PCT Apache Peak to Tahquitz Peak and Saddle Jct

[MountAbbey]

Any snow reports for this stretch of the PCT? Any particular places to worry about (steep traverses)? Snow shoes or crampons or both or neither?

I'll be headed up from Hwy 74 this weekend and thought I'd ask the experts.
Thanks.
bob

[Ulysses]

All of the PCT thru hikers I have talked with here in Idyllwild the past week have said that section is treacherous due to snow and ice. Many have come off the mountain at Spitler Peak or the Zen trail due to the conditions, and go back in at Black Mountain. I did talk to a guy a couple of weeks ago who made it through with crampons.

[dan9098]

We were on Apache Peak on Saturday and Sunday the 14th and 15th. No snow in the vicinity but to the north at higher elevation there was snow. Given that many thru hikers had their snow issues 10 days to two weeks ago I suspect that while there may still be snow, it won't be that bad now.

[MountAbbey]

Thanks Dan. That seems to reflect what the latest PCT journals are saying too. Hope to see everyone up on the mountain.

[Ulysses]

OK. I guess I'm a little slow. Just saw Bruce at Nomad Ventures in Idy and he said that the thru-hikers have been getting through that section OK this past week. The snow is melting fast. Maybe we'll see you on the trail this weekend.

[Ulysses]

How was the hike?

I made it to Apache (via Spitler Peak trail) Saturday afternoon, but only had 1/2 day to play.

[MountAbbey]

The wind was crazy strong and ice was building up on the trees from Fobes Saddle north. It was a cold weekend with mostly freezing temperatures.

We had snow falling and accumulating from around Antsel Rock north. And by Murray Canyon we were walking on 1+ inch. The entire trail beyond that to Saddle Junction was very little trail and mostly snow on top of frozen snow drifts. My ice ax and crampons came in handy.

The cars in Humber Park had an inch or more of snow when we arrived at 7pm.