2 day hike: Tram->Mt. San Jacinto->PCT->Fuller Ridg

[nobohiker]

Hello all and thanks for reading my post.

I am planning a two day trip on the route described in the subject line around April/May, but considering that this has been a low snow year, I am wondering if I can possibly do this sooner. What is the best way to find out about trail conditions, especially around Fuller Ridge? Has anyone been there recently, any trip reports? I'd be also interested in water reports for that route.

Thanks for your help & Happy Trails!

..and yes, I am aware that this is not a good are to spend the night during a Winter storm

[Sally]

Although I have not been up there all winter , my guess is that you may be better off doing this trip sooner than waiting until April/May. I'm afraid the lack of water may be more of an issue than bad trail conditions. There is a storm however that is SUPPOSED to hit late next week. I'm doubtful that it will change the conditions much.

I wasn't sure if you are planning an out-and-back (Tram> Fuller>Tram) or point-to-point (Tram > Fuller Ridge Trailhead) If you are doing the latter, the dirt road to the trailhead may be kind of messed up because of last summer's thunder storms. If you don't have a high-clearance vehicle you may want to check road condition.

Happy trails to you, too!

[nobohiker]

Although I have not been up there all winter , my guess is that you may be better off doing this trip sooner than waiting until April/May. I'm afraid the lack of water may be more of an issue than bad trail conditions. There is a storm however that is SUPPOSED to hit late next week. I'm doubtful that it will change the conditions much.

Unfortunately I can't go earlier as I am not from SoCal, I'll have to fly in. Late March is the earliest I could go.

I wasn't sure if you are planning an out-and-back (Tram> Fuller>Tram) or point-to-point (Tram > Fuller Ridge Trailhead) If you are doing the latter, the dirt road to the trailhead may be kind of messed up because of last summer's thunder storms. If you don't have a high-clearance vehicle you may want to check road condition.

This is the exact route I'd like to go:
https://goo.gl/maps/fLXIF
(31.4 Miles, including the Mt San Jacinto Summit Trail)
No dirt road is involved here. I'll have to cab back to the Tram assuming I can leave the car there overnight. I'd be ok carrying water for 1.5 days, but preferably like to get water along the way.

Thanks!

[Sally]

Hi nobohiker,

A-hah! Now I understand! You are ending your hike at the Snowcreek/Pct end rather than the Fuller Ridge TH. That will be a very nice but long overnighter. Ellen and I have done the same hike but in reverse (ending at the tram) as a VERY long dayhike. I think Ellen has done it 3 times (the definition of insanity.) We started at about 3 AM and made it to the tram with a little time to spare before it closed. Nice thing about dayhike, not so much stuff to carry!

I'm looking forward to your trip report and lots of pics. There was a fire last summer that, on a map, appeared to get close to the spur of that really long switchback on the PCT. Curious to see how close it got to the trail.

Have a great hike!

[nobohiker]

Thanks Sally!

I’d love to do this as a day hike but the Tram operating hours prevent that and since I am heading north on the Pacific Crest Trail, continuing where I left off after my last section hike (near Deer Springs), I’d like to head north from that point on.
I’ll keep watching the site for trip reports and snow conditions as I get closer to March, but please let me know if there is a good source for snow conditions or trip reports for that area.

Section Hiker Rick

[nobohiker]

I completed this amazing hike today:
Friday afternoon I took the Tram up to Long Valley, then I hiked up to the peak just to arrive 30 min before sun set. Observed an amazing sunset and spent the night near the peak, then went up to the peak again Saturday morning for great Sunrise. Then via Wellman divide to Strawberry Junction -> Pacific Crest -> Fuller Ridge and then spent another night 8 Miles before snow Creek Village, where I then arrived early morning.

I'll post pictures once I am near my computer again. It's a great Mountain, get out there and enjoy.

Rick

[JohnRosen]

Wow nobohiker, sounds like a great time. We must've just crossed paths. i was up there as well. where about the peak did you spent your night?

Also, did you see anything unusual on the trail?

I completed this amazing hike today:
Friday afternoon I took the Tram up to Long Valley, then I hiked up to the peak just to arrive 30 min before sun set. Observed an amazing sunset and spent the night near the peak, then went up to the peak again Saturday morning for great Sunrise. Then via Wellman divide to Strawberry Junction -> Pacific Crest -> Fuller Ridge and then spent another night 8 Miles before snow Creek Village, where I then arrived early morning.

I'll post pictures once I am near my computer again. It's a great Mountain, get out there and enjoy.

Rick

[Sally]

Nice! Looking forward to the pics.

[nobohiker]

We must've just crossed paths. i was up there as well.

I have seen several hikers come down the mountain,so maybe we met

where about the peak did you spent your night?

The plan was to spend the night at Little Round Valley, but after watching the sun set I decided to check in at the SJ Hilton (aka hut). It was too late for room service though
That allowed my to see the sunrise the next morning, which was even better than the sun set...

Also, did you see anything unusual on the trail?

The only unusual thing I noticed were two hikers which were at the peak around midnight, they stayed 10 minutes or so and then went back down. Not sure what the purpose is of such a trip, maybe someone lost a bet?

The other thing worth opining out is that once you go past the trails leading to either Idyllwild or the tram station, you are on your own. Once past the well man trail, I ran into two other hikers over a 25 Mile section, that is it...and one of those two was charging up the Fuller Ridge trail at 3am singing and talking really loud. I think this must have been Ellen, Sally referred to her earlier on that thread

Still trying to figure out how to post pictures here, I think I need to host them someplace else and then link them...working on that.