snowpack on mt san jacintocelebrities who live in east london

These icy slopes are notoriously treacherous. All trails above about 8000 ft are obscured by snow at this time, and cautious navigation is strongly recommended everywhere. Idyllwild (at 5550 ft): 0 inch (3.0 inches on 12th December). 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. 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. At the Peak 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. As described above, crampons (always in conjunction with an ice axe) are currently recommended everywhere above about 8500 ft, and 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, on both flanks but especially on the north face of Tahquitz Peak. Spikes are not essential but will be useful for most hikers, especially for descending. There is steep, dangerous snow along the PCT on Mount San Jacinto, and in the mountains further north all the way to Canada. 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. On the plus side, as I had hoped, the cold meant that the exposed snow slopes from 9200 ft and above were largely firm and icy (example photo below). UPDATE Monday 13th February: the first of two consecutive minor storms came through this morning, and produced more snow than was generally forecast. Current trail conditions are oddly reminiscent of spring, with snow distribution and iciness feeling more typical for April or May than late November. Thank you so much for your support. There was thin patchy snow at the trailhead (4900 ft) and then it was largely continuous above 5800 ft. UPDATE Tuesday 13th December 2022: This morning Anabel and I broke trail up South Ridge Road and South Ridge Trail to Old Lookout Flat (7600 ft). They are not currently recommended for traversing moderate or higher angle slopes above 9000 ft that have challenging ice underlying powder. Altitudes are approximate. Reliable tracks are in place (at least) for Devils Slide Trail. A short video giving a feel for current snow conditions at San Jacinto Peak is available here on YouTube. 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. SNOW DEPTHS measured on 12th November 2022 are as follows (measured on 15th for Deer Springs Trail locations). Forecasts are increasingly confident of a moderate storm on Sunday 11th, with up to 1.5 inch of rain at the elevation of Idyllwild, turning into 1-3 inches of light snow on Sunday night, while 8-14 inches of snow are forecast for the high country. The park's namesake, Mount San Jacinto, rises to 11,000 feet at San Jacinto Peak and offers hikers stunning granite rock faces, subalpine forests, and a lush, fern laden forest floor. 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. The freeze level will initially be above 10,000 ft, ultimately only falling to about 9000 ft, so many of the main access trails to the high country may get no new snowfall. Black Mountain Road also closed on 7th November to vehicle traffic at the gate 1.7 miles up from Highway 243. South Ridge Road is now clear of ice and snow. Only five of these require cutting, and I was able to remove three by hand last week. Details of snow depths measured at various locations on the trail system are given at the foot of this posting. My blogging throughout the storms gave more day-to-day detail and is available here. San Jacinto Peak (10810 ft): storm total 12 inches (total depth 17-20 inches), Wellman Divide (9700 ft): 8 inches (total 9 inches), Annies Junction/approx. Spikes tend to be most valuable for descending even when not needed for ascending. The Get it Done app can help you report blocked storm drains, potholes, and broken streetlights. Devils Slide Trail is almost clear of icy snow to about 7700 ft although some extended dirty icy patches remain below that. My pre-dawn hike up Devils Slide Trail on 11th January was delightful, primarily because there was the noise of running water almost everywhere. There are two new treefall hazards to pass on the upper trail. One thing Holden was sure of, however, is that Sundays avalanche appeared to be no joke. I made a concerted effort to put in a track as faithful to the trail routes as conditions permitted, both up and down. Sadly at first light the precipitation turned to drizzle at all elevations on the western slope between (at least) Idyllwild and 8100 ft at Saddle Junction, and consequently the snow quality was deteriorating fast at mid elevations this morning. Even when the gate is closed there are nine legal parking spaces this side of the locked gate (near the upper Ernie Maxwell trailhead). I was very happy to find no new treefall hazards down on Spitler Peak Trail. New treefall hazards on Devils Slide Trail, South Ridge Trail, and Spitler Peak Trail, have all been reported. 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). Forest Service campgrounds at Boulder Basin, Marion Mountain, and Fern Basin are closed for the season. The trail is clearest above immediately above LRV and again close to the Peak junction. Provisional forecasts suggest the later storm systems, around 25th-27th February, could produce much more significant snowfall, potentially 10-12 inches in Idyllwild and 24+ inches at the highest elevations. 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. In my most recent survey there were at least 82 treefall hazards between PCT Miles 170-175 including 20+ major ones, and about six more on PCT Miles 175-177. Conversely, lower down Devils Slide Trail is a combination of very light snow cover, slush, and multiple stream crossings, with much water flowing down the trail. Snow cover is shallow up to about 7000 ft, but relatively heavy above 8000 ft. Melting on sun-exposed slopes is already well underway, e.g., on lower Devils Slide Trail, South Ridge and Deer Springs trails. In addition, there is the possibility of minor snow storms on Thursday 19th and around Sunday 29th January. 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): 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. Todays rainfall total has passed an inch in Idyllwild, and various locations in Pine Cove (5800-6500 ft) were reporting 1.1 to 1.3 inches two hours ago. 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. Cautious navigation remains required for those who do not have significant experience of hiking this trail. At the Peak on Thursday 8th December 2022 at 0900 the air temperature was 28.4F (-2C), with a windchill temperature of 12.7F (-11C), 11% relative humidity, and a fresh SW wind sustained at 7 mph gusting to 9.3 mph. UPDATE Wednesday 14th December 2022: Early this morning Anabel and I broke trail up Spitler Peak Trail to the PCT. However they are not required, depending on your comfort level with postholing in drifted snow of moderate depth. The peak is also frequently called Mount San Jacinto. Fresh snowfall in Long Valley is now at about four inches. The traverse from Old Lookout Flat to the bottom of the switchbacks has about 40% icy snow cover. The northerly wind was bitter at the Peak and got stronger throughout the morning as we descended. Note that tracks discussed here may become obscured by heavy drifting of snow from strong winds combined with extensive ice fall from trees overhead. Note that average depth is given; due to strong winds accompanying the storm there is extensive drifting, often particularly accumulating in the trails. Snow depths are currently excellent for snowshoeing above about 7000 ft, where trails havent been too heavily traveled and compacted. As I described above, spikes tend to be much more valuable for descending trails rather than ascending. It turned to occasional light snow at about 1500, but less than 0.5 inch has accumulated so far (at 5550 ft). However, snowshoes will become increasingly useful as snow depths increase over the coming days; they may initially be useful as low as 4000 ft, steadily rising to 5000-6000 ft next week. Devils Slide Trail has a moderately traveled track to Saddle Junction. The twelfth storm system of winter 2022/23 impacted the San Jacinto mountains with a minor snow storm on 29th-30th January. Note that average depth is given; due to strong winds accompanying the storm there is extensive drifting, often particularly accumulating in the trails. I recorded a short video at the Peak, available here on YouTube. Their arrival followed a period of several days of temperatures well above seasonal the previous week which had produced some significant melting. 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. The Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail is largely clear of icy snow, with a few patches remaining, mostly close to Humber Park. Potentially dangerous cold is currently forecast for the highest peaks for 14th-23rd January at least. Idyllwild (at 5550 ft): 3 inches (all from latest storms, admixed with 5.06 inches rain on 14th-16th) already melting steadily on 18th. Very cautious navigation is strongly recommended everywhere. 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). My tracks from Wednesday 18th January from Humber Park to/from San Jacinto Peak will be largely visible but may become somewhat obscured in places. Thank you so much for your support. The Ernie Maxwell Trail is functionally clear of icy snow, although a few minor patches remain, especially close to Humber Park. Currently only one major trail route has been traveled and even that is partially obscured by icefall, melting and drifted snow. In combination with the four inches of rain since Saturday, not to mention the many inches of rain earlier this winter, the mid elevations, including the mountain communities, are now best described as a very soggy and slushy mess. In a video taken at the city's tram station, flurries can be seen falling, and sticking, onto the ground. The PCT from Snow Creek south to at least Saddle Junction (roughly Miles 207-179) has a clear track to follow. I recorded a short video at San Jacinto Peak early on the morning of Wednesday 9th November (available here) which gives a feel for conditions as the storm finally cleared. On my hike up to San Jacinto Peak late this morning there was a little drizzle on most of Devils Slide Trail, then an on/off mix of drizzle, freezing rain,, and fine snow in the high country. As mentioned last week, current trail conditions are oddly reminiscent of spring, with snow distribution and iciness typical of April rather than December. "Here's the thing, who would realize it was an avalanche?" Altitudes are approximate. Every year seems to have its unique challenges and 2022 has been no exception. For example, San Jacinto Peak received about 9 inches of fresh powder (on top of about 2-4 patchy inches of icy snow remaining from November) on Sunday 11th, with an additional inch falling on Monday 12th. I have kept crampons on for most of the descent, removing them most of the way down Devils Slide Trail. Currently crampons, with an ice axe (and knowledge of how to use both), are strongly recommended. 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. All trails above about 6500 ft remain lightly (or above 9000 ft, moderately) snow-covered. You will encounter 35 to 45 degree snow slopes, with the angle increasing as you get near the top. My track largely followed the established route of the trail, especially below the Fuller Ridge junction, but higher up the track is much more direct in places. Most people hike 2-3 hours to the tram for a ride down off the mountain. Conversely in places scouring by the wind means the depths are well below the average. The 0.4 mile section of South Ridge Trail between Chinquapin Flat/PCT and Tahquitz Peak has no steps to follow through the steeply angled icy snow. Snow on this east slope is drifted, and remains 3-8 inches deep in places. 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, the Wellman Trail, and uppermost South Ridge Trail, on both flanks but especially on the north face of Tahquitz Peak. The high winds forecast did not materialize, although gusts up to 35 mph have been enough to cause very heavy drifting. This is a summary of conditions following the tenth and eleventh Pacific storms of winter 2022/23 to impact the San Jacinto range, that were basically a double atmospheric river event spread across 14th-17th January. It was near-whiteout conditions due to wild spindrift above Wellman Divide, but the new snow was firm and overall made for good snowshoeing conditions. 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 unavailable for legal parking. Spikes are recommended but not required depending upon your comfort level hiking on angled icy snow. 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. 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. Spikes could potentially be used to ascend to the highest peaks at this time, although crampons are certainly safer for traversing. About six inches of snow fell at San Jacinto Peak (10,810ft) decreasing to 0.5 inch in upper Fern Valley (at c.6000 ft). 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. The first number is the current average total snow depth at that location, followed in parentheses by the depth of fresh snow added by the latest storm on Thursday 5th. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Locations in Pine Cove up to 6500 ft were reporting 3.1 to 3.8 inches of rain by 0500 today. The powder was lovely and soft, and overlying a firm icy layer (from all the freezing rain). On 21st I again barebooted (i.e. Trails rather than ascending cold is currently forecast for the season i described above, spikes tend be... Maxwell Scenic Trail is functionally clear of icy snow to about 7700 although... Kept crampons on for most of the way down Devils Slide Trail on 11th January delightful. 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