): 8 inches (10-12 inches on 12th December), Wellman Divide (9700 ft): 0-2 inches (7 inches on 12th December), Annies Junction/approx. Three significant trees are now down across the trail, including two major hazards that are not easy to hike around both roughly halfway along the trail. There was no evidence of hiker tracks on Fuller Ridge Trail or Seven Pines Trail as of Monday 23rd January. Above Saddle there was a layer of fresh powder (from the previous night) on top of a thick layer of ice, itself on top of more snow from prior storms. South Ridge Road itself is now functionally clear of ice and snow. From the top of Marion, the route is well-traveled but pretty uneven, up into Little Round Valley. Snowshoes can be used for ascending the highest peaks, but with considerable caution. As I snowshoed down past 9000 ft elevation it was clear from a layer of ice underfoot that after a light snowfall, there had been rain on top of snow, before it started snowing again on top of that Sunday morning. 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. The natural traction was superb, and I barebooted all the way to just above Wellman Divide (9700 ft) before finally putting on Kahtoola microspikes, accompanied by an ice axe. The northerly wind was bitter at the Peak and got stronger throughout the morning as we descended. As mentioned above, the focus is on heavy snowfall expected over the next 5-6 days (and potentially again on 28th February-1st March). Note that averages are given; due to strong winds and light powder there is extreme drifting. On the morning of Monday 6th February I ascended San Jacinto Peak for the fifth time in the past two weeks, this time via the east side (Devils Slide, Wellman, Peak, and East Ridge trails), descending the same way. Basically, now would be a nice time to go to the beach." Sadly this phenomenon has become much more of a factor in the past 5-10 years with freezing rainfall (rather than snow) occurring at higher elevations at higher frequency with much warmer weather systems. Often spikes are especially valuable for descending even when they are no necessarily needed for ascending. SNOW DEPTHS measured on 22nd-27th December 2022 are as follows. The trail is largely clear of snow from Highway 243 to Strawberry Junction, and with about 60% snow cover from there up to 8600 ft. Marion Mountain Trail [updated 22nd December] has a well-defined but lumpy posthole track throughout. The latter includes interpreting the snow/ice conditions, understanding your physical and mental abilities, and conservative decision making. 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). However excellent well-traveled and compacted tracks are now in place for almost all major trails (details below). "If he's not hurt, he's on the move somewhere. PCTA is aware of the situation, and is hoping to start addressing it soon (weather permitting). While many hundreds of hours of time and effort are volunteered every year, the San Jacinto Trail Report uses small private donations to help cover modest operating costs. Lightly-traveled snowshoe and/or posthole tracks radiate away from Saddle Junction around the meadow trail and south toward Chinquapin Flat, but I have not checked how accurately they follow established trail routes or how far they continue. The powder was lovely and soft, and overlying a firm icy layer (from all the freezing rain). Hikers who have an ice axe (and know how to use it) may find it useful in places on this short section of trail. Please allow at least 72 hours for processing of permits.And as a reminder, self-issue permits are only good for that day.Also, Mill Creek RS phone number is now 909-382-2882 and they are closed Tues/Wed. Many locations below 9000 ft had actually experienced a net loss of snow depth, as the (relatively) warm rain had melted and compacted the pre-existing snow, and so little new snow fell subsequently. At the Peak on Monday 12th December 2022 at 0715 the air temperature was 9.7F (-12C), with a windchill temperature of -13.4F (-25C), 100% relative humidity, and a sharp WSW wind sustained at 12 mph gusting to 21.2 mph. This trail will become significantly more treacherous as it is expected to add freezing rain and/or layers of snow and ice over the next ten days. Discover your local Girl Scout council: about Girl Scouts, what they do, what activities are available locally, and how to contact us. Spikes could potentially be used to ascend to the highest peaks at this time, although crampons are certainly safer for traversing (e.g., see photo below). A storm currently predicted for Wednesday 22nd February is tentatively forecast to have near record low (i.e. The San Gorgonio Campground provides access to a variety of recreational opportunities, as well as a beautiful location in which to enjoy nature. Ice covers trails and slopes frequented by hikers, he said. I snowshoed down from San Jacinto Peak via Wellman Divide, Saddle Junction, and Devils Slide Trail. MLS # EV23032625 The next comprehensive update to the Report will hopefully be tomorrow evening, Friday 6th. The trail is clearest above immediately above LRV and again close to the Peak junction. The peak is one of eleven peaks that are over 10,000 feet in elevation in the southeast portion of the San Bernardino Mountains. Note that temperatures fluctuating either side of freezing are forecast for both mid and upper elevations. Note however that snow depth itself is rarely indicative of the difficulty (or otherwise) of hiking a particular trail. Vehicles not parked in these spaces have been ticketed and/or towed. The high country added only another couple of inches of snow overnight. Its proximity to scenic trails and nearby mountain lakes and streams make the campground a great . . 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. Idyllwild (at 5550 ft): 3.0 inches (storm total 3.0 inches). There is a very well-traveled track from Saddle Junction to Tahquitz Peak. Be aware of your surroundings trails look different in the snow and are sometimes are hard to find. 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. Forest Service campgrounds at Boulder Basin, Marion Mountain, and Fern Basin are closed for the season. Steady heavy snow started in Idyllwild at about 0830 but stopped at about 1400. Note that South Ridge Road (5S11) is closed to vehicle traffic. While all time and labor is volunteered, the San Jacinto Trail Report uses small private donations to cover costs. There is an average of 9-10 inches of fresh powder so far today at San Jacinto Peak, and about 5 inches in Long Valley. Indeed a wild wind in the high country that day was erasing tracks within hours or even minutes (see photos below). Spikes are currently recommended throughout the trail system above about 6500 ft. Between November 2021 and May 2022, 61 downed trees were removed and almost the entire trail thoroughly trimmed and cleared. Official websites use .gov A .gov 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. My route down to Little Round Valley will not be especially helpful to ascending hikers, as I made the most of conditions to take a direct glissading route. 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. On my ascent I put crampons on at Wellmans Cienega (9300 ft) and they were more-or-less essential for traversing the icy slopes of the Peak Trail. Altitudes are approximate. South Ridge Road remains closed now with only about 35% icy snow cover. Currently spikes at a minimum, and ideally crampons, with an ice axe (and knowledge of how to use it), are strongly recommended. Forecasts are increasingly confident of a moderate storm on Sunday 11th, with up to 1.5 inch of rain at the elevation of Idyllwild, turning into 1-3 inches of light snow on Sunday night, while 8-14 inches of snow are forecast for the high country. Looking for partner (s) for these tentative scheduled hikes - see my Meetup SoCal Mountain Running & Mountaineering or DM me for more info. Above Little Round Valley in particular my track down from the Peak is very direct, steep, and would be a challenging ascent. Deer Springs Trail [updated 15th December] now has an accurate snowshoe track to follow all the way to San Jacinto Peak as I broke trail the entire way down to the Suicide Rock Trail junction on the afternoon of 15th. For those interested in a detailed statewide discussion of this dramatic weather event, I recommend reading the excellent analysis on Weather West (linked here). Eventually with compaction of the trails caused by increasing hiker traffic and freeze/thaw cycles snowshoes may steadily become less useful, however they will remain valuable for off-trail travel in the high country well into February. That is expected to change, with up to several inches of snow forecast both in the high country and at mid elevations tonight. Snow depths are currently suitable for snowshoeing everywhere above about 8000 ft, possibly lower in places. San Gorgonio Wilderness Association; Google Search for 'San Gorgonio Wilderness' Lots of useful links. At 11,499 feet, San Gorgonio Mountain is the highest peak in California south of the Sierra. Expect crowding. Type of Hike Day hike. but probably light rain and/or about an inch of snow at the elevation of Idyllwild. I've climbed it many times during winter and have found myself to be the only soul on the mountain. Please check this page for periodic updates throughout the storm (the most recent is at the top). The upper end of this trail offers outstanding views of Yucaipa Ridge and Galena Peak, as well as sweeping panoramic views from the top of Mt. Snow cover is shallow up to about 7000 ft, but relatively heavy above 8000 ft. They are not however required, depending upon your comfort level hiking on shallow variable snow, mixed with slushy and icy patches. Free shipping for many products! Details of snow depths measured at various locations on the trail system are given at the foot of this posting. It was very disturbing to see. more We were heading NB from Horsethief Canyon to the Interstate 15. In Idyllwild for several days both overnight low and daytime high temperatures will be more typical of March or even April than of late December. Freeze levels will be well below 3000 ft at times, and for example Garner Valley (4300-4800 ft) could receive as much as 6-12 inches of snow this week. As always after storms in the San Jacinto range be aware of considerable ice fall from overhead trees. Reservation Rules. Details of snow depths measured at various locations on the trail system are given at the foot of this posting. The first number is the current average total snow depth at that location, followed in parentheses by the depth of fresh snow added by the latest storm on Tuesday 10th. This morning Anabel and I broke trail up Devils Slide Trail to Saddle Junction. Snow depths measured at various locations on the trail system are given at the foot of this posting. Whether you're a Girl Scout, a volunteer, or a family member, decide what you'll do next in your Girl Scout experience. The Vivian Creek Trail is the shortest and the steepest route to the summit of Mt. The top ten snowfall totals by winter for Idyllwild are as follows: While many hundreds of hours of time and labor are volunteered annually, the San Jacinto Trail Report uses small private donations to help cover modest operating costs. 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. SNOW DEPTHS measured (largely) on 21st November 2022 are as follows, with depths from 9th November 2022 in parentheses where known. Your contribution keeps the Report available to all, free from advertising or paywalls, and independent from agencies. For about one mile north of Saddle Junction, snow cover is only a patchy 30% on the sun exposed slope (Angels Glide) and then averages about 50% on the Wellman Trail, but then icy snow cover is about 95% on the Peak Trail to San Jacinto Peak. 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. Although not required, some hikers will find spikes useful especially for descending. Deer Springs Trail (surveyed 8th December) is functionally clear of ice to Strawberry Junction (8100 ft). On Monday 13th I also postholed the entire hike, as I was able to ascend barebooting to about 9200 ft before putting on crampons. Snow cover is shallow up to about 7000 ft, but relatively heavy above 8000 ft. Melting on sun-exposed slopes is well underway, e.g., on lower South Ridge and Deer Springs trails. Conditions are currently excellent for avalanches on specific terrain in the San Jacinto high country, as proven below. Since the depths given in the previous Report, there has been some melting at higher elevations which have been above the cloud at times, and below 7000 ft where temperatures have remained above freezing for several days. PCT Mile 179.9 (8070 ft): 0-1 inch (was 3 inches on 9th), Storm updates 24th February-1st March2023, Minor snow storm update 11th January2023, Weather and trail update 27th December2022, Moderate snow storm 11th-12th December2022. An excellent track is easy to follow to Little Round Valley. Currently the snow is relatively powdery; this will steadily change over the next few days and weeks. Days are short and nights are very cold. (For readers who are unclear, Skyline Trail forms the lower two-thirds of the Cactus-to-Clouds [C2C] route.) WEATHER UPDATE 23rd December: forecasts have been shifting dramatically in recent days. Note that average depth is given; due to strong winds accompanying the storm there is extensive drifting, often particularly accumulating in the trails. Note that average depth is given; due to strong winds accompanying storms there is extensive drifting. By my measurements, Idyllwild is up to 51 inches of snow to date for this winter, compared to the average for the thirty year period 1991-2020 of 31 inches. 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. Forecasts suggest a further 2-3 inches are possible tonight. It's remote trailhead is probibly the only reason it's not as popular as the other routes. Spikes are recommended at least for descending, and will become increasingly important with increasing compaction and freeze/thaw cycles. Strong winds expected on 11th-12th February, and again on 14th, will likely obscure many tracks with spindrift. I put together this table from a spreadsheet I maintain of publicly available National Weather Service meteorological data. This can't be correct. There was thin patchy snow at the trailhead (4900 ft) and then it was largely continuous above 5800 ft. Note that average depth is given; due to strong winds accompanying storms there is extensive drifting, often accumulating in the trails. (6), Images 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. Thank you so much for your support. The Ernie Maxwell Trail [surveyed 10th January] has minor patches of snow along its entire length, however it is largely clear for long sections, and the remaining snow is rarely icy. 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. PCT Mile 181.8 (9070 ft): 1-2 inches (was 6 inches on 9th), Deer Springs Trail at top of Marion Mountain Trail (8700 ft): 1-3 inches, Tahquitz Peak (north side trail, 8700 ft): 1-2 inches [measured 19th November], Tahquitz Peak (south side trail, 8500-8700 ft): 0-1 inch [measured 19th November], Long Valley (8600 ft): 0-1 inch (was 2-3 inches on 9th), Strawberry Junction (8100 ft): 0-1 inch (was approx. Map showing recreational areas. That said, the going was extremely easy as the rain layer on top of the snow remaining for earlier storms had completely frozen, so I was only having to break trail through an inch or two of fine powder. Add : Sale Price: $8.88 . Current forecasts suggest that there may be significant snowfall on Sunday 29th-Monday 30th January at all elevations, but some warming and steady snow melt likely on either side of that date. Comments Off on Vivian Creek Trail Maintenance, STAY SAFE! Deer Springs Trail has an excellent posthole track to follow along its entire length. Precipitation has been steady at mid and upper elevations for the past few hours. While my snowshoe track continues from Saddle Junction through to San Jacinto Peak via Wellman Divide, this was already becoming partially obscured by a combination of ice fall from overhead trees, melting of surface snow, and light drifting of powder in some areas. 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 summit of San Gorgonio (11,499') is 3 miles beyond High Creek, which you can also camp at. The best times to visit this trail are May through November. Discover your local Girl Scout council: about Girl Scouts, what they do, what activities are available locally, and how to contact us. The Weather section below is updated. Does anybody have accurate GPS or other reading of the actual total elevation gain? Roads 1n02 / 1n05 that go into Aspen Grove and Fish Creek are closed for the winter. It's 7.8 miles (Gary Suttle's book lists it as 8.4 miles) with almost 5,500 feet in elevation gain. 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. South Ridge Trail [surveyed 10th Feb] is largely snow free until Old Lookout Flat at 7600 ft (c.15% snow cover). Thank you so much for your support. Current air temperature at San Jacinto Peak is 17.8F (-8C) with a windchill of -5.6F (-21C) and a steady SW wind sustained at 19 mph gusting to 30.2 mph. Hopefully someone will update the trail description with respect to the total miles. However the snow conditions may not be suitable for snowshoeing on certain slopes, depending on the ice conditions below the surface due to multiple freezing rain incidents this winter. Reliable tracks are in place (at least) for Devils Slide Trail. The TOPOZONE MAP states an elevation of 11,499 feet shown at the trail's end at the higher summit. 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 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. The areas reopened include all campgrounds in the Barton Flats and Heartbar areas, including Jenks Lake picnic area. The State Park campground at Stone Creek is also closed. 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. I barebooted to 9000 ft, then snowshoed the rest of the way through lovely light powder. In addition to snowshoes, and as conditions change, spikes are strongly recommended for the foreseeable future everywhere above about 6000ft. 10 inches on 9th), Wellman Divide (9700 ft): 1-2 inches (was 4 inches on 9th), Annies Junction/approx. Reports are that the Vivian Creek Trail to San Gorgonio is basically clear of snow. Two ascents of San Jacinto Peak in three days had challenging snow and weather, but both were hugely enjoyable. Per "Tarol" 6-21-2011The Vivian Creek route is the most popular, South Fork is #2If you want a permit for Vivian for a dayhike on the weekend in the summertime, you must get it 3-4 weeks in advance. Note however that snow depth itself is rarely indicative of the difficulty (or otherwise) of hiking a particular trail. 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. Your contribution keeps the Report available to all, free from advertising or paywalls, and independent from agencies. After that you have one of the best and most encouraging views of the summit of any route. You must be logged in to create new topics. There is precipitation forecast from Wednesday 28th into the first week of 2023. Mt. Section C/D: From near Miller Peak, I did not continue to break trail on the Peak Trail, but instead turned up the East Ridge, breaking a track roughly along the route of the old East Ridge Trail. On the mornings of both Wednesday 1st February and Monday 30th January I ascended San Jacinto Peak via the east side (Devils Slide, Wellman, Peak, and East Ridge trails), descending the same way. The USFS gate at Humber Park remains closed. If you have found this Report useful, please consider using this link to the Donate page. Spikes are recommended at least for descending upper Deer Springs Trail. Because of the 18K+ acre Lake Fire (which is still burning as of 6/24/15), a large section of the San Gorgonio Wilderness including all trails to the summit of San Gorgonio Mountain will be CLOSED until October 1, 2015 SNOW DEPTHS measured on 15th February 2023 are as follows. Two 17-year-old hikers were rescued on Friday after getting lost on the Pacific Crest Trail, near the San Gorgonio Mountain, during a winter storm earlier in . Every year seems to have its challenges and 2022 has been no exception. ) or https:// means you've safely All trails above about 5500 ft are currently snow-covered. Avalanche risk in the high country is currently minimal due to snow depths and conditions, with the exception of the traditionally unstable north face of San Jacinto Peak which avalanches to some extent every winter. Given the importance of this trail for the safety of northbound PCT hikers in particular, it is one of several trails adopted by the Trail Report. 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.