and snow conditions. Note however that snow depth itself is rarely indicative of the difficulty (or otherwise) of hiking a particular trail. 7-Day Weather Live Satellite & Weather Radar. Spikes are strongly recommended as the snow is now hard, compacted and very icy in places. Steady melting of snow, especially on sun-exposed slopes, and freeze-thaw cycles will combine to change trail conditions and potentially the preferred equipment for the terrain. It finally stopped snowing at about 0700, and some blue sky has resulted in spectacular vistas. Further light snow is expected starting this evening, followed by much heavier snow overnight on 28th February-1st March. Many thanks to Kyle Eubanks who I chatted with at the Peak this afternoon. On 19th the cold icy early morning snow had good bite for grippy boots and I barebooted all the way to San Jacinto Peak. Currently only one major trail route has been traveled and even that is partially obscured by icefall, melting and drifted snow. Melting and freeze/thaw cycles will combine to change trail conditions and potentially the preferred equipment for the terrain for the remainder of February. Three significant trees are now down across the trail, including two major hazards that are not easy to hike around both roughly halfway along the trail. I have kept crampons on for most of the descent, removing them most of the way down Devils Slide Trail. 68mi . Santa Rosa Truck Trail (7S02) also closed to vehicle traffic for the winter on 7th November 2022. It remains well above freezing there, currently at 41F. Both storms produced more snow than was generally forecast. Spikes at least, but preferably crampons, are required for the uppermost switchbacks (see photo below). Spikes could potentially be used to ascend to the highest peaks at this time, although crampons are certainly safer for traversing (e.g., see photo below). February has been more settled than the very eventful January, but temperatures remain on something of a rollercoaster ride. Precipitation on Sunday 4th into the early hours of Monday 5th is significantly less likely in the latest models. Fresh snow at San Jacinto Peak now measures 3-4 inches, snow in Long Valley (8600 ft) at three inches, and rainfall in Idyllwild since 0700 this morning at 0.6 inch. Snowshoes will remain valuable anywhere off trail above about 8000 ft for the foreseeable future. Zelle, Venmo, and PayPal are all options. At the Peak 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. This information will be updated daily over the next week as details are changing significantly with every new forecast. This is frankly grossly misleading and in reality both trails no longer exist and are so completely overgrown I strongly advise hikers do not attempt to follow them. The highest expected temperature is a subzero 21.2F (-6C), while the lowest temperature will be a freezing 17.6F (-8C). This was tricky for postholing which went through the ice layer. Thank you so much for your support. Icy snow cover is 60% overall, becoming increasingly patchy below about 7000 ft, and again in the sun-exposed areas above 8000 ft. Spikes are useful, especially for descending. 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. As I described above, spikes tend to be much more valuable for descending trails rather than ascending. Relatively little snow is therefore expected throughout the mid elevations including Idyllwild. Forest Service campgrounds at Boulder Basin, Marion Mountain, and Fern Basin are closed for the season. The lower half of the trail should be largely clear of snow by the weekend. However the precipitation amounts and probabilities for both storm systems have varied greatly in recent forecasts, and the models seem to be especially uncertain about details of the second storm (approx. Eventually with compaction of the trails caused by increasing hiker traffic and freeze/thaw cycles snowshoes may steadily become less useful, however they will certainly remain valuable for off-trail travel in the high country well into February at least. Spikes will not be required by most hikers, depending upon comfort level hiking on patchy angled icy snow. An excellent track is easy to follow to Little Round Valley. Spikes tend to be especially useful for descending trails. Most notable for our region is the remaining uncertainty within the meteorological models, which could result in us receiving half (or double!) February is forecast to be somewhat more settled than the very eventful January. Note however that snow depth is rarely indicative of the challenge (or otherwise) of a given trail. UPDATE Thursday 23rd: Idyllwild woke up to about four inches of fresh snow overnight, and it snowed fairly consistently today (averaging 0.75 inch/hour), adding six more inches by late afternoon. At the Peak on Monday 13th February 2023 at 1010 the air temperature was 16.8F (-10C), with a windchill temperature of -1.3F (-19C), 95% relative humidity, and a wintry NNW wind sustained at 7 mph gusting to 13.2 mph. Spikes could potentially be used to ascend to the highest peaks at this time, although crampons are certainly safer for traversing. Devils Slide Trail has a well traveled and compacted track to Saddle Junction in place already. Little Round Valley (9800 ft): 45 inches, heavily drifted, Wellman Divide (9700 ft): 40 inches (45 inches), Annies Junction/PCT Mile 180.8 (9070 ft): 44 inches (45-48 inches), Tahquitz Peak (8836 ft): 25 inches, heavily drifted to 40 inches in places (measured 20th January), Seven Pines Trail junction with Deer Springs Trail (8700 ft): 36 inches, Strawberry Junction/PCT Mile 183 (8100 ft): 15 inches, Saddle Junction/PCT Mile 179 (8070 ft): 19 inches (21 inches), Suicide Rock Trail junction with Deer Springs Trail (6950 ft): 1-3 inches, Devils Slide trailhead at Humber Park (6550 ft): 2-4 inches (5-6 inches), Idyllwild (at 5550 ft): 0-2 inches (3 inches). Hikers should be prepared for temperatures below freezing in the high country, and generally far freezing when considering wind chill effects. Forest Service campgrounds at Boulder Basin, Marion Mountain, and Fern Basin are now closed for the winter. Average snow cover is 60%, but is nearly continuous near Humber Park. Altitudes are approximate. However the high country has been largely above this precipitation, with the sun even trying to peek out at times in Long Valley, and only about another inch of snow was added there this morning. Temperatures on the morning of 15th were the lowest of this winter, and among the lowest of the past decade. Windy, with a west wind 45 to 55 mph decreasing to 35 . Icy snow cover is 80% overall, becoming increasingly patchy below about 7000 ft, and again in the sun-exposed areas above 8000 ft. Spikes are recommended, at least for descending. The total snow accumulation was ultimately very close to that forecast in the days immediately prior to the storm. Time of day, temperature, and sun exposure all have significant impacts on the nature of the snow, in turn changing the conditions underfoot, and hence both the hiking difficulty and the preferred traction device (if any). If there are Road Closed signs further down as was often the case last winter then those nine spaces are also unavailable for legal parking. Sunrise was at 6:20 am and sunset will be at 5:38 pm; the daylight will last for 11h and 18min. Marion Mountain Trail (surveyed at least weekly in past month) now has only about 20% icy snow cover, largely in the central section between about 7400-8200 ft elevation which is less sun-exposed. Snow Play at Mount San Jacinto Park Easily accessible from Palm Springs, this snowy mountain top is only a short ride up the mountain. A very mild system with 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 above 10,000 ft. My posthole/glissading track between LRV and San Jacinto Peak is very direct and steep, and of limited help to an ascending hiker. 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. SNOW DEPTHS measured on 9th November 2022 are as follows. Mountain Sunrise Hike and Meditation in Palm Springs. Nevertheless Seven Pines remains a genuine wilderness trail unlike the relatively wide, bare, and obvious routes of, for example, Devils Slide or Marion Mountain trails. As discussed above, additional snowfall expected on 10th and 14th-16th January will further complicate the trail conditions. Snowshoes can be used for ascending the highest peaks, but with considerable caution. If you have found this Report useful, please consider using this link to the Donate page. Spikes are generally not required for ascending, but most hikers find them useful at least for descending. 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 not essential in the moderate depth powder, spikes are strongly recommended and many hikers will find them useful especially for descending. Temperatures have been largely above seasonal in the first week of the month, then following a brief cold spell another period of temperatures well above seasonal is forecast for 8th-10th. An additional six inches of accumulation today brings the total in Idyllwild since 21st February to 20.5 inches. 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. Snow cover is only 50% below 6700 ft, about 95% up to 7200 ft, and continuous thereafter. Note that average depth is given; due to strong winds accompanying the storm there is extensive drifting, often particularly accumulating in the trails. I put spikes on at the Peak for the descent and ultimately kept on my Kahtoola microspikes until about 9000 ft, one mile north of Saddle Junction. It does not accurately follow the established trail route in significant sections but is navigable. Even when the gate is closed there are nine legal parking spaces this side of the locked gate (near the upper Ernie Maxwell trailhead). MT. but her friend Joyce Schwartz took some short videos from which this still image is taken. Spitler Peak Trail had 10 new treefall hazards, almost all in the upper switchbacks. Spikes tend to be especially useful for descending trails. Spikes are not required. Generally considered a challenging route. 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