Currently there is less than three feet of snow at San Jacinto Peak; I suspect it would be 5-8 feet had we had fractionally cooler conditions in the past month. In Idyllwild (at 5550 ft) it started raining at 1100, where it has been relatively slow to accumulate so far, with 0.4 inch by 1500. New treefall hazards on several major trails have been reported, and those on Spitler Peak Trail have already been cleared by the Trail Report. Spikes are recommended. Latest details are given in the introduction above. Snowshoes are not advisable due to the angle of the icy snow. Snow cover is about 60% from Strawberry Junction north for about 1.0 mile (roughly 8500 ft), and thereafter >90% to San Jacinto Peak. Ernie Maxwell Trail has a well traveled track to follow along its entire length, through the increasingly patchy icy snow. Given cold temperatures for the foreseeable future, melting is expected to slow (or largely stop in the high country). Spikes are not essential, but many hikers may find them useful depending on their comfort level hiking on thin icy snow. Spikes are not required. Forest Service campgrounds at Boulder Basin, Marion Mountain, and Fern Basin are now closed for the season. UPDATE Tuesday 3rd January 2023: Following another minor overnight snow storm our fourth in the past week Anabel and I briskly broke trail up Devils Slide to Saddle Junction early this morning. Rainfall in Idyllwild (at 5550ft) has also maintained a steady pace, with close to 0.7 inch so far today. This is a brief summary of conditions following the second Pacific storm, and the first significant snowfall, of winter 2022/23 to impact the San Jacinto mountains. Conversely in places scouring by the wind means the depths are well below the average. Thank you so much for your support. Again the freeze levels may be relatively high, with little more than an inch or two of snow likely below 6000 ft, a forecast 2-6 inches of fresh snowfall in the high country scattered across two or more days, and roughly 0.5-1.0 inch of rain (perhaps mainly freezing rain) throughout the mid elevations. These icy slopes are notoriously treacherous. These conditions are expected to change significantly over the next ten days due to the highly unsettled weather forecast into early January. Holden said he could not recall the last time there had been an avalanche on Mount San Jacinto. SNOW DEPTHS measured on 22nd-27th December 2022 are as follows. 25F-4C. Your contribution keeps the Report available to all, free from advertising or paywalls, and independent from agencies. Devils Slide Trail has a moderately traveled track to Saddle Junction. In general conditions in the remainder of January will be much more settled than for the first half of the month. Precipitation is predicted to start falling by 6 p.m. Monday with lows in the mountains of 28 to 36 degrees and gusts up to 60 mph, according to the National Weather Service in San Diego. Conversely in some places scouring by the wind means the depths are well below the average. Currently the USFS gate at Humber Park is closed. Two new trees were down on the upper trail, unsurprising given the huge weight of ice from freezing rain plastered all over the trees. Obvious freeze/melting cycles. Only five of these require cutting, and I was able to remove three by hand earlier in February. UPDATE Wednesday 14th December 2022: Early this morning Anabel and I broke trail up Spitler Peak Trail to the PCT. Above that elevation, icy snow cover is about 60% to Saddle Junction. 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 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. Snow cover remains >95% through Little Round Valley up to San Jacinto Peak. Skyline Trail has a good track to follow through very thin and patchy icy snow above about 7200 ft (the Traverse to Grubbs Notch). My tracks from Wednesday 11th January from Humber Park to San Jacinto Peak and down Deer Springs Trail will be largely visible but may be somewhat obscured in places. Conversely in places scouring by the wind means the depths are well below the average. Personally I would not currently venture above 9000 ft elevation without crampons (always with an ice axe) and snowshoes, due to the current complexity and challenges of the icy snow slopes above that elevation. Forest Service campgrounds at Boulder Basin, Marion Mountain, and Fern Basin are closed for the season. This was immediately followed by a milder storm on 22nd-23rd that brought heavy snowfall with 13 inches in Idyllwild across a 30 hour period (measured at 5550 ft), and about 18 inches in Long Valley (8600 ft). Generally considered a moderately challenging route. The storm sequence starts with a minor storm on the night of Tuesday 21st, which may only produce 2-3 inches of snow at all elevations, but accompanied by high winds and bitterly cold temperatures. Fire lookouts at Black Mountain and Tahquitz Peak were closed for the season ahead of schedule in anticipation of the snow storm in early November. Currently the USFS gate at Humber Park is closed. 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). I ultimately kept my Kahtoola microspikes on until just past the top of Marion Mountain Trail, but could have removed them somewhat sooner. Melting of snow on sun-exposed slopes and freeze-thaw cycles will combine to change trail conditions and potentially the preferred equipment for the terrain. Altitudes are approximate. Consequently cautious navigation is recommended everywhere. There is a very visible boot track through light snow in places in its upper switchbacks to the PCT. 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. The freeze level was above 7000 ft for most of the storm, with freezing rain plastering the vegetation as high as 10,000 ft. Note that tracks discussed are obscured quickly by heavy drifting of snow from strong winds, sometimes in days or even hours. Willow Creek Trail remains a relatively slow, messy hike for a couple of miles. On Friday 20th I broke South Ridge Trail to Tahquitz Peak. From there I used snowshoes to ascend via Annies Junction and Wellman Divide. Two or more inches of rain are likely for mid elevations (e.g., Idyllwild) on 27th-30th, with several inches of snow possible above 10,000 ft elevation on various days over the next week or so. Zelle, Venmo, and PayPal are all now options. San Jacinto Peak (10810 ft): 22-24 inches (includes 6 inches added on 5th January), Wellman Divide (9700 ft): 15 inches (5 inches snow plus unknown quantity of rain on 5th), Annies Junction/PCT Mile 180.8 (9070 ft): 17 inches (5 inches snow plus unknown quantity of rain on 5th), Long Valley (8600 ft): 8 inches (2 inches on 5th), Saddle Junction/PCT Mile 179 (8070 ft): 10 inches (2 inches snow plus unknown quantity of rain on 5th), Devils Slide trailhead at Humber Park (6550 ft): 3-5 inches (1 inch snow plus >1.0 inch rain on 5th). While all time and labor is volunteered, the San Jacinto Trail Report uses small private donations to cover costs. It stopped snowing at about 0800. KPBS. Snow depths are currently suitable for snowshoeing everywhere above about 9000 ft. If you have found this Report useful, please consider using this link to the Donate page. Snow cover is continuous from there, with a posthole track to Tahquitz Peak. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Hike to Mt San Jacinto is a great way to bag Southern California's second highest peak without putting in a huge effort. The total snow accumulation was ultimately very close to that forecast in the days immediately prior to the storm. However excellent well-traveled and compacted tracks are now in place for most of the major trails (details below). Forecast precipitation is currently only a dusting of 1-2 inches of snow at upper elevations, but combined with strong winds this will be sufficient to complicate route-finding. Altitudes are approximate. They are not currently recommended for traversing moderate angle slopes above 9000 ft that have challenging ice underlying shallow powder. Altitudes are approximate. Spikes are recommended especially in the morning as the snow is now hard, compacted and very icy in places. Multiple mild storm systems are forecast to bring extremely unsettled weather to the San Jacinto mountains starting Tuesday 27th December, lasting well into the first week of January. Although I carried snowshoes it would have been risky to try to use them on the icy traverses. no traction device) to 9000 ft on a lightly traveled and lumpy posthole track through thin icy snow. The Peak Trail still has about 90% cover of icy snow to San Jacinto Peak. The previous Report (available here) summarized the conditions following the multiple storm event of 14th-17th January. 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. 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. Note that there are about a dozen stream crossings and sections of the trail with water flowing in them, at times for tens of feet. However they will remain valuable for off-trail travel at elevations above about 9500 ft for the foreseeable future. If hiking/snowshoeing/skiing into the State Wilderness, you must fill out a wilderness day-use permit. 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. At mid elevations (e.g., Idyllwild) temperatures are forecast to warm for the next ten days, and to be above seasonal averages well into the second half of November. On 14th I barebooted (i.e. Combined with a weak sun at this time of year, snow melt will generally be very slow at upper elevations, and conditions will be ideal for freeze/thaw cycles and hence icy trails. Provisional forecasts suggest the later storm systems, around 25th-27th February, could produce much more significant snowfall, potentially 10-12 inches in Idyllwild and 24+ inches at the highest elevations. 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. 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. Note that tracks discussed here may become obscured by heavy drifting of snow from strong winds combined with extensive ice fall from trees overhead. The USFS gate at Humber Park remains closed. With compaction of the trails over the next few days, snowshoes may become less useful, however they will remain valuable for off-trail travel at the highest elevations for the foreseeable future. Very cautious navigation is strongly recommended everywhere. Today, in Mount San Jacinto State Park, snow showers are forecasted. 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. SNOW DEPTHS measured on 23rd January 2023 (unless otherwise indicated) are as follows. To see more years, view this page on a wider screen. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Forest Service campgrounds at Boulder Basin, Marion Mountain, and Fern Basin, and the State Park campground at Stone Creek, are closed for the season. However excellent well-traveled and compacted tracks are now in place for most of the major trails (details below). They are now invaluable on heavily traveled, compacted, icy tracks (before they clear of snow in the coming weeks) such as Devils Slide, Ernie Maxwell, and Deer Springs trails, at least, especially mornings when conditions tend to be most icy, and for descending. 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. Nevertheless Seven Pines remains a genuine wilderness trail unlike the relatively wide, bare, and obvious routes of, for example, Devils Slide or Marion Mountain trails. These icy slopes are notoriously treacherous. There is a well-traveled track on light icy snow from Long Valley/Tram to Wellman Divide. In Idyllwild both overnight low and daytime high temperatures will be more typical of late March or even April than of late December. Temperatures are forecast to remain near or below seasonal averages for at least the next week, with freezing conditions every night above about 4000 ft elevation. Note that temperatures fluctuating either side of freezing are forecast for both mid and upper elevations for the foreseeable future. Cautious navigation remains required for those who do not have significant experience of hiking this trail. Conversely in places scouring by the wind means the depths are well below the average. It wasnt until early in the morning on Wednesday 9th, by which time the bulk of the storm system had passed, that the snow level fell to near 5000 ft, with 0.75 inch snow recorded at 5550 ft elevation. They are strongly recommended on certain moderate and higher angle slopes, at a minimum on the Peak Trail above Wellman Divide, the Wellman Trail, Deer Springs Trail above Little Round Valley, and uppermost South Ridge Trail, and on both flanks but critically on the north face of Tahquitz Peak. San Jacinto Peak (10810 ft): 2-4 inches (was 12 inches on 9th November), Little Round Valley (9800 ft): 2-4 inches (was approx. . A short video giving a feel for current snow conditions at San Jacinto Peak is available here on YouTube. Prior to that Idyllwild (at 5550 ft) had received 1.04 inches of rain, with a little hail and sleet mixed in. As always after storms in the San Jacinto range be aware of considerable ice fall from overhead trees. Even when the gate is closed there are nine legal parking spaces below the locked gate (which still require an Adventure Pass or equivalent to be displayed). Note that average depth is given; due to strong winds accompanying storms there has been extensive drifting, often particularly accumulating in the trails. However, relatively well-traveled tracks are now in place for most major trails (details below). Snow levels could reach as low as 1,500 feet Wednesday morning and areas in the San Bernardino Mountains were projected to receive one to two feet. As forecast, the storm came in two main waves, with the bulk of the precipitation falling for most of the daylight hours of Sunday 11th, followed by a remarkably calm and clear night, and then a much less intense period of snowfall between about 0800-1300 on Monday 12th. Every year seems to have its challenges and 2022 has been no exception. A minor storm on the night of Tuesday 21st will include severe cold and severe winds, followed by milder, moderate storm on 22nd-23rd, and then an unusual atmospheric river combined with very cold air again producing heavy snowfall for 23rd-25th February. Deer Springs Trail has a posthole track to follow along its entire length. 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. For example, San Jacinto Peak received about 9 inches of fresh powder (on top of about 2-4 patchy inches of icy snow remaining from November) on Sunday 11th, with an additional inch falling on Monday 12th. At the on Monday 13th February 2023 at 1010 the air temperature was 16.8F (-10C), with a windchill temperature of -1.3F (-19C), 95% relative humidity, and a wintry NNW wind sustained at 7 mph gusting to 13.2 mph. Some 37 trees are down on the Forest Service section of this trail between Skunk Cabbage Junction and the State Park boundary (23rd September 2022 survey). In Idyllwild (at 5550 ft) additional light rain this morning has added up to 0.1 inch. The peak is also frequently called Mount San Jacinto. Currently crampons, with an ice axe (and knowledge of how to use both), are strongly recommended. 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. One thing Holden was sure of, however, is that Sundays avalanche appeared to be no joke. Conversely, lower down Devils Slide Trail is a combination of very light snow cover, slush, and multiple stream crossings, with much water flowing down the trail. The advice above should be used with this in mind, and if in any doubt carry the necessary traction devices that you will be most comfortable using. Average snow cover is 60%, but is nearly continuous near Humber Park. The week from 21st-26th December may be among the warmest on record for the year-end holiday period. 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. Hikers should be prepared for temperatures below freezing in the high country, and generally far freezing when considering wind chill effects. Firstly because it is really unsafe, that is a busy and winding mountain road, not remotely a route designed for pedestrians. By using snowshoes, crampons, or even just microspikes, we were able to hike Mount San Jacinto's summit every month of the year. She was driving on Interstate 10 (and had to concentrate on the road!) PCT Mile 181.8 (9070 ft): 4-5 inches (5.5 inches on 12th December), Marion Mountain Trail at junction with PCT (8700 ft): 4-6 inches (6 inches on 12th December), Long Valley (8600 ft): 3-4 inches (5-6 inches on 12th December), Strawberry Junction (8100 ft): 3 inches (4 inches on 12th December), Saddle Junction/approx. Spikes are not required for ascending, but some hikers may find them useful for descending. Potentially stormy weather forecast for four periods in the past ten days all failed to significantly impact the San Jacinto mountains. Conditions are forecast to remain very unsettled for the first week of January. A significant triple storm system had a major impact on 21st-26th February, and those updates are posted below also. My tracks from today (Friday 6th January) from Humber Park to San Jacinto Peak and back will be largely visible but will be somewhat obscured in places. 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. Spitler Peak Trail has a very visible boot track through light snow to the PCT. The rain has becoming heavier in the past hour or so. On the morning of Wednesday 11th 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. The second system may be more substantial, with precipitation expected most of the day and night of Saturday 31st December into Sunday 1st January. but ideal for snowshoes, which I used from Saddle to San Jacinto Peak and back. All trails above about 7500 ft remain lightly snow-covered. For those interested in a detailed statewide discussion of this dramatic weather event, I recommend reading the excellent analysis on Weather West (linked here). Although I made a concerted effort to put in a track as faithful to the trail routes as conditions permitted, further strong winds and blowing powder in the high country were erasing tracks within hours or even minutes. Spikes are not required for ascending, but some hikers will find them useful at least for descending the uppermost section. Vehicles not parked in these spaces may be ticketed and/or towed. 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. 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. Unsettled weather forecast into early January currently the USFS gate at Humber Park is.! A significant triple storm system had a major impact on 21st-26th February, and PayPal all... 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