I descended Deer Springs Trail, again breaking trail the entire way, but again through light snow sitting on top of a very solid, icy snow layer. While all time and labor is volunteered, the San Jacinto Trail Report uses small private donations to help cover costs. KPBS. Spitler Peak Trail has a very visible boot track through light snow to the PCT. Consequently cautious navigation is recommended everywhere. The story so far.. A minor storm on the night of Tuesday 21st (sixteenth storm of the winter) produced little snow just an inch in Idyllwild but severe cold and severe winds, erasing all tracks with wild drifting. If there are Road Closed signs further down at the junction with Forest Drive sometimes the case at weekends and holidays when snow is present then those nine spaces are also theoretically unavailable for legal parking. Most of this snow had melted prior to my hike to San Jacinto Peak on 31st December. Slushy in places in the afternoon. These storms are each expected to produce a further 4-6 inches of snow. That said, the cumulative effect of multiple systems is helpful to our moisture situation, and Tuesday 10th January saw the sixth storm in just over two weeks in the San Jacinto mountains (a timeline of the recent sequence of storms is available here in the previous Report). There is disagreement between the forecast models where the freeze level will be for most of Sunday 11th which may alter the potential snowfall amounts (versus rainfall) at mid elevations. In the days since the storm, we have also surveyed trails around Tahquitz Peak, South Ridge, Spitler Peak, and Deer Springs, among others. At San Jacinto Peak (10,810ft/3295m) on Wednesday 18th January 2023 at 1115 the air temperature was 16.8F (-8C), with a windchill temperature of -3.6F (-20C), 27% relative humidity, and a frigid NNW wind sustained at 10 mph gusting to 25.8 mph. The USFS gate at Humber Park remains closed. 59mi . The freeze level was above 7000 ft for most of the storm, with freezing rain plastering the vegetation as high as 10,000 ft. Seven Pines Trail has no sign of any hiker traffic since the snow on 12th. Every year seems to have unique challenges and 2022 has been no exception. Fire lookouts at Black Mountain and Tahquitz Peak were closed for the season ahead of schedule in anticipation of the snow storm last week. A winter storm will continue to move through California today then into the Four Corners on Sunday bringing significant mountain snow, strong winds with blizzard conditions, lower elevation snow where snow is unusual, and well below normal temperatures. The powder was lovely and soft, and overlying a firm icy layer (from all the freezing rain). 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. Eventually with compaction of the trails caused by increasing hiker traffic and freeze/thaw cycles snowshoes may steadily become less useful, however they will likely remain valuable for off-trail travel in the high country into February. Following the twelfth storm system of this winter on 29th-30th January, temperatures have largely swung to well above seasonal, with melting underway at all elevations, but especially below 8000 ft. Spikes at least, but preferably crampons, plus an ice axe (and thorough knowledge of how to use it) are currently required for traversing these slopes. 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. Above Little Round Valley there are at least half-a-dozen tracks ascending toward San Jacinto Peak, none of which accurately follow the established trail route. The eighteenth storm, due this evening, is an unusual atmospheric river combined with very cold air again, expected to produce heavy snowfall for 24th-25th February. Idyllwild (data from 5550 ft) received a prodigious 4.01 inches of rain in the 31 hours starting at midnight on Monday 7th. Spitler Peak Trail is now functionally clear of snow. Dark Canyon Road (4S02, the access to Seven Pines Trail) and Santa Rosa Truck Trail (7S02) closed to vehicle traffic for the season on 7th November 2022. Along . Reliable tracks are in place (at least) for Devils Slide Trail. Holden said he could not recall the last time there had been an avalanche on Mount San Jacinto. San Jacinto Peak (10810 ft): 12-14 inches (storm total 10 inches), Little Round Valley (9800 ft): 10-12 inches (storm total 7 inches), Wellman Divide (9700 ft): 7 inches (storm total 6 inches), Round Valley (9100 ft): 6 inches (storm total 5 inches) [thanks to Kyle Eubanks for this measurement], Annies Junction/approx. While many hundreds of hours of time and effort are volunteered every year, the San Jacinto Trail Report uses small private donations to help cover modest operating costs. We have had an excellent start to 2023 regarding the water and snow situations in the San Jacinto mountains. It is possible they may deteriorate even further with some warming from direct sunlight. The high country currently has the deepest snow accumulation in the San Jacinto mountains in almost four years, since March 2019. This is expected to be a seasonal closure until next year. While the shallow icy snow should melt steadily over the next few days, 4WD/AWD vehicles are recommended. They are not however required, depending upon your comfort level hiking on shallow variable snow, potentially mixed with slushy and icy patches. That said, a moderate snow storm is forecast for Sunday 29th to Monday 30th January, with up to six inches of snow forecast above about 5000 ft, possibly up to 12 inches above 10,000 ft, and a freeze level down to 4000 ft. At San Jacinto Peak (10,810ft/3295m) on Monday 23rd January 2023 at 1010 the air temperature was 11.1F (-11C), with a windchill temperature of -16.2F (-26C), 47% relative humidity, and a bitter NNE wind sustained at 20 mph gusting to 27.7 mph. 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). You will encounter 35 to 45 degree snow slopes, with the angle increasing as you get near the top. That said, the going was extremely easy as the rain layer on top of the snow remaining for earlier storms had completely frozen, so I was only having to break trail through an inch or two of fine powder. Snow cover remains virtually continuous, but a few small patches are clearing below 7000 ft. Spikes are strongly recommended, at least for descending. On Thursday 15th I ascended San Jacinto Peak via the east side (Devils Slide, Wellman, and Peak trails) and descended the west side via Deer Springs Trail, while on Monday 19th we hiked to the Peak up and down the east side trails. As they neared the Highway 111 cutoff near 9 a.m. her friend saw the snow coming off the peak as the avalanche gave way. 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. These concerns may steadily increase over the next few weeks with rising then falling temperatures, seasonally stronger insolation, and highly variable snowmelt. Winter Hiking: Dangerous conditions exist when snow and ice conditions are present. Lightly-traveled snowshoe and/or posthole tracks radiate away from Saddle Junction around the meadow trail and south toward Chinquapin Flat, but I have not checked how accurately they follow established trail routes or how far they continue. Snow cover is shallow up to about 7000 ft, but relatively heavy above 8000 ft. As I described above, spikes tend to be much more valuable for descending trails rather than ascending. A classic La Nina pattern cool but relatively dry is in place for the third winter in a row. Snow expected in the high country in the early hours of Wednesday 28th is not expected to be sufficient to obscure some of the higher elevation trails and complicate navigation. UPDATE Friday 20th January: Overnight Idyllwild had a very light dusting (<0.25 inch) of snow, but the high country was above the cloud so existing tracks should be unaffected. 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). But in 2020, two people had to be rescued when they were caught in an avalanche while hiking in. The State Park Stone Creek campground is also closed. This storm is expected to have two periods of precipitation, one each on 11th and 12th. Snowshoes are not required anywhere, as recent experience has shown that off-trail snow is now too shallow and/or patchy for snowshoes. It has stopped snowing both in Idyllwild (current storm total 0.75 inch snow plus 1.14 inches of rain) and at San Jacinto Peak (9 inches snow). Lying within Mount San Jacinto State Park it is the highest both in the range and the county, and serves as the southern border of the San Gorgonio Pass. The primary purpose of this update is an advisory of imminent major snow accumulation forecast due to a triple storm sequence. Forecasts are currently indicating about 30-40 inches of snow for the highest peaks of the San Jacinto mountains (>10,000 ft) between 21st and 25th February, and about 18-30 inches for Idyllwild (5000-6000 ft elevations). If hiking/snowshoeing/skiing into the State Wilderness, you must fill out a wilderness day-use permit. With such dramatic rainfall throughout the mountain range in the past two days, and with snow now available for melting in the high country, I do not expect to be reporting on water conditions until next year. I ultimately kept my Kahtoola microspikes on until just past the top of Marion Mountain Trail, but could have removed them somewhat sooner. 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. Forecasts remain more uncertain about the second wave of stormy weather on 16th-18th January. Firstly because it is really unsafe, that is a busy and winding mountain road, not remotely a route designed for pedestrians. Black Mountain Road also closed on 7th November to vehicle traffic at the gate 1.7 miles up from Highway 243. Regardless, always be prepared for snowy/icy conditions. The State Park cut about a dozen trees on the section of trail under their jurisdiction in late July. 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. Generally considered a challenging route. Cold clouds in the high country produced thick rime on the trees above about 10,200 ft elevation on 1st December (photo from 2nd below) but otherwise no meaningful precipitation. 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. Note that temperatures fluctuating either side of freezing are forecast for both mid and upper elevations for the foreseeable future. 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). Although most of the downed trees reported this summer were cleared in July, four more major trees came down in Tropical Storm Kay in September. Following an unusually warm weekend, multiple atmospheric river storms will bring cold, cloudy weather with variable precipitation from Tuesday 27th December well into the first week of January. . By dusk today it had rained 0.68 inch in Idyllwild, and Long Valley had 1.5 inches of fresh snowfall. 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. The holiday weekend had temperatures far above seasonal until Tuesday 27th. Idyllwild (at 5550 ft): 0-1 inch (0.5 inch hail/sleet plus 1.04 inch rain on 5th). Seven Pines Trail has one set of hiker tracks through the snow since the storm in early November 2022. When plowed Humber will remain very icy for the next few days at least. Currently trails above about 7500 ft (lower in places) are largely obscured by moderate to deep snow. The USFS gate at Humber Park remains closed. Up to one inch of rain is forecast at mid elevations, but with only a couple of inches of snow likely around the highest peaks as the high country may be above the cloud for some of the storm. Note however that snow depth itself is rarely indicative of the difficulty (or otherwise) of hiking a particular trail. Remarkably Tropical Storm Kay did not add any new treefall hazards to this trail. Spikes tend to be especially useful for descending trails. If there are Road Closed signs across Fern Valley Road at its junction with Forest Drive likely the case at least on weekends and holidays when significant snow is present then those nine spaces are also unavailable for legal parking. The main track is clearest just above LRV and again close to the Peak junction. Although snow depths are not generally sufficient to obscure the routes of the major trails, cautious navigation is recommended everywhere for the next few days in particular until tracks through the snow are in place. Currently crampons, always with an ice axe, and thorough knowledge of how to use this equipment, are essential. From near Miller Peak, I did not continue to break trail on the Peak Trail, but instead turned up the East Ridge, breaking a track roughly along the route of the old East Ridge Trail. Average snow cover is 60%, but is nearly continuous near Humber Park. The State Park boundary is not marked but is near the site of the old Florians Cache, below Flat Rock. This morning Anabel and I broke trail up Devils Slide Trail to Saddle Junction. San Jacinto Peak is the highest peak in the California State Park system, and the second-highest point in southern California. All trails above about 7500 ft are currently remain lightly (or above 9000 ft, moderately) snow-covered. Hamilton, we saw snow falling and covering the Saratoga Hills, just about 15 minutes from town. San Jacinto Ranger District 54270 Pine Crest P.O. On 15th I barebooted (i.e. Current snow depth at Devils Slide trailhead at Humber Park is 4-5 inches on top of 1-2 inches of ice/icy snow from recent freezing rain. The freeze level is currently at about 7500 ft and it has been periodically snowing gently above that elevation, with Long Valley (8600 ft) having added a few inches overnight, for a current total depth of about 24 inches. SNOW DEPTHS measured on 9th November 2022 are as follows. There is considerable uncertainty regarding timing and precipitation amounts for Southern California. The Peak Trail has about 90% cover of icy snow to 9900 ft elevation, and then >95% cover to San Jacinto Peak. Although the flakes are small, it has been steadily accumulating at an inch per hour, with about six inches fresh powder so far today, for a Peak area total of about 30 inches. Cautious navigation remains required for those who do not have significant experience of hiking this trail. As described above, crampons with hiking poles and an ice axe, depending on terrain are currently very useful everywhere above about 9000 ft. This is the flattest portion of the PCT in the San Jacinto mountains, and snow depth currently averages about 13 inches. Rain had started overnight in Idyllwild, ending in late afternoon at a total of 1.26 inches. 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. It turned to occasional light snow at about 1500, but less than 0.5 inch has accumulated so far (at 5550 ft). The latter includes interpreting the snow/ice conditions, understanding your physical and mental abilities, and conservative decision making. However they will remain very valuable for off-trail travel at elevations above about 9000 ft (potentially lower in places) for the next week or two at least. 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). As described above, crampons (always in conjunction with an ice axe) are currently recommended on certain moderate and higher angle slopes, at a minimum on the Peak Trail above Wellman Divide, and uppermost South Ridge Trail, especially on the north face of Tahquitz Peak. Spikes are recommended especially in the morning as the snow is now hard, compacted and very icy in places. Your contribution keeps the Report available to all, free from advertising or paywalls, and independent from agencies. They tend to be especially valuable for descending trails. Live Streams. Spikes tend to be especially useful for descending trails. With some melting already underway and compaction caused by freeze-thaw cycles and hiker traffic, conditions will deteriorate for snowshoeing over the next few days, especially on more heavily traveled trails below 9000ft. They are not however required, depending upon your comfort level hiking on shallow variable snow, mixed with slushy and icy patches. Conditions remain very unsettled for the first week of January. There is currently no further precipitation in the forecasts. Spikes are recommended. These icy slopes are notoriously treacherous. Vehicles not parked in these spaces may be ticketed and/or towed. 2-3 inches on 9th November), Saddle Junction/approx. 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. Lightly cloudy conditions made for a delightful hike on the evening of Monday 21st ascending San Jacinto Peak via Marion Mountain and Deer Spring trails, descending the east side (Devils Slide, Wellman, and Peak trails). Altitudes are approximate. Cautious navigation is strongly recommended everywhere. Snow depths measured at various locations on the trail system are given at the foot of this posting. Some winters are better than others, with wet years producing several feet of snow in the high country, while dry years producing a dusting or two. 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. However by this afternoon, melting was already underway below 9000 ft on sun-exposed slopes. Their arrival followed a period of several days of temperatures well above seasonal the previous week which had produced some significant melting. 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. Spikes were not required even for descending on 14th. 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). Although not required, some hikers will find spikes useful especially for descending. Please check this page for periodic updates the most recent is at the top throughout the multiple day storm sequence. On the morning of Friday 6th 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. 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