New needing info

[Bigwookie009]

Hey guys I am new to the forum here and fairly new to hiking.
I want to climb all 3 of the Saints this year sort of as a new years thing, San Jacinto is the closest and first on my list. I would like to attempt to climb it fairly soon within the next month or two, I just got laid off so I have a lot of free time to climbing right now. Do you guys think in the next month or two the conditions will be good enough to climb without too much fancy gear? I cant afford to really by anything right now all I really have got is a good pair of hiking boots and a hydration pack.
So when do you guys think I could make it up? I could buy some gear if its fairly cheap if you think it would be something I really need but nothing too expensive. Also I am from Minnesota so I know how to handle my self in snow fairly well and have good snow clothing.
Thanks for any help guys, sorry for dragging on so long I am just really excited to climb this!

[Sally]

Hi Bigwookie and welcome to the board! I'm with you on wanting to climb the 3 Saints this year. The snow in the San Jacintos has been melting this week, but it can freeze back up, and there could even be new snow this week. It's pretty unpredictable what the conditions will be like in the next month or two. Since you're are fairly new to hiking you might want to consider taking a few "exploratory" hikes up there to get a feel for the terrain and see what your limitations are. If you can wait, eventually the conditions will make it possible to hike without any fancy gear. Have fun!

[halhiker]

Without gear you'd do best to plan to climb in summer. Right now snow requires some type of spikes on your boots to be safe (crampons or microspikes) and after the next snowfall snowshoes may be required. Winter travel in the mountains is best done by those with proper experience and gear or with someone with the experience and gear.

[Bigwookie009]

I see, as of right the most difficult climb Ive done is Mount Olympus in Utah its at 9k feet, me and a friend did it in 6 hours and it was not too bad.
I am going to be hiking up to Cuyamaca peak in the morning and in a few weeks I want to go up Cucamonga peak. Do you think Cucamonga would be something close to giving me a feel for San Jacinto?
I know it would be best to wait for summer, I may end up doing that. However I am a very impatient guy when I get something in my head I wanna do it as soon as I can, of course I am safe about it but I think you know what I mean.
Could some snow boots, or those chain like spikes that go on your shoes work? Ive seen some of those for 20 to 30 dollars which is in my price range.

[hvydrt]

Do you think Cucamonga would be something close to giving me a feel for San Jacinto?

Yes, in the summer, but Cucamunga is likely very icy right now. You would need to climb the steep slope in the picture below.


You could check out some of the desert peaks right now. Anza Borrego has a lot of fun hikes and some of the peaks on this list that are below 6000' would be good places to hike this time of year.

[bluerail]

the traverse on San Jacinto right now is a broken up, unstable, mess of ugly snow and ice and shouldn't even be considered unless your very familiar with the trail and good with ice gear. And I only see it getting worse in the next couple of months.

hvydrt, have you been back over to the northside of gorgonio lately ? I was wondering what the snows like there now. lmk if you have please.

[Bigwookie009]

Man thats too bad, I got all the time in the world right now. By the time its safe I will have to have found a new job. Ah well Ill just hope global warming speeds things up for me this year (jk I do not support global warming). There are a few of those smaller 6k and under peaks around me here, I am going to one right now I am on my way out the door.
I want updates and soon as you guys think there is something 8 plus ready for a none ice climb up I wanna know about!

Oh also have any of you guys ever done Whitney? I don't know if Ill be able to do it this year but would love to sometime!

[zippetydude]

Hey Bigwookie! Welcome to the board. Unless you have an annual pass on the tram, it's going to run you some $ getting up and down on the tram each time if you go that route, and you had mentioned that $ is in kinda short supply right now. There are other trails, but they're longer and mostly impassable this time of year.

If you're going to go up from the tram, the trail up to San J Peak is not that long, but like others have mentioned, it can be icy, especially in the morning. If the weather stays fairly warm, you might be able to do the peak in the afternoon while the snow is soft. I'm no expert on snow travel, but if the snow is soft, you'll probably be able to do it.

If you decide to give it a try, you might want to carpool:

http://www.mtsanjacinto.info/viewtopic.php?t=2040

See the third entry.

I'd encourage you do do something more like halhiker did, though, as far as setting a goal. You can't control the weather, but you can choose to be outdoors, having fun for free, just about anytime. Maybe put the 3 saints goal into "Active Prep" mode, saving the saints til May or June, but having a great time getting out there and enjoying the wilderness on a more frequent (even daily!) basis.

If you do decide to do San J, post afterwards and let us know how it went!

z

[SoCalJim]

Bigwookie, I live in Santee and am quite familiar with Cuyamaca Park and the peak. I also have done multiple trips to San Jacinto and San Gorgonio in all seasons, and I can tell you that hiking to the top of Cuyamaca Peak in the winter is not on the same scale as the other two. I've snowshoed and skiied Cuyamaca, and the only time I'd be concerned about being on that mountain in the winter would be in the middle of a heavy snowstorm without proper clothing or gear to make it through the night. You need crampons and ice axe to go above 10K on SJ and SG right now (I was on SG a couple of weeks ago.) There are still plenty of lower peaks in southern California to take advantage of at this time of year. On Cuyamaca, I like to mix it up by finding different routes up it. If you can afford the $8.95 for the Tom Harrison map for Cuyamaca, it's a big help with accurate routes and mileage. As someone else mentioned, check out the desert peaks (Anza Borrego). This is the best time of year for that. You might also try try the Desert Divide area that extends south from San Jacinto. Hope this helps. Have a good time out there!

[hvydrt]

hvydrt, have you been back over to the northside of gorgonio lately ? I was wondering what the snows like there now. lmk if you have please.

I haven't been back, but KathyW was in the area last weekend: http://members.boardhost.com/sgva/msg/1263095472.html