Elevation Gain: 5,449 feet. 2,345 Sq. A short video summary of what we found is available here. However excellent well-traveled and compacted tracks are now in place for most of the major trails (details below). Please check this page for periodic updates (the most recent is at the top). Vivian Creek is popular because it's the shortest and most accessible route, but it's also the steepest, so expect a good workout on your way to the summit. Ernie Maxwell Trail [checked 2nd February] has a heavily traveled track to follow along its entire length, through the increasingly patchy icy snow. Florian Boyd kindly reported this morning that snow has dusted down to 4500 ft on the lower (open) section of Skyline Trail. 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Although my original track accurately followed the trail above Little Round Valley, there are now a fair number of alternate shortcut tracks across this slope, so cautious navigation is advised. 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. I put in a posthole track the entire way up, but crampons (with an ice axe) were essential at that time on the upper switchbacks above about 8300 ft due to the typical steeply angled ice obscured underneath 6-12 inches of powder (photos below). 5; 12; 2 months, 4 weeks ago. The Wellman Trail track was disappearing under spindrift as I re-broke it on Monday 23rd. But I'm worried about him." Many thanks to Kyle Eubanks who I chatted with at the Peak this afternoon. Snowshoes can be used for ascending the highest peaks, but with considerable caution. 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). They are not currently recommended for traversing moderate or higher angle slopes above 9000 ft that have challenging ice underlying powder. 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. When Anabel and I waded out for a modest walk, the snowplows seemed to be struggling to keep up on the streets, but we know they will catch up in due course. Note that average depth is given; due to strong winds accompanying the storm there is extensive drifting, often particularly accumulating in the trails. I put in a posthole track the entire way up, but crampons (with an ice axe) were necessary on the upper switchbacks above about 8300 ft due to the usual steeply angled ice obscured underneath 6-12 inches of powder. 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. View more property details and sales history on Xome. The permits can be obtained at the Ranger Station in Mentone, 34701 Mill Creek Rd. Most of this snow had melted prior to my hike to San Jacinto Peak on 31st December. Just no way this is accurate. These can be obtained from any of the ranger stations or from many of the local merchants. The strange rollercoaster ride that has been winter 2022/23 so far will continue for the foreseeable future. There was thin patchy snow at the trailhead (4900 ft) and then it was largely continuous above 5800 ft. There are other South Fork Trails in Southern California, so make sure you are going to South Fork . The remainder of February is currently forecast to continue the cold temperatures of recent days, generally at or below seasonal at all mountain elevations, and to be increasingly unsettled. SNOW DEPTHS measured on 6th January 2023 are as follows. Camping Shade Solitude Views / Vista. What does it mean if I have a California Campfire Permit? Currently crampons, with an ice axe (and knowledge of how to use both), are strongly recommended. All trails above about 5500 ft are currently snow-covered. IMPORTANT UPDATE Thursday 26th January 2023: The State Park has announced that Skyline Trail is closed with immediate effect due to hazardous conditions above the State Park boundary (5800 ft elevation). 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. For closure information, please visit our official PCT closures page. Your contribution keeps the Report available to all, free from advertising or paywalls, and independent from agencies. PCT Mile 179.9 (8070 ft): 0-1 inch (4 inches on 12th December), Devils Slide trailhead at Humber Park (6550 ft): 0 inch (3.5 inches on 12th December). Donate via PayPal using the link below, Viewing 15 topics - 1 through 15 (of 533 total), Overnight Whitewater Preserve- 1/28/2023. PCT Mile 179.9 (8070 ft): 4 inches (storm total 3.5 inches), Devils Slide Trail at Humber Park (6550 ft): 3.5 inches (storm total 3.5 inches). Currently the snow is relatively powdery; this will steadily change over the next few days and weeks. Thanks. Current forecasts suggest that the moderate storm on 14th-15th January may be cooler than the Tuesday storm, with somewhat more snow at lower elevations. The storm started relatively mild, as might be expected from an atmospheric river system pulling moisture in from warmer latitudes, and as a result the freeze level was above 6500 ft for most of the storm, with rain as high as 9000 ft, before finally falling to about 5000 ft on the afternoon of Sunday 1st. Note that average depth is given; due to strong winds accompanying the storm there is extensive drifting, often particularly accumulating in the trails. For day use a permit is required on any of the trails in the San Gorgonio Wilderness. 805-579-1116 evolverealtyca@gmail.com. Strong winds expected on 11th-12th, and again on 14th, will likely obscure many tracks. It was very disturbing to see. more We were heading NB from Horsethief Canyon to the Interstate 15. 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. Add : Our Price: $15.95 . All trails above about 5000 ft are currently snow-covered. San Gorgonio, located in the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area. Year round. Snow depths are currently excellent for snowshoeing everywhere above about 8000 ft, potentially lower in places. Cautious navigation is strongly recommended everywhere. Snow covered Mt. 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. Due to the difficult nature of the hike, we decided to arrive at the trailhead at 5am to get an early start. Access to San Gorgonio is regularly limited by use of hiking permits, with 25 to 30 people a day allowed in the area at a time. From the top of Marion Mountain Trail icy snow cover is about 90% to Little Round Valley, although there are a few lengthy clear areas on sun-exposed sections. The main Dry Lake Trail is much steeper and can very slick if conditions are icy. The traversing slopes above Wellmans Divide (roughly 9800-10,500 ft) were extremely firm early in the morning and potentially treacherous. and here's the map showing the closed area :: As mentioned above, crampons with hiking poles and an ice axe, depending on terrain are currently very useful everywhere above about 9000 ft. The first number is the current average total snow depth at that location, followed in parentheses where known by the maximum depth so far this winter immediately following the latest storm sequence on 14th-17th January 2023. The open section of trail below 5800 ft is clear of snow. For closure information, please visit . The high country was above the weather most of the night, and added an inch of fresh snow at most, however there were 2.25 inches in Idyllwild, and also roughly the same fresh snow depth at Humber Park and Saddle Junction. Snowshoes are no longer required on the established trail system, which is now too compacted for snowshoes. Wellman Divide (9700 ft): 45 inches (30 inches snow in latest storms) but heavily drifted here, Annies Junction/PCT Mile 180.8 (9070 ft): 45-48 inches (about 30-32 inches snow in latest storms), Long Valley (8600 ft): 24 inches (16 inches in latest storms), Saddle Junction/PCT Mile 179 (8070 ft): 21 inches (13 inches snow in latest storms), Devils Slide trailhead at Humber Park (6550 ft): 5-6 inches (all from latest storms, four inches of snow on top of ice). South Ridge Trail has been broken from the top of South Ridge Road to Tahquitz Peak with a simple posthole track. Underlying the fresh snow is in places a thin layer of ice and/or icy snow remaining from the previous storm in early November. The areas Im reporting are within a mile or so of the McDonalds. "Everything he has done indicates he was not an experienced hiker. Obviously these depths are expected to change dramatically over the next few days. 3407 Calle Sin Rival is a 2956 square foot property with 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. Turn right onto San Bernardino Peak Trail and finally gain the San Gorgonio summit. Steady heavy snow started in Idyllwild at about 0830 but stopped at about 1400. With two further snowfalls expected in the next ten days, and moderate to strong winds in the high country expected for most of those days causing some daily drifting of snow, much of the trail system may remain completely or somewhat obscured by moderate snow at least into the third week of January. Drive northeast for about 14 miles to the intersection with Valley of the Falls Road. Although not required, some hikers will find spikes useful especially for descending. Long Valley added about 4-6 inches of snow overnight, and a little less than that during the day today. Melting has already reduced the snow cover to 90% as far as Old Lookout Flat (7600 ft). At San Jacinto Peak (10,810ft/3295m) 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. However the route is now well-traveled and compacted. Please report trail conditions. It may be in the 60s and 70s in the valleys, but it's not warm in the mountains. That's suicide." 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. Free shipping for many products! From the top of Marion, the route is well-traveled but pretty uneven, up into Little Round Valley. With compaction of the trails in the second week of January, snowshoes may steadily become less useful, however they will remain valuable for off-trail travel in the high country for the foreseeable future. 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). Snowshoes are not required anywhere, as recent experience has shown that off-trail snow is now too shallow and/or patchy for snowshoes. In addition, there is the possibility of minor snow storms on Thursday 19th and around Sunday 29th January. Spikes tend to be especially useful for descending trails. Do not park in the picnic area sites -- please take care to read all signage! 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. A weather system, possibly in two waves across a broad time window between 2nd and 5th December, is currently forecast to produce light precipitation at all elevations, including a possible dusting of snow in the high country [update 1st December: no precipitation is now expected from these storms passing to the north of us]. "I'm assuming, with all the snow, he just got turned around," Henley said. 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. Print/PDF map. momyer-open-map. Elevation gain : 5,840 ft. Measurements taken on Monday 30th were unchanged by Wednesday 1st. South Ridge Road itself is now functionally clear of ice and snow. Vehicles not parked in these spaces may be ticketed and/or towed. Fresh snowfall, melting, and freeze/thaw cycles will all combine to change trail conditions and potentially the preferred equipment for the terrain over the next week or two. The lower half of the trail in particular is very icy. We survey the trail system daily, with hikes via different routes to San Jacinto Peak several times per week, Tahquitz Peak and vicinity at least weekly, and many other trails on other days. Hard 4.7 (4326) San Gorgonio Wilderness. There are several campgrounds in and around the area and at several of the trailheads. 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 State Park boundary is not marked but is near the site of the old Florians Cache, below Flat Rock. A well-traveled snowshoe track is in place up to Strawberry Junction. Started by: MikeH. Some hikers may continue to find spikes useful for some of the minor icy patches but they are no longer required. This trail is just under a half mile long and runs from the junction with the San Bernardino Peak Trail 1W07.2 and the Sky High Trail 1W07.2 to the summit box, offering a unique view of the Sand to Snow National Monument. Note that tracks are being obscured very quickly by drifting of snow from strong winds, sometimes in hours or even minutes (see photo below). 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). Favorite hiking regions include the San Gorgonio Wilderness, Eastern Sierras, Channel Islands and San Gabriel Mountains . Rain has continued solidly today in Idyllwild, with another 0.90 inch since 0700 this morning. San Jacinto Peak (10810 ft): 25-27 inches (includes 2.5 inches snow added on 10th January) but very heavily drifted, Little Round Valley (9800 ft): 24 inches (2 inches on 10th January), Wellman Divide (9700 ft): 16 inches (1.5 inches snow plus unknown quantity of rain on 10th), Annies Junction/PCT Mile 180.8 (9070 ft): 16 inches (1.5 inches snow plus unknown quantity of rain on 10th), Seven Pines Trail junction with Deer Springs Trail/PCT Mile 184.9 (8700 ft): 13 inches (1 inch snow on 10th), Long Valley (8600 ft): 8 inches (1 inch snow plus 1.5 inches rain on 10th), Strawberry Junction/PCT Mile 183.3 (8100 ft): 6 inches (1 inch snow plus unknown quantity of rain on 10th), Saddle Junction/PCT Mile 179 (8070 ft): 8 inches (1 inch snow plus unknown quantity of rain on 10th), Deer Springs Trail at Suicide Rock Trail junction (6950 ft): 0-1 inch (0.5 inch snow plus >1.0 inch rain on 10th), Devils Slide trailhead at Humber Park (6550 ft): 0.5 inch (0.5 inch snow plus >1.0 inch rain on 10th). The system was cooler in the early hours of Friday morning, with a dusting of snow to 6000 ft and a covering of icy sleet below that in Idyllwild. All trails above about 7500 ft remain lightly snow-covered. SGWA is testing a new interactive trail map! There is a very well-traveled track from Saddle Junction to Tahquitz Peak (multiple photos below). The Trail Report has adopted Seven Pines Trail as a priority for maintenance work as the trail has had a disproportionate number of lost hiker rescues in the past decade. Were so happy to be back! Other than that the trailhead is a 30 minute drive over a sometimes rough road from the highway, I found little reason this should be the least popular route. Two more significant atmospheric river storm systems are forecast on Saturday 14th-Sunday 15th, and on 16th-18th.