Very cautious navigation is strongly recommended everywhere. Although not essential in the moderate depth powder, spikes are strongly recommended and many hikers will find them useful especially for descending. Reliable tracks are in place (at least) for Devils Slide Trail. UPDATE Tuesday 10th January: Another minor and relatively warm storm is passing through our mountains today. Note that the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway has announced they will be closed tomorrow, Saturday 25th, due to extreme weather. San Jacinto Peak (10810 ft): 39-44 inches (new snow 8 inches), Little Round Valley (9800 ft): 44-48 inches, heavily drifted, Wellman Divide (9700 ft): 42 inches (6 inches), Seven Pines Trail junction with Deer Springs Trail (8700 ft): 35 inches (6 inches), Annies Junction/PCT Mile 180.8 (9070 ft): 46 inches (5 inches), Long Valley (8600 ft): 22 inches (4 inches), Strawberry Junction (8100 ft): 16 inches (5 inches), Saddle Junction/PCT Mile 179 (8070 ft): 22 inches (6 inches), Devils Slide trailhead at Humber Park (6550 ft): 3-6 inches (6 inches, partly melted by afternoon of 15th), Idyllwild (at 5550 ft): 2 inches (5 inches, largely melted by afternoon of 15th). There is a very well-traveled track through increasingly patchy thin icy snow from Saddle Junction to Tahquitz Peak. I was very happy to find no new treefall hazards down on Spitler Peak Trail. Mount Waterman. The second significant Pacific storm of winter 2022/23 is currently impacting 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. Altitudes are approximate. 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. At the Peak on Wednesday 15th February 2023 at 1030 the air temperature was 4.9F (-15C), with a windchill temperature of -26.3F (-32C), 65% relative humidity, and a bitter due North wind sustained at 19 mph gusting to 27.7 mph. Note that tracks discussed here may become obscured by heavy drifting of snow from strong winds combined with extensive ice fall from trees overhead. Thursday 5th January saw the fifth storm in the past ten days in the San Jacinto mountains. On 14th, about 2.0 inches fell in Idyllwild, with an inch all the way down to 3500 ft (and a dusting even lower), but upper elevations received a similar amount, with 2.5 inches in Long Valley (8600 ft) and at Wellman Divide (9700 ft), and no more than three inches at San Jacinto Peak. 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. These icy slopes are notoriously treacherous. 2nd-3rd December). 10 inches on 9th November), Wellman Divide (9700 ft): 0-1 inch (was 4 inches on 9th November), Annies Junction/approx. The 0.4 mile section of South Ridge Trail between Chinquapin Flat/PCT and Tahquitz Peak [checked 9th January] has no steps to follow through the steeply angled icy snow. 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. 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. Some of the storms are expected to be very cold with snow levels below 3000 ft, and, for example, Garner Valley may receive between 6-12 inches of snow by early March. The highest expected temperature is a subzero 21.2F (-6C), while the lowest temperature will be a freezing 17.6F (-8C). Spikes at least, but preferably crampons, are required for the uppermost switchbacks (see photo below). The State Park Stone Creek campground is also closed. Black Mountain Road also closed on 7th November to vehicle traffic at the gate 1.7 miles up from Highway 243. 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. As last week, I was able to ascend barebooting to about 9200 ft before putting on crampons. Spikes will likely become increasingly useful over the next few days and weeks as established trails become consolidated by hiker traffic and undergo freeze-thaw cycles. Spikes are generally not required for ascending, but most hikers find them useful at least for descending. The northeast . The previous Report (available here) summarized the conditions following the multiple storm event of 14th-17th January. Long Valley (8600 ft) has added about two inches, where it continues to snow gently this morning. Traction devices like microspikes or crampons are highly recommended if you plan to hike into the wilderness. Firstly because it is really unsafe, that is a busy and winding mountain road, not remotely a route designed for pedestrians. the snowfall predicted in some forecasts. My 2022 survey counted 97 trees down on this 2.1 miles of trail. Zelle, Venmo, and PayPal are all options. At San Jacinto Peak (10,810ft/3295m) on Wednesday 15th February 2023 at 1030 the air temperature was 4.9F (-15C), with a windchill temperature of -26.3F (-32C), 65% relative humidity, and a bitter due North wind sustained at 19 mph gusting to 27.7 mph. 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. This trail has had limited hiker traffic since November 2018, largely because Dark Canyon Road has only been open for a few months since the Great Valentines Day flood of 2019. The East Ridge Trail from near Miller Peak to San Jacinto Peak has multiple tracks, all of which were disappearing under fresh spindrift when I ascended that way on Monday 23rd. 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. Current trail conditions are oddly reminiscent of spring, with snow distribution and iciness feeling more typical for April or May than late November. At the Peak on Wednesday 18th January 2023 at 1115 the air temperature was 16.8F (-8C), with a windchill temperature of -3.6F (-20C), 27% relative humidity, and a frigid NNW wind sustained at 10 mph gusting to 25.8 mph. The freeze level will again start very high, but is forecast to fall lower, with the possibility of a light dusting of snow down to about 5500 ft. Another inch of rain is forecast for mid elevations, but a heavier snowfall is expected in the high country, with predictions ranging from 8-20 inches above 10,000 ft. Further precipitation is tentatively forecast for 3rd-6th January, but amounts, timing, and freeze levels remain uncertain this far ahead. Spikes are recommended. Snow cover is shallow up to about 7000 ft, but relatively heavy above 8000 ft. Melting on sun-exposed slopes is already well underway, e.g., on lower Devils Slide Trail, South Ridge and lower Deer Springs trails. Such warm conditions will soon be a distant memory. Although that day was not as cold and windy as 15th, I ascended in heavy cloud conditions with steady snowfall for the first three hours. Snow cover is shallow up to about 7000 ft, but relatively heavy above 8000 ft. Melting on sun-exposed slopes is already well underway, e.g., on lower Devils Slide Trail, South Ridge and Deer Springs trails. They are not however required, depending upon your comfort level hiking on shallow variable snow, mixed with slushy and icy patches. Note that averages are given; due to strong winds and light powder there is extreme drifting. Many thanks to Florian Boyd for bringing this to my attention. 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. Zelle, Venmo, and PayPal are all options. Schwartz, who has lived in more avalanche-prone areas of New York state and Vermont, said Sunday was her first time seeing an avalanche. Spikes will become increasingly useful over the next few days and weeks as established trails become consolidated by hiker traffic and undergo freeze-thaw cycles. 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. 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). (For readers who are unclear, Skyline Trail forms the lower two-thirds of the Cactus-to-Clouds [C2C] route.) This may result in very strong winds and bitterly cold windchill temperatures at upper elevations. Note that average depth is given; due to strong winds accompanying the storm there is extensive drifting, often particularly accumulating in the trails. Spikes will likely become increasingly useful over the next few days and weeks as established trails become consolidated by hiker traffic and undergo freeze-thaw cycles. The storm was relatively mild, as might be expected from an atmospheric river system pulling moisture in from subtropical latitudes at this relatively early season, and as a result the freeze level was relatively high for most of the time that precipitation fell. The main track is clearest just above LRV and again close to the Peak junction. A light overnight snowfall, which produced another three inches in Idyllwild, finally stopped at 0700 this morning. but her friend Joyce Schwartz took some short videos from which this still image is taken. At this time there is no further significant precipitation forecast prior to mid February. Stone Creek campground had also closed, then reopened for Thanksgiving weekend. However the precipitation amounts and probabilities for both storm systems have varied greatly in recent forecasts, and the models seem to be especially uncertain about details of the second storm (approx. but ideal for snowshoes, which I used from Saddle to San Jacinto Peak and back. 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). An additional 5.5 inches of snow fell in Idyllwild overnight, rather more than forecast, meaning we had to dig out yet again this morning. The total snow accumulation was ultimately very close to the predictions given by forecasts in the days prior to the storm, and notably it was the heaviest snowfall in the first half of November for at least a decade. Crampons are recommended for the traversing slopes. Dark Canyon Road (4S02), the access to Seven Pines Trail, and Santa Rosa Truck Trail (7S02) also closed to vehicle traffic for the season on 7th November 2022. Snow depths are currently suitable for snowshoeing above about 9000 ft, potentially lower in places. 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. Spikes are currently usefulthroughout the trail system above about 6000 ft, potentially lower in places. 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. This facilitated survey of the highest parts of the PCT in the San Jacinto mountains (roughly Miles 179-181 and 185.5-183.5) plus several of its side trails. Most people hike 2-3 hours to the tram for a ride down off the mountain. While all time and labor is volunteered, the San Jacinto Trail Report uses small private donations to cover costs. 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. Accumulation so far of about 0.5 inch in Idyllwild, and one inch at Long Valley. Spikes are recommended but not strictly essential depending upon your comfort level hiking on angled icy snow. 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. 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. Had also closed, then reopened for Thanksgiving weekend where it continues to snow gently morning... 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