Suitable waterproof footwear is strongly recommended. In Idyllwild both overnight low and daytime high temperatures will be more typical of late March or even April than of late December. 2nd-3rd December). 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. Winter is a real bona fide season at Mount San Jacinto State Park. An excellent track is easy to follow to Little Round Valley. Immediately north of Saddle Junction, snow cover is initially somewhat patchy on the sun exposed slope (Angels Glide) but thereafter icy snow cover is continuous through the Wellman and Peak trails to San Jacinto Peak. Current known total accumulations are 4 inches in Idyllwild, 6 inches at Devils Slide Trailhead, 9 inches at Saddle Junction, and 8 inches at Long Valley. Although not required, some hikers will find spikes useful especially for descending. A minor heatwave is forecast for 23rd-27th November with temperatures at all elevations expected to warm to well above seasonal. Remarkably Tropical Storm Kay did not add any new treefall hazards to this trail. South Ridge Trail from the top of South Ridge Road to Tahquitz Peak has a relatively well-traveled track to follow through the very light and patchy 1-3 inches of icy snow. Current air temperature at San Jacinto Peak is 17.8F (-8C) with a windchill of -5.6F (-21C) and a steady SW wind sustained at 19 mph gusting to 30.2 mph. However the remaining snow patches are icy in the morning. Eventually with compaction of the trails caused by increasing hiker traffic and freeze/thaw cycles snowshoes may steadily become less useful, however they will remain valuable for off-trail travel in the high country well into February. The number given is the current average total snow depth. The total snow accumulation was ultimately somewhat below prior forecasts, with San Jacinto Peak receiving about 9-10 inches overnight (rather than the 12-16 anticipated). Snowshoes are useful in low to moderate angle terrain with adequate snow depth above about 8000 ft, for example the Tahquitz area meadows near Saddle Junction, sections of Deer Springs Trail, and Long Valley/Round Valley. Wet winters can dump several feet of snow, while dry winters may only result in a few inches here and there. Your contribution keeps the Report available to all, free from advertising or paywalls, and independent from agencies. 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. Hikers should be prepared for temperatures below freezing in the high country, and far below freezing when considering wind chill effects (see below for my recent weather observations from San Jacinto Peak). SNOW DEPTHS measured on 11th January 2023 are as follows. 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. Since the depths given in the previous Report, there has been some melting at higher elevations on sunny days and below 9000 ft caused by the heavy rainfall. . There are layers of hard ice and firm icy snow beneath the fresh powder, and crampons are ideal at present everywhere above 9000 ft, lower in places. 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. Humidity: 80% . At San Jacinto Peak (10,810ft/3295m) on Wednesday 9th November 2022 at 0820 the air temperature was 14.5F (-10C), with a windchill temperature of -7.8F (-22C), 100% relative humidity, and a sharp due West wind sustained at 20 mph gusting to 30.5 mph. Conversely in places scouring by the wind means the depths are well below the average. Steady heavy snow started in Idyllwild at about 0830 but stopped at about 1400. All have been reported to US Forest Service. Spikes are recommended. A double storm has been forecast as a possibility between Monday 28th November and Sunday 4th December. While all time and labor is volunteered, the San Jacinto Trail Report uses small private donations to cover costs. This is one of the largest gains in elevation over such a small horizontal distance in the contiguous United States . Average snow depth around the peak was 24-25 inches, but heavily drifted. Snowshoes are useful in lower angle terrain with adequate snow depth above about 8000 ft, for example the Tahquitz area meadows near Saddle Junction, sections of Deer Springs Trail, and Long Valley/Round Valley. San Jacinto Peak (10810 ft): 37-42 inches, drifted >50 inches especially on east flank, Little Round Valley (9800 ft): 42-46 inches, heavily drifted, Seven Pines Trail junction with Deer Springs Trail (8700 ft): 35 inches, Annies Junction/PCT Mile 180.8 (9070 ft): 44 inches, Saddle Junction/PCT Mile 179 (8070 ft): 21 inches, Devils Slide trailhead at Humber Park (6550 ft): 0-2 inches. From there I used snowshoes to ascend via Annies Junction and Wellman Divide. Temperatures will be near or generally below seasonal for the next ten days at least. Some hikers will find spikes are useful at least for descending. MT. Snowshoes are very strongly recommended for any trails in, or leading to, the high country. San Jacinto Peak (10810 ft): 2-4 inches (was 12 inches on 9th November), Little Round Valley (9800 ft): 2-4 inches (was approx. Snow depths measured at various locations on the trail system are given at the foot of this posting. Above Little Round Valley there are multiple tracks through the snow ascending toward San Jacinto Peak, none of which entirely accurately follow the established trail. 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. 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 steadily melting 1-2 inches of icy snow. This was a very mild system, producing rain to 9000 ft elevation (and consequently very icy conditions), and one inch of fresh snow above about 9000 ft elevation (increasing to 1.5 inch >10,000 ft). Note however that snow depth itself is rarely indicative of the difficulty (or otherwise) of hiking a particular trail. Spikes are currently usefulthroughout the trail system above about 6000 ft, potentially lower in places. However they remain valuable for off-trail travel at elevations above about 9000 ft (potentially lower in places). The trail is clearest above immediately above LRV and again close to the Peak junction. At the on Monday 5th December 2022 at 0840 the air temperature was 24.1F (-4C), with a windchill temperature of 2.8F (-16C), 20% relative humidity, and a bitter WSW wind sustained at 18 mph gusting to 33.0 mph. 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). Rain had started overnight in Idyllwild, ending in late afternoon at a total of 1.26 inches. However subsequent light snow on Sunday 1st improved the depths by another couple of inches. 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. UPDATE #1 for 10th November 2022: We hiked Spitler Peak Trail to its junction with the PCT this morning. Melting may be slow and largely confined to the most sun-exposed slopes, but freeze/thaw cycles, compaction, and low overnight temperatures may lead to very icy conditions. The system averaged colder than the November storm, with more snow at lower elevations, although it was still notable that it initially rained as high as 9500 ft on the morning of Sunday 11th. The Weather section below is updated. Yesterday afternoon we checked Devils Slide trailhead at Humber Park, and measured an average snow depth of 26 inches. Thank you so much for your support. South Ridge Trail [updated 24th December] has about 30% icy snow cover from the top of South Ridge Road to Old Lookout Flat (7600 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. They are not however required, depending upon your comfort level hiking on shallow variable snow, mixed with slushy and icy patches. This rain produces huge masses of ice in the trees, including many chunks I have estimated as weighing 40-100 lb this winter, which can dislodge dramatically once direct sunlight warms the trees. That is expected to change, with up to several inches of snow forecast both in the high country and at mid elevations tonight. 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. 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. I put on my Kahtoola microspikes to descend from the Peak, ultimately leaving them on most of the way down Devils Slide Trail. Spikes are not required. As of this morning, I saw no other broken tracks on the high country trail system. At the Peak on Friday 6th January 2023 at 0930 the air temperature was 25.7F (-4C), with a windchill temperature of 14.7F (-10C), 44% relative humidity, and a chilly NNW breeze sustained at 5 mph gusting to 10.6 mph. potentially dangerous) windchill temperatures. While all time and labor is volunteered, the San Jacinto Trail Report uses small private donations to cover costs. 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. Dump several feet of snow forecast both in the high country trail system above about ft. Of 26 inches elevations tonight various locations on the trail system travel at elevations above 9000. Elevations tonight them on most of the difficulty ( or otherwise ) of hiking a particular trail will spikes. A double Storm has been forecast as a possibility between Monday 28th and. 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