snowline on Marion Mtn trail?

[Brad P]

Thinking about West Side summit attempt. Anybody know the snow level?

[hikehigh]

From Summitpost:

I went via the Marion Mtn route on April 19. I needed an ice axe and crampons at about 7300 feet. I wouldn't expect the trail to be easy to follow. Two hikers got lost the day before me and ended up spending the night (and almost another one) on the mountain. They ended up on the Palm Springs side of Jacinto. Shocked So have a map and compass/GPS. I wouldn't have made the summit w/o mine.

edit: route was driveable upon my visit...

http://www.summitpost.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=53171

[Brad P]

FWIW the MMT has large patches of snow above 7600 ft but easy to follow to PCT. Beyond that snowpack is still pretty solid with the exception of fast melting South facing slopes. Sure am glad I didn't end up in Palm Springs.

[Feeel]

Were you able to top out, Brad?

[phydeux]

This may be a little old. Two weekends ago (May 1-2) I did an overnight trip from the Tram to Little Round Valley via the summit. The west side trail from the summit area down to Little Round Valley was covered with snow and I was postholing up to the middle of my calves just about all the way down to LRV. The next morning I was able to get back up to the summit fairly easily on the hard snow (using microspikes). The trail from the Tram to the summit was covered with snow but easy to navigate without crampons/microspikes It might have melted out significantly by now, but if I just wanted a dayhike on clear trails on the MMT I'd wait until June.

[Brad P]

Were you able to top out, Brad?

Summitted Marion Mountain. Using crampons, the snow climb up from Deer Springs was very nice.

[Feeel]

Thanks very much Phy and Brad. I'll let you know how my romp goes tomorrow.

[Brad P]

Cool... have fun.

[dmr]

Here's another data point from today, 5/14. Snow from PCT and above. I got a late start (9:30). I stopped before Little Round Valley and traversed from Newton Drury to Marion on my way back to the car. Crampons stayed in my bag. There was cloud cover most of the day, so no postholing. The snow was firm to icy on the way up and softened up enough for some boot skiing/glissading on the way down from Marion.

I just found the site. What a great resource. I hope to contribute as much as I can.

Derek

[Feeel]

I touched Folly and San Jacinto from the Marion Mountain trailhead without crampons (but with an ice ax) on May 15. Definite trails above the PCT junction do not yet exist (I reckon I spent about 90% of the ascent off-trail), and the snow was too firm to properly kick-step. Bring your topo, compass, and crampons or microspikes if you plan on going all the way up!

I would have been in trouble without my ax.