Note that data for the high country are dramatically different from those for Idyllwild, and generally sadly lacking, other than meteorological records for Long Valley (8600 ft elevation) since the 1960s. A major warming trend will significantly change conditions on the trail system in the next week or two. There is a decapitated boar head hanging from the fence by its teeth about half a mile south of hikertown on 1/30/23. Photos (5,382) Directions. Spikes are recommended. Per "Tarol" 6-21-2011 New treefall hazards on major trails have been reported to relevant agencies, and those on Spitler Peak Trail have already been cleared by the Trail Report. San Jacinto Peak (10810 ft): 6 inches (was 12 inches on 9th), Little Round Valley (9800 ft): 5-6 inches (was approx. Deer Springs Trail [updated 22nd December] has an accurate 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 15th December. With two further minor snowfalls possible in January, and strong winds in the high country expected on some days causing substantial spindrift, tracks broken through the snow may not last long. Generally considered a challenging route. 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. 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 was very happy to find no new treefall hazards down on Spitler Peak Trail. Spikes are not generally required for ascending, but most hikers will find them useful for descending. FOLLOW A FEW SIMPLE RULES, Your contribution helps SGWA protect the Wilderness and educate visitors! Official websites use .gov A .gov Icy snow cover is 60% overall, becoming increasingly patchy below about 7000 ft, and again in the sun-exposed areas above 8000 ft. Spikes are useful, especially for descending. Go right and continue for 4.5 miles to the Falls Recreation Area, past the town of Forest Falls. Snowshoes are very strongly recommended for any trails in, or leading to, the high country. It may be in the 60s and 70s in the valleys, but it's not warm in the mountains. SOLD JUN 7, 2022. Measured snow depths as of late morning/early afternoon today are: San Jacinto Peak (10,810 ft) 38 inches, at least 14 new in this storm; Wellman Divide (9700 ft) 30 inches, with 15 new in this storm; Annies Junction at 9070 ft the highest point of the PCT in Southern California 30 inches, with 14 new in this storm; Saddle Junction (8100ft) 15 inches, about 7-8 new in this storm; Devils Slide Trailhead at Humber Park (6520 ft) 2 inches, all from this storm. All have been reported to US Forest Service. The Peak Trail has about 90% cover of icy snow to 9900 ft elevation, and then >95% cover to San Jacinto Peak. See more of the Johns Meadow Trail clearing on volunteer John Flippins website, High Lake Photography. The Weather section below is updated. So we recommend getting your permit in advance! The Vivian Creek Trail is the shortest and the steepest route to the summit of Mt. At the Peak on Sunday 15th January 2023 at 0750 the air temperature was 17.8F (-8C), with a windchill temperature of -5.6F (-21C), 100% relative humidity, and a wild SW wind sustained at 19 mph gusting to 30.2 mph. I have kept crampons on for most of the descent, removing them most of the way down Devils Slide Trail. That said, it has just started gently snowing in both locations, so storm totals may increase slightly over the next couple of hours. They are not however required, depending upon your comfort level hiking on shallow variable snow, mixed with slushy and icy patches. Every year seems to have unique challenges and 2023 is already proving to be no exception. Free shipping for many products! San Gorgonio Wilderness-California. We have had an excellent start to 2023 regarding the water and snow situations in the San Jacinto mountains. 2 Baths. We hiked to top of San Gorgonio yesterday (8/23/09) via the Vivian Creek trail. For both storms snow estimates for the highest elevations range from 10-15 inches, with perhaps only an inch of snow in Idyllwild following some rainfall. 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 slowly melting inch of patchy icy snow (photo below from 30th). ( There is a well-traveled track on light icy snow from Long Valley/Tram to Wellman Divide. From the top of Marion, the route is well-traveled but pretty uneven, up into Little Round Valley. View San Gorgonio Image Gallery - 231 Images. If you have found this Report useful, please consider using this link to the Donate page. Its proximity to scenic trails and nearby mountain lakes and streams make the campground a great . South Fork via Dry Lake 11.34 miles, 4,622' gain Zelle, Venmo, and PayPal are all options. Altitudes are approximate. It does not accurately follow the established trail route in significant sections but is navigable. About six inches of snow fell at San Jacinto Peak (10,810ft) decreasing to 0.5 inch in upper Fern Valley (at c.6000 ft). 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). Most of the upper half of the trail had 3-4 inches of lovely fluffy powder. 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. There is a very well-traveled track from Saddle Junction to Tahquitz Peak. The system was generally very mild, with the freeze level near 8000 ft, but this is expected to drop overnight, by which time the precipitation will have largely passed. I recorded a short video at the Peak late morning on the 13th, available here on YouTube. So we recommend getting your permit in advance! (909) 382-2682 (Voice) The State Park has closed the wilderness due to the weather conditions, as described on their website here. A fourth and final minor system is expected on 28th February-1st March. Hikers who have an ice axe (and know how to use it) may find it useful in places on this short section of trail. Put on snowshoes and went up to the base of San Gorgonio . 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. From there I put in a direct ascending track roughly following the old East Ridge Trail to the Peak. Since the depths given in the previous Report, there had been very minor storms on 28th and 29th December, which added a couple of inches at the highest elevations, down to 0.5 inch at 8000 ft. The first number is the depth of fresh snow from this latest storm, followed in parentheses by the current total snow depth. Hiked the South Fork trail to Dry Lake where we camped for the night. There is a well-traveled track on the lowest section of Deer Springs Trail continuing out to Suicide Rock. On multiple recent ascents of San Jacinto Peak I have generally ascended and descended via the east side (Devils Slide, Wellman, Peak, and East Ridge routes). With such strong Santa Ana winds on Thursday 26th causing extensive drifting, and a light snowfall early on 30th, by the 30th prior tracks had been thoroughly erased and I was once again breaking trail the entire way from Humber Park to San Jacinto Peak, largely through relatively shallow powder. Snowshoes are not advisable due to the angle of the icy snow. ) or https:// means you've safely For locations measured on 23rd January, these measurements are still useful, as the new recent snow depth is roughly offset by melting over the past week. They may become increasingly useful if conditions warm sufficiently for snow to become soft above about 9000 ft, especially on sunny slopes and afternoons. 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. All trails above about 5500 ft are currently snow-covered. Spikes are currently usefulthroughout the trail system above about 6000 ft, possibly lower in places on cold (icy) mornings. Mu Zhi Mountain. Trails down to 4000 ft elevation currently have shallow snow cover. At least two further minor storm systems are forecast, overnight on Monday 2nd into Tuesday 3rd, and then again all day on Thursday 5th. All trails above about 5500 ft are largely snow-covered (wholly snow-covered above about 7000 ft). Consequently I put on crampons at Wellmans Cienega, keeping them on all day until low down on Deer Springs Trail. Type of Hike Day hike. Very light precipitation well before first light this morning included a dusting of snow above 6000 ft, <0.25 inch below 8000 ft and about 0.25 inch above that elevation, plus 0.03 inch of drizzle in Idyllwild. Ernie Maxwell Trail has a well traveled track to follow along its entire length, through the increasingly patchy icy snow. Snow depths are currently suitable for snowshoeing everywhere above about 8000 ft, possibly lower in places. Sold - 40789 Oregon Trail, Cherry Valley, CA - $1,695. Your contribution keeps the Report available to all, free from advertising or paywalls, and independent from agencies. Map showing recreational areas. 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. 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). If you want a permit for Vivian for a dayhike on the weekend in the summertime, you must get it 3-4 weeks in advance. Sky High Trail (5km) Raywood Flat Trail (5.1km) North Fork Meadows Trail (5.4km) The snow quickly turned into semi-melted slush. These conditions are expected to change significantly over the next ten days due to the highly unsettled weather forecast into early January. Searchers planned to be back out this morning looking for both men. San Bernardino, CA 92408