The cloud largely dissipated on my descent, affording some spectacular vistas. South Fork camps such as Dry and Dollar Lakes are also filling several weeks in advance.If you want to hike during the week, you have a better chance of getting a permit.Self-issue permits aren't always available - they oftentimes run out, or get stolen. Note that tracks are being obscured very quickly by drifting of snow from strong winds, sometimes in hours or even minutes (see photo below). Details of snow depths measured at various locations on the trail system are given at the foot of this posting. Currently there is about 1.5 inches of fresh snow at San Jacinto Peak, on top of the very patchy and icy 2-4 inches remaining from early November. 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. Snow on this east slope is drifted, and remains 3-8 inches deep in places. Rescuers typically are called out about 90 times a year, but rarely in such close succession. Such warm conditions will soon be a distant memory. Your contribution keeps the Report available to all, free from advertising or paywalls, and independent from agencies. Idyllwild (at 5550 ft): 0 inch (no snow, 1.26 inches rain on 10th). Use this trailhead address: South Fork Trail 1E04, 40800-40894 Jenks Lake Rd W, Angelus Oaks, CA 92305. potentially dangerous) windchill temperatures. Given colder temperatures for the foreseeable future, melting is expected to slow (or almost stop in the high country) and spikes will remain recommended well into December at least. 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). Although the snow is not particularly deep (10-12 inches) it is heavily drifted and steeply angled, and has at least one ice layer underneath the fresh powder. Long Valley (8600 ft) looks to have added about 12 inches since last night. Snow depths are expected to change multiple times over the next ten days due to mixed precipitation, including even possibly loss of snow at mid elevations due to rainfall. Snowshoes are not advisable due to the angle of the icy snow. This is expected to be a seasonal closure until next year. 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. but her friend Joyce Schwartz took some short videos from which this still image is taken. Type of Hike Day hike. San Bernardino, CA 92408 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. Current Trail Conditions There is a well-traveled track on light icy snow from Long Valley/Tram to Wellman Divide. After a 10 mile uphill grind, we summited at 10:45am and it was stunning: beautiful . Comments Off on Updated El Dorado closure area. 805-579-1116 evolverealtyca@gmail.com. They tend to be especially useful for descending. The fresh snow overnight could have covered any tracks or other signs of a campsite, but "if he's still moving, we'd be able to see his footprints clearly," Amrhein said. They are not however required, depending upon your comfort level hiking on shallow variable snow, potentially mixed with slushy and icy patches. Explore this 19.0-mile out-and-back trail near Forest Falls, California. This rain produces huge masses of ice in the trees, including chunks I have estimated as weighing 40-100 lb this winter, which can dislodge dramatically once direct sunlight warms the trees. UPDATE Thursday 15th December 2022: Early this morning I hiked to San Jacinto Peak from Humber via Devils Slide, Wellman and Peak trails. We hiked to top of San Gorgonio yesterday (8/23/09) via the Vivian Creek trail. Currently crampons, always with an ice axe, and advanced knowledge of how to use this equipment, are required. Please allow at least 72 hours for processing of permits.And as a reminder, self-issue permits are only good for that day.In addition to the wilderness permits an Adventure Pass is required for each vehicle. Caming is allowed. 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. 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). At the Peak on Thursday 15th December 2022 at 0715 the air temperature was 28.0F (-2C), with a windchill temperature of 13.9F (-10C), 52% relative humidity, and a chilly WNW wind sustained at 9 mph gusting to 14.5 mph. Note however that snow depth is rarely indicative of the ease (or otherwise) of hiking a given trail. Banff World Tour Films 2023; Ranger Talks; FAQ; Wilderness Permits. Spitler Peak Trail is now functionally clear of snow. Altitudes are approximate. When the gate is closed there are still nine legal parking spaces this side of the locked gate (which still require an Adventure Pass or equivalent to be displayed). Thank you so much for your support. Snow cover remains virtually continuous, but a few small patches are clearing below 7000 ft. Spikes are strongly recommended, at least for descending. The main track is clearest just above LRV and again close to the Peak junction. Sites that are currently available: (2) Palm Innovation Academy - 2:05 PM-5:35 PM (2) Three Rings Ranch Elementary - 3:00 PM-6:30 PM (1) Sundance Elementary 2:20 PM- 5:50 PM (2) Summerwind Trails- 2:20 PM-5:50 PM (2) San Gorgonio Middle School- 2:45 PM-6:15 PM (1) Mountain View Middle School- 2:30 PM-6:00 PM Incomplete applications and . This is the flattest portion of the PCT in the San Jacinto mountains, and snow depth currently averages about 13 inches. South Fork Trail is a popular 5.94-mile hike in the San Gorgonio Wilderness that gains around 4,600 feet of elevation. 6. Hopefully someone will update the trail description with respect to the total miles. San Jacinto Peak (10810 ft): 36-40 inches (winter max depth 45-48 inches), drifted >50 inches in places, Wellman Divide (9700 ft): 38 inches (45 inches), Annies Junction/PCT Mile 180.8 (9070 ft): 44 inches (48 inches), Long Valley (8600 ft): 20 inches (24 inches), Saddle Junction/PCT Mile 179 (8070 ft): 18 inches (22 inches), Devils Slide trailhead at Humber Park (6550 ft): 0-3 inches, partly melted by afternoon of 6th (6 inches), Idyllwild (at 5550 ft): <1.0 inch, largely melted by afternoon of 6th (4 inches). To the Vivian Creek trailhead: From interstate 10 at Redlands take Highway 38 exit (Orange Street or University Avenue) north several blocks to Hwy 38 and turn right. Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio offers an opportunity for you to make a difference in the lives of girls and young women. PCT Mile 181.8 (9070 ft): 9-10 inches (total 11-12 inches), Long Valley (8600 ft): 8 inches (8-9 inches), Saddle Junction/approx. Two and three-tenths miles further is High Creek Camp (water available - 9,200'). Free shipping for many products! However, relatively well-traveled tracks are now in place for most major trails (details below). Estimated Time: 9-12 hours. However excellent well-traveled and compacted tracks are now in place for almost all major trails (details below). Given cold temperatures for the foreseeable future, melting is expected to slow (or largely stop in the high country). From the large paved parking area, the trail starts on the opposite side of the road across from the vault toilet. single family is a 3 bed, 2.0 bath unit. And as a reminder, self-issue permits are only good for that day. Although not essential in the moderate depth powder, spikes are strongly recommended and many hikers will find them useful especially for descending. For closure information, please visit our official PCT closures page. UPDATE Tuesday 10th January: Another minor and relatively warm storm is passing through our mountains today. Some publications list the elevation as 11,502 feet. 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). In addition to snowshoes, and as conditions change, spikes are strongly recommended for the foreseeable future everywhere above about 6000ft. San Bernardino National Forest is closed to all public recreation activities due to extreme snow conditions. That fair weather in the valleys has fooled too many hikers, Weston said. Devils Slide Trail has a well traveled and compacted track to Saddle Junction in place already. Devils Slide Trail has a relatively well-traveled and compacted track to Saddle Junction in place already. Spikes are recommended especially in the morning as the snow is now hard, compacted and very icy in places. Most significantly in terms of snow conditions daytime temperatures at all elevations will be well above freezing for about a week starting 20th. There were no visible hiker tracks on Marion Mountain, Seven Pines, or Fuller Ridge trails, as of 15th February. They are not however required, depending upon your comfort level hiking on shallow variable snow, potentially mixed with slushy and/or icy patches (depending upon time of day). Their arrival followed a period of several days of temperatures well above seasonal the previous week which had produced some significant melting. Conditions immediately following last weeks snow storm, the second significant Pacific system of winter 2022/23, that impacted the San Jacinto mountains on 11th-12th December were summarized in the previous Report (available here). Seven Pines Trail has one set of hiker tracks through the snow since the storm in early November 2022. 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). Snowshoes are not advisable due to the angle of the icy snow.