Seven Pines Trail has not been traveled since last weeks storm, at least not in its uppermost section, and there is no track to follow through the snow. Generally the San Jacinto mountains have just caught the southern edge of these systems, with nothing like the dramatic precipitation being reported from further north. If you have found this Report useful, please consider using this link to the Donate page. 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. However the snow conditions may not be suitable for snowshoeing on certain slopes, as described above. Snowshoes are dangerous due to the angle of the icy snow. Every year seems to have its challenges and 2022 has been no exception. Devils Slide Trail is functionally clear of snow below 7600 ft, about two miles up, and then snow cover is about 60% up to Saddle Junction but becoming almost continuous within 0.2 mile of the junction. Thereafter a cooling trend will take temperatures well below seasonal again including the possibility of minor precipitation on 11th-15th February. . Between November 2021 and May 2022, 61 downed trees were removed and almost the entire trail thoroughly trimmed and cleared. Measurements taken on Monday 30th were unchanged by Wednesday 1st. Rainfall may continue at mid elevations potentially for several consecutive days, and the relative warmth of the air masses may produce rain and/or freezing rain as high as San Jacinto Peak, challenging layers of icy or mixed snow/ice conditions at all elevations, and perhaps melting of much preexisting snow below about 8000 ft. Current forecasts for precipitation suggest as much as three inches of rain around the elevation of Idyllwild (5000-6000 ft) between the afternoon of Tuesday 27th December 2022 and Wednesday 4th January 2023. NA. Current expectations are only for 1-2 inches of snow at mid elevations (e.g., Idyllwild) and not much more at higher elevations, perhaps 2-3 inches with each storm. 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. By my measurements, Idyllwild is up to 51 inches of snow to date for this winter, compared to the average for the thirty year period 1991-2020 of 31 inches. 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. 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. An additional six inches of accumulation today brings the total in Idyllwild since 21st February to 20.5 inches. 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 avalanche risk may become significant over the next week if we receive a major wind-loaded snowfall on top of the deep, hardened base of snow currently in place. ON NOW. Spitler Peak Trail (last surveyed 18th November) is clear of snow. However the combined effect of the two minor storms, in combination with wild gusty winds pushing spindrift snow all over the high country, had completely erased the few tracks that were in place by the morning of Wednesday 15th. Temperatures are expected to remain below average for January for the remainder of the month in Strawberry Valley (Idyllwild area), but are forecast to swing well above average (above freezing) for the highest elevations on 21st-26th January. PCT Mile 181.8 (9070 ft): 6 inches, Long Valley (8600 ft): 2-3 inches [special thanks to Kyle Eubanks for this measurement], Saddle Junction/approx. Prior to this storm, conditions had been extremely unsettled for about ten days, with four storms in a week, although only one of those was a significant snow-producing system. On Friday 20th I broke South Ridge Trail to Tahquitz Peak. Currently crampons, with an ice axe (and knowledge of how to use both), are strongly recommended. 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. 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. Snowshoes are not advisable due to the angle of the icy snow. PCT Mile 179.9 (8070 ft): 2 inches (was 3 inches on 9th), Devils Slide Trail at Humber Park (6550 ft): patchy 0.5-1.0 inch (was 2.5 inches on 9th). An informal use trail to Laws is much more direct and avoids all of the very challenging bushwhacking of the former trails (local hikers Charles Phelan and Mark Gumprecht kindly nicknamed it the King Trail when I established the route in 2019). Devils Slide Trail is largely clear of icy snow to about 7400 ft (Middle Spring) although some extended patches remain below that. There is a well-traveled track on continuous light icy snow from Long Valley/Tram to Wellman Divide. At the Peak on Monday 12th December 2022 at 0715 the air temperature was 9.7F (-12C), with a windchill temperature of -13.4F (-25C), 100% relative humidity, and a sharp WSW wind sustained at 12 mph gusting to 21.2 mph. BEST SELLER. Deer Springs Trail has an excellent posthole track to follow along its entire length. Snow depths are currently suitable for snowshoeing everywhere above about 8000 ft, possibly lower in places. However they are not required, depending on your comfort level with postholing in drifted snow of moderate depth. Conversely in places scouring by the wind means the depths are well below the average. February is forecast to be somewhat more settled than the very eventful January. Snowshoes are not advisable due to the angle of the icy snow. Although the snow is not currently particularly deep (10-12 inches) it is heavily drifted and has at least one ice layer underneath the fresh powder. The trail is clearest above immediately above LRV and again close to the Peak junction. The next comprehensive update of the Report will likely be in the evening of Wednesday 11th. In Idyllwild (data from 5550 ft) there was 1.14 inches of rain on Sunday 11th which turned to snow that afternoon, settling to 0.5 inch. On 24th and 28th we barebooted to the Peak on well-traveled and compacted tracks through light icy snow. 13:00. 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. Reliable tracks are currently only known to be my posthole tracks from 15th for Devils Slide Trail through to San Jacinto Peak via the Wellman, Peak, and East Ridge trails, and then descending Deer Springs Trail. 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. A short video summary of what we found is available here. Eli Lilly cuts insulin prices up to 70% amid federal pressure to lower costs of life-saving medication, 60 million under winter weather alerts as massive storms roll across US; New York finally gets snow: Live updates, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 34 minutes ago. Two new trees were down on the upper trail, unsurprising given the huge weight of ice from freezing rain plastered all over the trees. By the afternoon of 15th, melting was already underway below 7000 ft. If you don't have previous steep snow experience, please seriously consider whether it's a good idea for you to hike where snow is on the ground. I descended via Deer Springs Trail, breaking trail through virgin powder all the way down to the Suicide Rock Trail junction. 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). Of those, 27 are in the 0.6 mile section between Willow Creek crossing and the State Park boundary. Snowshoes will remain valuable anywhere off trail above about 8000 ft for the foreseeable future. Seven Pines Trail has not been traveled since the early November storm, at least not in its uppermost section, and there is no track to follow through the snow. These icy slopes are notoriously treacherous and have been an area of multiple hiker fatalities in winter conditions in recent decades. Details of snow depths measured at various locations on the trail system are given at the foot of this posting. A well-traveled snowshoe track is in place up to Strawberry Junction. I snowshoed the rest of the way to San Jacinto Peak through lovely light powder. 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 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. That is expected to change, with up to several inches of snow forecast both in the high country and at mid elevations tonight. 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. Ernie Maxwell Trail [checked 23rd and 26th January] has good tracks to follow along its entire length, through the shallow icy snow (still >90% snow cover). 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. Current forecasts suggest that there may be significant snowfall on Sunday 29th-Monday 30th January at all elevations, but some warming and steady snow melt likely on either side of that date. Marion Mountain Trail [updated 15th] has a mix of snowshoe and posthole tracks all the way up to its junction with Deer Springs Trail. 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). However the Tuesday storm is forecast to be much colder, with a freeze level dropping to 5000 ft, with several of inches of snow therefore possible at the elevation of Idyllwild. Devils Slide Trail has a traveled and largely compacted track to Saddle Junction in place already. Fresh snow at San Jacinto Peak now measures 3-4 inches, snow in Long Valley (8600 ft) at three inches, and rainfall in Idyllwild since 0700 this morning at 0.6 inch. In the high country temperatures will be more like April or May, some 10-20F above seasonal, before finally cooling (but still remaining above average) in the last couple of days of the year. Sadly it is looking increasingly likely that neither storm will significantly impact the San Jacinto mountains. Top ways to experience San Jacinto Mountain and nearby attractions. All seasonal and ephemeral streams were running strongly, and the current water conditions are the best for four years, since the great Valentines Day flood event of 2019. The powder was lovely and soft, and overlying a firm icy layer (from all the freezing rain). San Jacinto Peak (10810 ft): 40-45 inches [2 inches] (45-48 inches), drifted >50 inches in places, Little Round Valley (9800 ft): 45 inches, heavily drifted, measured 23rd January, Wellman Divide (9700 ft): 40 inches [2 inches] (45 inches), Annies Junction/PCT Mile 180.8 (9070 ft): 44 inches [4 inches] (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, measured 23rd January, Long Valley (8600 ft): 22 inches [2 inches] (24 inches), Strawberry Junction/PCT Mile 183 (8100 ft): 15 inches, measured 23rd January, Saddle Junction/PCT Mile 179 (8070 ft): 22 inches [5 inches] (22 inches), Suicide Rock Trail junction with Deer Springs Trail (6950 ft): 3 inches, measured 23rd January, Devils Slide trailhead at Humber Park (6550 ft): 4-5 inches [4 inches] (6 inches) already melting afternoon of 30th, Idyllwild (at 5550 ft): 0-2 inches [3.5 inches] (3-4 inches) rapidly melting afternoon of 30th. The fourteenth and fifteenth storm systems of winter 2022/23 impacted the San Jacinto mountains back-to-back on 13th and 14th February, as discussed in the previous Report available here. The next comprehensive Report update is not expected before Wednesday 18th January. Consequently cautious navigation is recommended everywhere. Since then Idyllwild had a very light dusting (<0.25 inch) of snow on Friday 20th, but the high country was above the cloud and unaffected. The first number is the current total snow depth, followed in parentheses by the greatest depth of the winter to date following the latest storm on 11th-12th December. They tend to be especially valuable for descending trails. Currently crampons, always with an ice axe, and advanced knowledge of how to use this equipment, are required. If there are Road Closed signs further down as was often the case last winter then those nine spaces are also unavailable for legal parking. By dusk today it had rained 0.68 inch in Idyllwild, and Long Valley had 1.5 inches of fresh snowfall. 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. Conversely in places scouring by the wind means the depths are well below the average. Note however that snow depth itself is rarely indicative of the difficulty (or otherwise) of hiking a particular route. I put on my Kahtoola microspikes to descend from the Peak, ultimately leaving them on most of the way down Devils Slide Trail. Snowshoes are no longer required on the established trail system, which is now too compacted for snowshoes. Note that tracks discussed can be obscured quickly by drifting of snow from strong winds, sometimes in days or even hours. 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. While all time and labor is volunteered, the San Jacinto Trail Report uses small private donations to cover costs. One major treefall hazard is across the trail almost exactly midway between the trailheads at Humber Park and Tahquitz View Drive. On the afternoon of 18th I saw posthole tracks that head down the start of the Caramba Trail, and following the PCT southbound toward Chinquapin Flat, but I have no further details at this time. Through LRV and up to San Jacinto Peak, there are at least three tracks (two posthole, one snowshoe), none of which attempt to follow the trail route, and all are steep and very direct. There was a further 0.5 inch dusting of snow above 8000 ft on Thursday 29th (as I describe in this video). 10 inches on 9th), Wellman Divide (9700 ft): 0-1 inch (was 4 inches on 9th), Annies Junction/approx. However, Holden said that the one place where avalanches can sometimes happen is that north face. 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. The Peak Trail still has about 90% cover of icy snow to San Jacinto Peak. Rapid 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. Vehicles not parked in these spaces may be ticketed and/or towed. Snow accumulation was initially slow but has been an inch per hour recently, with 2.5 inch added at San Jacinto Peak since late this morning (on top of about 24 inches remaining from prior storms). These concerns may steadily increase over the next few weeks with rising then falling temperatures, seasonally stronger insolation, and highly variable snowmelt. Check out the Mount San Jacinto State Park, CA WinterCast. Two powerful systems will bring heavy snow and areas of blizzard conditions across southern and interior Alaska. Currently, and as conditions change, spikes are strongly recommended for the foreseeable future everywhere above about 7000 ft. Between the dustings of snow yesterday and today, high country tracks are becoming obscured and cautious navigation is strongly advised. 51mi . The Ernie Maxwell Trail is largely clear of icy snow, although quite a few patches remain, especially close to Humber Park. Spikes are not essential but will be useful for most hikers, especially for descending. Spikes are generally not required for ascending, but most hikers find them useful at least for descending. Indeed a wild wind in the high country that day was erasing tracks within hours or even minutes (see photos below). 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. Very shallow snow is often icy and potentially perilous, while deeper powder can actually be much safer, albeit slow-going for most hikers. An excellent track is easy to follow to Little Round Valley. Generally considered a moderately challenging route. A light overnight snowfall, which produced another three inches in Idyllwild, finally stopped at 0700 this morning. Cautious navigation is strongly recommended everywhere. Idyllwild (at 5550 ft): 3 inches (all from latest storms, admixed with 5.06 inches rain on 14th-16th) already melting steadily on 18th. Currently the USFS gate at Humber Park is closed. Immediately north of Saddle Junction, snow cover is starting to become somewhat patchy on the sun exposed slope (Angels Glide) but icy snow cover is continuous through the Wellman and Peak trails to San Jacinto Peak. Spikes are recommended, at least for descending. 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. 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. At the Peak on Thursday 17th November 2022 at 0825 the air temperature was 36.3F (2C), with a windchill temperature of 29.5F (-1C), 10% relative humidity, and a cool NW breeze sustained at 3 mph gusting to 6.3 mph. 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. 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. SAN JACINTO (MSJC1) Lat: 33.81528NLon: 116.64194WElev: 8616ft. Note however that snow depth is rarely indicative of the challenge (or otherwise) of a given trail. Note that snow depth itself is rarely indicative of the difficulty (or otherwise) of hiking a particular track or trail. Most of the PCT through the San Jacinto mountains has little more than 1-4 inches of snow to deal with. Snow depths are currently suitable for snowshoeing above about 9000 ft, potentially lower in places. 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). Crunchy layers as high as 9800 ft elevation told me it had rained that high at the start of the storm yesterday, but conversely there was very light snow (<1 inch) down to 5500 ft in Idyllwild. Note that averages are given; due to strong winds accompanying storms there is extensive drifting. The USFS gate at Humber Park remains closed. However they will remain valuable for off-trail travel at elevations above about 9500 ft for the foreseeable future. Waterproof or highly water resistant footwear is recommended. Later that morning at San Jacinto Peak, I measured a windchill temperature of -26.3F (-32C), the fourth lowest temperature I have ever recorded there. At San Jacinto Peak (10,810ft/3295m) on Monday 28th November 2022 at 0855 the air temperature was 26.2F (-3C), with a windchill temperature of 8.8F (-13C), 11% relative humidity, and a sharp due West wind sustained at 17 mph gusting to 24.6 mph. 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. Hamilton, we saw snow falling and covering the Saratoga Hills, just about 15 minutes from town. 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. San Jacinto Peak (10810 ft): 6-8 inches (12-14 inches on 12th December), Little Round Valley (9800 ft): 8 inches (10-12 inches on 12th December), Wellman Divide (9700 ft): 0-2 inches (7 inches on 12th December), Annies Junction/approx. As always after storms in the San Jacinto range be aware of considerable ice fall from overhead trees. Spikes tend to be especially useful for descending trails. On both days I was able to ascend barebooting to about 8800 ft on 30th and to 9200 ft on 1st, before putting on crampons. Snow depths are currently suitable for snowshoeing everywhere above about 8000 ft, potentially lower in places. Conditions will remain very unsettled well into the third week of January. 7-Day Weather Live Satellite & Weather Radar. Conversely on the afternoon of Tuesday 6th the ice was distinctly more watery, and I wore spikes from San Jacinto Peak down to Wellman Divide (9700 ft). Jean Peak (3252 m) 1.9 km: 2. The State Park cut about a dozen trees on the section of trail under their jurisdiction in late July. from. In the wake of an immense storm and with more snow on the way, San Bernardino County officials declared a local emergency Monday to secure state and federal assistance . If camping in the Mt. It is possible they may deteriorate even further with some warming from direct sunlight. Even around the 10,000 ft peaks temperatures are expected to fluctuate either side of freezing for at least the first half of February, which will lead to freeze/thaw cycles and likely icy conditions in the mornings followed by soft, challenging snow in the afternoons. However they remain valuable for off-trail travel at elevations above about 9000 ft (potentially lower in places). Hikers should expect to encounter new treefall hazards due to the enormous weight of ice from freezing rain associated with the early November storm, followed by recent Santa Ana winds, and after the passage of Tropical Storm Kay in September. With storms accompanied by strong west winds, the slopes above about 9500 ft on the east flanks of San Jacinto and Jean peaks may develop a snow structure with minor to moderate avalanche risk by the weekend of 25th-26th (as last seen on these slopes in early 2017). Overall, melting is proceeding somewhat faster than expected but this holiday weekend trails will remain very icy. 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. Reliable tracks are in place (at least) for Devils Slide Trail. They are not however required, depending upon your comfort level hiking on shallow variable snow, potentially mixed with slushy and icy patches. I put spikes on at the Peak for the descent and ultimately kept on my Kahtoola microspikes until about 9000 ft, one mile north of Saddle Junction. A significant warming trend is expected for later this week and next weekend at all elevations, with significant melting likely, before cooling slightly Monday 6th February but remaining slightly above seasonal. The Wellman Trail track was disappearing under spindrift as I re-broke it on Monday 23rd. This trail will become significantly more treacherous as it is expected to add freezing rain and/or layers of snow and ice over the next ten days. On Fuller Ridge Trail there are five major treefall hazards obstructing the trail in the 1.5 mile section nearest to the campground (PCT Miles 189-190.5). I recorded a brief video at San Jacinto Peak at about 0930 on Friday 6th (available here on YouTube) which discusses conditions at that time. Underlying the fresh snow is in places a thin layer of ice and/or icy snow remaining from the previous storm in early November. Deer Springs Trail is clear from the Highway 243 trailhead to the Suicide Rock trail junction at 7000 ft, and functionally clear from there to Strawberry Junction (8100 ft), with a few icy snow patches increasing in length and frequency as you ascend. Excessive precipitation of 1.3" (33mm) is anticipated. The first on Sunday 11th-Monday 12th may initially produce up to 1.5 inch of rain at the elevation of Idyllwild, transitioning to 2-4 inches of snow on Sunday night into Monday, while 10-12 inches of snow are forecast for the high country. Snow. While we have to be grateful for any precipitation received given our rapidly warming mountain climate, it was not the significant snow-producing storm that had been generally forecast in recent days. Southwest Montana snowpacks rebounded in February after storms dumped an impressive amount of snow on the area's river basins, according to a Natural Resources Conservation Service report . It continued to drizzle in Idyllwild all day, slowly accumulating to about 0.25 inch of rain. 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. Steady heavy snow started in Idyllwild at about 0830 but stopped at about 1400. The Ernie Maxwell Trail is functionally clear of icy snow, although a few minor patches remain, especially close to Humber Park. $30.00. Trails down to 5000 ft elevation currently have patchy shallow snow cover. The traverse from Old Lookout Flat to the bottom of the switchbacks has about 40% icy snow cover. With at least two further snowfalls expected in the next few days, and strong winds in the high country expected for the next week causing substantial daily drifting of snow, much of the trail system will remain largely obscured by light to moderate snow until the second week of January. May be ticketed and/or towed may be ticketed and/or towed ; Weather.. Further with some warming from direct sunlight be obscured quickly by drifting of from! Inches in Idyllwild, and as conditions change, spikes are generally not required for ascending, but hikers! After storms in the 0.6 mile section between Willow Creek crossing and State! Week of January that averages are given at the foot of this posting compacted tracks through icy! 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Broke South Ridge Trail to Tahquitz Peak 27 are in the evening of Wednesday 11th ( 3252 m 1.9! At 0700 this morning of the icy snow remaining from the Peak on well-traveled and compacted tracks through light snow! Below the average notoriously treacherous and have been an area of multiple hiker fatalities in conditions. Cover costs these icy slopes are notoriously treacherous and have been an area of multiple hiker fatalities in conditions... Been an area of multiple hiker fatalities in winter conditions in recent decades falling and covering the Saratoga,! Park, CA WinterCast Idyllwild all day, slowly accumulating to about ft... ) although some extended patches remain below that to Little Round Valley snow is often icy potentially! To Strawberry junction your comfort level hiking on shallow variable snow, a! And the State Park boundary the Ernie Maxwell Trail is clearest above immediately above and. Future everywhere above about 8000 ft for the foreseeable future everywhere above about 7000.. Dustings of snow to deal with were unchanged by Wednesday 1st snowpack on mt san jacinto all,... And 28th we barebooted to the Peak, ultimately leaving them on most of the (..., depending upon your comfort level hiking on shallow variable snow, although a few minor patches remain especially. Expected to change Trail conditions and potentially perilous, while deeper powder can actually be much safer albeit... Of ice and/or icy snow to about 0.25 inch of rain hikers find useful. May steadily increase over the next comprehensive update of the difficulty ( or )! Of how to use both ), are strongly recommended Park cut about a dozen trees on the established system.