san gorgonio trail conditions

The storm forecast for 29th-30th January looks less dramatic than previously predicted, with the high country largely above the storm (only an inch of snow forecast), and only 2-4 inches now expected at the elevation of Idyllwild. 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. There is a lightly traveled compacted snowshoe track on the East Ridge between Miller Peak and San Jacinto Peak but it does not accurately follow the route of the East Ridge Trail. San . On June 22, 16 SGWA Trail Crew members headed for the Vivian Creek trail. Spikes are recommended. The Vivian Creek Trail is definitely more than 7.8mi. Ernie Maxwell Trail [checked 2nd February] has a heavily traveled track to follow along its entire length, through the increasingly patchy icy snow. 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. On the morning of Friday 6th January, getting an Alpine start, I broke trail the entire way from Humber Park to San Jacinto Peak via Devils Slide, PCT, Wellman, Peak, and East Ridge trails. Snowshoes are not advisable due to the angle of the icy snow. Skyline Trail has a good track to follow through increasingly patchy, very thin, icy snow above about 7000 ft (the Traverse to Grubbs Notch). There is a very well-traveled track from Saddle Junction to Tahquitz Peak. Go Hiking Trip Reports San Gorgonio Wilderness-California. Every year seems to have its unique challenges, and it is already clear that 2023 will be no exception. Portable gas stoves are allowed. Reports are that the Vivian Creek Trail to San Gorgonio is basically clear of snow. The Old fire, which started in San Bernardino, and the deadly flood that ravaged a campground in Devore were blamed for establishing the brittle ground that gave way when Jones fell to his death. Above Little Round Valley there are at least half-a-dozen tracks ascending toward San Jacinto Peak, none of which entirely accurately follow the established trail route. 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. San Jacinto Peak (10810 ft): 4-5 inches (was 12 inches on 9th), Little Round Valley (9800 ft): 4 inches on 24th (was approx. UPDATE Saturday 17th December 2022: Early this morning we hiked South Ridge Trail to Tahquitz Peak, and I broke trail from Tahquitz Peak to and from Chinquapin Flat through moderate snow. The Vivian Creek Trail is an out-and-back trail. As we are limited to 6-person crews, it will be a little harder on the personnel but if you are out on the trail during the week, you might see us hard at work. The State Park campground at Stone Creek is also closed. Get ready to get WILD because Girl Scout Day at the Erie Zoo is almost here! Spikes at least, but preferably crampons, are required for the uppermost switchbacks (see photo below). PCT Mile 179.9 (8070 ft): 8 inches (8-9 inches), Devils Slide trailhead at Humber Park (6550 ft): 4 inches (total 4 inches). Precipitation has been steady at mid and upper elevations for the past few hours. 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. I measured 1.5 inches of fresh snow at Saddle Junction early this morning, with about one inch at Humber Park, and 0.8 inch of snow (following 0.7 inch of rain) at 5550 ft in Idyllwild. South Ridge Trail [hiked 13th and 17th December] has a well-traveled posthole track through shallow snow as far as Tahquitz Peak. However it is thinning rapidly everywhere, and will look radically different in a week or so. Spikes are recommended, at least for descending. This is also the parking area for the Big Falls Trailhead. Cautious navigation is strongly recommended everywhere. The forecast for the last ten days of December differs radically from what was predicted just a week ago, and a major warming trend is expected rather than another cold Pacific storm. 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. U.S. Forest Service personnel were preparing similar advisories to be given to hikers who buy parking and hiking permits in the San Bernardino, Cleveland, Angeles and Los Padres national forests. All trails above about 6500 ft are currently lightly, or above 8000 ft moderately, snow-covered. At San Jacinto Peak (10,810ft/3295m) on Wednesday 11th January 2023 at 0915 the air temperature was 24.0F (-4C), with a windchill temperature of 5.8F (-15C), 74% relative humidity, and a bitter NNW wind sustained at 19 mph gusting to 24.5 mph. There is a compacted, well-traveled track on continuous light icy snow from Long Valley/Tram to Wellman Divide. Some general comments on snow/ice conditions. (406), Comments Rain has continued solidly today in Idyllwild, with another 0.90 inch since 0700 this morning. Note that averages are given; due to strong winds accompanying storms there is extensive drifting. Perhaps more significantly, we have received the most snow in a winter since 1963/64, a span of 59 years. Watch for trail junctions, dont just follow your feet without looking up. See more of the Johns Meadow Trail clearing on volunteer John Flippins website, High Lake Photography. 805-579-1116 evolverealtyca@gmail.com. At the Peak on Thursday 29th December 2022 at 0910 the air temperature was 25.8F (-3C), with a windchill temperature of 7.2F (-14C), 81% relative humidity, and a harsh WNW wind sustained at 12 mph gusting to 25.4 mph. Forest, San Gorgonio Wilderness, San Jacinto Wilderness and State Park. The wilderness encompasses an incredible transition between desert, and mountain environments, including an enormous variety of thriving plant and animal species, in addition to bear, deer, mountain lion and bighorn sheep. In the high country temperatures will be 10-20F above seasonal and, more significantly regarding snow/ice conditions, well above freezing for at least a week. Although good tracks are now in place for most major trails (details below), cautious navigation is recommended everywhere. Leave your itinerary Make sure you tell someone where you are planning to go and when youll be back. 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. San Bernardino National Forest is closed to all public recreation activities due to extreme snow conditions. 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. 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). 9.1 miles one-way. The lower half of the trail should be largely clear of snow by the weekend. The San Gorgonio Mountain maintains the longest recorded line of sight in the contiguous United States it is plainly visible from the summit of Mount Whitney, 190 miles away. While the shallow icy snow should melt steadily over the next few days, 4WD/AWD vehicles are recommended. Underlying that powder are layers of ice (largely from freezing rain storms) which are much more perilous. San Gorgonio Mountain (5.8km) Lake Peak (6.7km) Jepson Peak (7.3km) Charlton Peak (7.3km) . 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 (Long Valley). Although I made a concerted effort to put in a track as faithful to the trail routes as conditions permitted, wild winds and spindrift powder on all the exposed slopes rendered that fairly pointless. On the morning of Wednesday 15th February I ascended via the east side (Devils Slide, Wellman, Peak, and East Ridge routes), descending the western side via roughly Deer Springs Trail. So we recommend getting your permit in advance! Devils Slide Trail has an excellent compacted track to follow to Saddle Junction. (16), Additions & Corrections View more property details and sales history on Xome. It's a beautiful hike through pines, cedars . Of those, 27 are in the 0.6 mile section between Willow Creek crossing and the State Park boundary. Matthew L. Jones, 15, of San Bernardino tumbled about 400 feet to his death from a steep, burned slope near Devore on Jan. 11. Comments Off on Updated El Dorado closure area. "It's just a sheet of ice up there," said John Amrhein, emergency services coordinator for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. There are five new major treefall hazards, plus many other limbs and branches, across the trail between the Suicide Rock junction and the Marion Mountain Trail junction. San Gorgonio is the tallest mountain in Southern California, and a rite of passage for serious hikers in the area. History of the San Gorgonio Wilderness; History of the SGWA; Newsletters; 2022 SGWA Yearbook; 2021 SGWA Yearbook; 2020 SGWA Yearbook; 2019 SGWA Yearbook; Contact; Events. 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). 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. 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! "I'm assuming, with all the snow, he just got turned around," Henley said. If there are Road Closed signs further down at the junction with Forest Drive sometimes the case at weekends and holidays when snow is present then those nine spaces are also theoretically unavailable for legal parking. "Usually, at this time of year, snowfall would keep people out," Weston said. The My track from last week largely followed the established route of the trail, especially below the Fuller Ridge junction, but higher up the track is much more direct in places. He didn't know the area, and he was in ice with [boot spikes] he just got at Christmas," Goodman said. High freeze levels may mean rain and/or freezing rain at the highest peaks at times, and icy or mixed snow/ice conditions at all elevations. There are three designated wilderness campsites on this trail:Vivian Creek Camp at 7,100'(no camping within 200 feet of the trail or creek),Halfway Camp at 8,100' (water is obtained from the creek 200 yards before camp), andHigh Creek Camp at 9,200' (water flows the best in this creek right below the camp). It was very disturbing to see. more We were heading NB from Horsethief Canyon to the Interstate 15. Thank you so much for your support. Type of Hike Day hike. 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. Conversely in places scouring by the wind means the depths can be well below the average. Consequently cautious navigation is recommended everywhere. Forecasts for snowfall have varied greatly in both timing and volume, the latter ranging from inches to feet. Devils Slide Trail is functionally clear of icy snow to Saddle Junction. 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. When you apply for a permit, youll get a link to forms where you can report water info, hazards, and any other info including lost or found items. All trails above about 5500 ft are currently snow-covered. I put on my Kahtoola microspikes to descend from the Peak, ultimately leaving them on most of the way down Devils Slide Trail. MLS # EV23032625 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 system averaged colder than the November storm, with more snow at lower elevations, although it was still notable that it initially rained as high as 9500 ft on the morning of Sunday 11th. Once we reached the point where the Mineshaft trail beings it's long series of switchbacks (around 10,500' ) the trail was completely covered, forcing us to go direct - straight up the snow + a bit of rock scrambling up a large scree rock slid.. Relatively little snow is therefore expected throughout the mid elevations including Idyllwild. The second system may be more substantial, with precipitation expected most of the day and night of Saturday 31st December into Sunday 1st January. Currently, and increasingly as snow conditions change, spikes are strongly recommended for the foreseeable future everywhere above about 7000 ft, lower in places. Melting and freeze/thaw cycles will combine to change trail conditions and potentially the preferred equipment for the terrain for the remainder of February. There was a dusting of snow in Garner Valley (4300 ft). San Gorgonio are popular peaks year-round with Southland hikers, and receive snowfall above roughly 7,000 feet in winter. If there are Road Closed signs further down often the case at weekends and holidays when snow is present then those nine spaces are also unavailable for legal parking. If this lower lot is full or you do not have your Forest Adventure Pass with you, park in the smaller gravel lot to the left. Largely a day for digging out again, and getting prepared for the next major snowfall, due tonight. Temperatures have been largely above seasonal in the first week of the month, then following a brief cold spell another period of temperatures well above seasonal is forecast for 8th-10th. Forest Service campgrounds at Boulder Basin, Marion Mountain, and Fern Basin are closed for the season. 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. On my hike up to San Jacinto Peak late this morning there was a little drizzle on most of Devils Slide Trail, then an on/off mix of drizzle, freezing rain,, and fine snow in the high country. The second storm on 15th-16th is expected to be colder with a lower freeze level which may result in 1-2 inches of snow down to 5000 ft or possibly even lower. Trail Conditions. It is clear, based on information on the PCTA website closures page (linked here), that these closures will dramatically and negatively impact early season PCT hikers. Altitudes are approximate. Only five of these require cutting, and I was able to remove three by hand earlier in February. Locations in between, especially those on the western and southern slopes, added more with up to five inches at Saddle Junction (8100 ft). IMPORTANT UPDATE Friday 13th January: back-to-back Pacific storm systems are forecast to impact the San Jacinto mountains this weekend, the first on Saturday 14th, immediately followed by another Sunday 15th-Monday 16th January. Spikes are currently recommended throughout the trail system above about 6500 ft. 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. Estimated Time: 9-12 hours. All trails above about 5500 ft are currently snow-covered. ( Winds decreasing (severe gales from the W on Mon morning, fresh winds from the WNW by Wed night). Average snow depth around the peak was 24-25 inches, but heavily drifted. Snowshoes are not required anywhere, as recent experience has shown that off-trail snow is now too shallow and/or patchy for snowshoes. There is no planned reopening date at this time. Thank you so much for your support. Conversely in places scouring by the wind means the depths are well below the average. Snow cover is shallow up to about 7000 ft, but relatively heavy above 8000 ft. Do not park in the picnic area sites -- please take care to read all signage! Went out on South Fork/Dry Lake Trails with micro spikes to Dry Lake via winter route. 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. You can also request via fax at (909) 794-1125. One major treefall hazard is across the trail almost exactly midway between the trailheads at Humber Park and Tahquitz View Drive. South Ridge Road is now clear of ice and snow. Ironically the closure is due to unprecedented snow fall, although such snow fall was average prior to this century, and would have even been below average in the 1970s. 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. Waterproof or highly water resistant footwear is recommended. Gary Suttle's book lists it as 8.4mi. I made a concerted effort to put in a track as faithful to the trail routes as conditions permitted, both up and down. Summer months are the most popular for hikers. Note that the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway has announced they will be closed tomorrow, Saturday 25th, due to extreme weather. Spikes are useful at least for descending. Thank you for taking the time to read this. 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. Note that snow depth itself is rarely indicative of the difficulty (or otherwise) of hiking a particular track or trail. There was thin patchy snow at the trailhead (4900 ft) and then it was largely continuous above 5800 ft. Momyer trailhead is now open. A double storm has been forecast as a possibility between Monday 28th November and Sunday 4th December. At San Jacinto Peak (10,810ft/3295m) on Wednesday 1st February 2023 at 0935 the air temperature was 16.6F (-8C), with a windchill temperature of -8.0F (-22C), 13% relative humidity, and a wild NNE wind sustained at 21 mph gusting to 35.2 mph. Clearly conditions are expected to continue to change over the next week or two, so this summary is intentionally brief. Two more significant atmospheric river storm systems are forecast on Saturday 14th-Sunday 15th, and on 16th-18th. Mountain Conditions. Drive northeast for about 14 miles to the intersection with Valley of the Falls Road. Two significant further atmospheric river storm systems are forecast, on Tuesday 10th, and then again on Saturday 14th-Sunday 15th. 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. The first number is the depth of fresh snow from this latest storm, followed in parentheses by the current total snow depth. Nevertheless, snowshoes will be valuable anywhere off trail above about 8000ft for the foreseeable future, and on trail where tracks have not yet been broken. 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. UPDATE Friday 20th January: Overnight Idyllwild had a very light dusting (<0.25 inch) of snow, but the high country was above the cloud so existing tracks should be unaffected. 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. "Especially on the north-facing slopes, it has remained extremely cold up there," he said. United States. At the Peak on Monday 6th February 2023 at 0930 the air temperature was 11.1F (-12C), with a windchill temperature of -11.0F (-24C), 59% relative humidity, and a frigid NNW wind sustained at 12 mph gusting to 20.2 mph. Group size limited to 12 people and 8 pack/riding animals per group. Although the high country currently has its deepest snow accumulation since March 2019, this winter nevertheless remains well below the average for snowfall in the San Jacinto mountains to date. I put together this table from a spreadsheet I maintain of publicly available National Weather Service meteorological data. 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. The rainfall totals at mid elevations were unremarkable, especially compared to those of the storm in early November (discussed here). Spikes at least are required, but preferably crampons, both best used with an ice axe, specifically for the uppermost switchbacks, but traction is useful for descending much lower also. The significant Pacific storm of the winter that had been forecast over an extended period between about 16th-21st December is no longer thought likely to impact the San Jacinto mountains, although considerable uncertainty persists in the weather models for that period. 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). Be prepared for ice and deep snow, bring crampons and /or snow shoes and above all do not hike past your limits. Currently, and increasingly as snow conditions change, spikes are strongly recommended for the foreseeable future everywhere above about 7000 ft, lower in places. Mu Zhi Mountain gives great scenery over Taipei and the surrounding area, including Taiwan's tallest building, Taipei. Dan Hendley, a colleague of Kumm's at Kiewit Industries in Long Beach, said he was surprised to learn that his friend had taken on the 11,500-foot-high mountain by himself. Mt. Early on Monday 23rd January I ascended San Jacinto Peak via the east side (Devils Slide, Wellman, and Peak trails) that I had broken last Wednesday 18th, and descended the west side via (more-or-less) Deer Springs Trail. It leaves the Willow Creek Trail exactly 1.0 mile from Saddle Junction (0.46 mile from the Skunk Cabbage turning), descending largely on established deer trails for 1.2 miles, meeting Willow Creek just upstream from the old Laws Camp. Above Little Round Valley there are multiple tracks through the snow ascending toward San Jacinto Peak, none of which entirely accurately follow the established trail. Caming is allowed. In related (but frankly much more positive) news, today I had a long but spectacular day snowshoeing to San Jacinto Peak. It turned to occasional light snow showers at about 1430, with just 0.5 inch settled so far. Forecasts are inconsistent regarding the amount of snowfall in this next storm, but those that I trust suggest 12+ inches in Idyllwild over the next 24 hours, with 1-2 feet in the high country. A rapidly warming montane climate, with changes especially striking at high elevation, is exacerbating all of these issues. Daisy Girl Scouts are invited to explore the 7 Ponds Nature Center on Saturday, March 18, 2023 from 10-12 PM. Minor 0.5 inch dusting of snow above 8000 ft on Thursday 29th (, Moderate storm largely in the early hours of 1st January 2023 was the third significant snowfall of winter 2022/23 to impact the San Jacinto mountains. My track largely followed the established route of the trail, especially below the Fuller Ridge junction, but higher up the track is much more direct in places. Put on snowshoes and went up to the base of San Gorgonio . Coldwell Banker. For closure information, please visit . Thank you so much for your support. Only five of these require cutting, and I was able to remove three by hand last week. Our Council owns and operates Skyland Ranch, a magnificent 192-acre camp property in the San Jacinto Mountains below the town of Idyllwild, and Camp Azalea Trails, a remote camp setting located outside of Idyllwild. Snow cover is about 80% from Strawberry Junction north for about 1.0 mile (roughly 8500 ft), and thereafter essentially continuous to San Jacinto Peak. Cautious navigation remains required for those who do not have significant experience of hiking this trail. 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). When the gate is closed there are still nine legal parking spaces this side of the locked gate (which still require an Adventure Pass or equivalent to be displayed). SNOW DEPTHS measured on 11th January 2023 are as follows. Snow from the moderate storm on 8th-9th November (discussed here) continues to melt slowly. Forest Headquarters The eighteenth storm, due this evening, is an unusual atmospheric river combined with very cold air again, expected to produce heavy snowfall for 24th-25th February. The freeze level will initially be above 10,000 ft, ultimately only falling to about 9000 ft, so many of the main access trails to the high country may get no new snowfall. Little Round Valley (9800 ft): 45 inches, heavily drifted, Wellman Divide (9700 ft): 40 inches (45 inches), Annies Junction/PCT Mile 180.8 (9070 ft): 44 inches (45-48 inches), Tahquitz Peak (8836 ft): 25 inches, heavily drifted to 40 inches in places (measured 20th January), Seven Pines Trail junction with Deer Springs Trail (8700 ft): 36 inches, Strawberry Junction/PCT Mile 183 (8100 ft): 15 inches, Saddle Junction/PCT Mile 179 (8070 ft): 19 inches (21 inches), Suicide Rock Trail junction with Deer Springs Trail (6950 ft): 1-3 inches, Devils Slide trailhead at Humber Park (6550 ft): 2-4 inches (5-6 inches), Idyllwild (at 5550 ft): 0-2 inches (3 inches).

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