By the afternoon of 15th, melting was already underway below 7000 ft. Snowshoes are no longer required on the established trail system, which is now too compacted for snowshoes. 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. Above Little Round Valley the track through the snow does not follow the trail route to San Jacinto Peak, and is steep and direct. Forest Service campgrounds at Boulder Basin, Marion Mountain, and Fern Basin are now closed for the season. Further strong winds and blowing powder had eliminated much of these tracks again by Wednesday, and I again largely re-broke trail that day too. San Jacinto Ranger District 54270 Pine Crest P.O. Conversely in places scouring by the wind means the depths can be well below the average. There was a further 0.5 inch dusting of snow above 8000 ft on Thursday 29th (as I describe in this video). Forest Service campgrounds at Boulder Basin, Marion Mountain, and Fern Basin, and the State Park campground at Stone Creek, are closed for the season. 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. SAN JACINTO (MSJC1) Lat: 33.81528NLon: 116.64194WElev: 8616ft. At the Peak on Wednesday 11th January 2023 at 0915 the air temperature was 24.0F (-4C), with a windchill temperature of 5.8F (-15C), 74% relative humidity, and a bitter NNW wind sustained at 19 mph gusting to 24.5 mph. Effective 26th January 2023 the State Park closed the section of Skyline Trail that falls within its jurisdiction, above 5800 ft elevation, until further notice due to dangerous weather conditions. In Idyllwild (at 5550 ft) additional light rain this morning has added up to 0.1 inch. 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. Snowshoes are no longer required anywhere on the established trail system, where snow is now too shallow, icy and compacted. UPDATE Wednesday 22nd: the first of four storms expected over the next eight days, the sixteenth storm of this winter, produced a very light snowfall but bitterly cold conditions in the San Jacinto mountains overnight. There was no evidence of hiker tracks on Fuller Ridge Trail or Seven Pines Trail as of Monday 23rd January. Details of snow depths measured at various locations on the trail system are given at the foot of this posting. Trails remain icy due to daily freeze/thaw cycles and compaction from hiker traffic, and spikes are useful throughout the trail system above about 9000 ft (lower in places). Spikes tend to be most valuable for descending even when not needed for ascending. Hikers who have an ice axe (and know how to use it) may find it useful in places on this short section of trail. However a couple more inches of snow are expected this afternoon, and also on 2nd and 5th January. If camping in the Mt. Snow on this east slope is drifted, and remains up to 12 inches deep in places. The total snow accumulation was ultimately very close to the predictions given by forecasts in the days prior to the storm, and notably it was the heaviest snowfall in the first half of November for at least a decade. On 21st I again barebooted (i.e. Reliable tracks are in place (at least) for Devils Slide Trail through to San Jacinto Peak via Wellman Divide, and for the entire Deer Springs Trail. About 6-10 inches of snow are forecast for the high country on Saturday 14th, with 1-2 inches possible at the elevation of Idyllwild (preceded by 1-2 inches of rain). SNOW DEPTHS measured on 1st January 2023 are as follows. Early on the morning of Saturday 17th I broke trail back-and-forth across the 0.4 mile section of South Ridge Trail between Chinquapin Flat/PCT and Tahquitz Peak which now has a lightly traveled posthole track to follow through the drifted powder (photo below). Note that average depth is given; due to strong winds accompanying storms there is extensive drifting, often accumulating in the trails. Snow from the moderate storm on 8th-9th November (summarized in a prior Report) has been melting steadily as temperatures in the past week have been above seasonal. They tend to be especially useful for descending trails. Initially a cold system that brought 2-3 inches of snow to elevations between 4500 ft and 9000 ft. A short video summary of what we found when we broke trail up Devils Slide that morning. This may continue for several weeks, or could change given further fresh snowfall forecast. 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). "My friend noticed the clouds and the snow on the mountains and we started looking at it and taking pictures of it and then she said, 'that's an avalanche,'" said Schwartz, who called the sight a once-in-a-lifetime experience. By using snowshoes, crampons, or even just microspikes, we were able to hike Mount San Jacinto's summit every month of the year. It is possible they may deteriorate even further with some warming from direct sunlight. 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. Thank you so much for your support. Conversely in places scouring by the wind means the depths are well below the average. Snow Play at Mount San Jacinto Park Easily accessible from Palm Springs, this snowy mountain top is only a short ride up the mountain. Combined with a weakening sun at this time of year, snow melt will generally be slow at upper elevations, and conditions will be ideal for freeze/thaw cycles and hence icy trails. The Get it Done app can help you report blocked storm drains, potholes, and broken streetlights. While the snow was not especially deep, it still took about double the time of a completely dry ascent. Snowshoes are likely to become useful (even essential in early January), at least above about 9000 ft, if there is significant snowfall during the coming week or so as forecast. Hundreds of SoCal students snowed in at mountain camps for days. Since the depths given in the previous Report, there had been very minor storms on 28th and 29th December, which added a couple of inches at the highest elevations, down to 0.5 inch at 8000 ft. Spikes are not needed yet, but that will change soon with increasing compaction and freeze/thaw cycles. Vehicles not parked in these spaces may be ticketed and/or towed. The second system, possible in a broad time window between 2nd and 4th December, may produce significant snow in the high country (forecasts have ranged widely from 0-30 inches above 10,000 ft!) As always after storms in the San Jacinto range be aware of considerable ice fall from overhead trees. Snow cover is only 50% below 6700 ft, about 95% up to 7200 ft, and continuous thereafter. 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. PCT Mile 151) this morning, and recorded a short video available here on YouTube. Please check this page for periodic updates the most recent is at the top throughout the multiple day storm sequence. Snowshoes are no longer required anywhere on the established trail system, which is now too compacted for snowshoes. A major warming trend will significantly change conditions on the trail system in the next week or two. With such mild storms this winter, it is interesting to speculate how much snow would currently be around the high peaks if air temperatures had been just a couple of degrees cooler. Many thanks to Florian Boyd for bringing this to my attention. This is followed by steady moderate to heavy snowfall starting in the afternoon of Wednesday 22nd and continuing into the early hours of Sunday 26th February. All trails above about 5000 ft are currently snow-covered. 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. An excellent track is easy to follow to Little Round Valley. Note that average depth is given; due to strong winds accompanying storms there is extensive drifting. Although not essential in the moderate depth powder, spikes are strongly recommended and many hikers will find them useful especially for descending. There is a well-traveled track from Saddle Junction to Tahquitz Peak. Spikes are recommended, at least for descending. So, that avalanche looks very large.. On 24th the road had about 30% patchy ice cover. Altitudes are approximate. South Ridge Road is now clear of ice and snow. Melting is expected to be steady and start to accelerate into February, but freeze/thaw cycles, compaction, and refreezing overnight may ultimately combine to produce very icy conditions. Devils Slide Trail has a well traveled and compacted track to Saddle Junction in place already. They are not however required, depending upon your comfort level hiking on shallow variable snow, potentially mixed with slushy and icy patches. This is one of the largest gains in elevation over such a small horizontal distance in the contiguous United States . Spikes tend to be especially useful for descending trails. The 0.4 mile section of South Ridge Trail between Chinquapin Flat/PCT and Tahquitz Peak has a lightly traveled posthole track to follow through the drifted powder. Hikers should be prepared for temperatures below freezing in the high country, and generally far freezing when considering wind chill effects. 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