the snowshoes are dusted off

[KathyW]

I'm going to head up on the first or second tram of the day on Saturday with my snowshoes and some hot chocolate in tow - I'll probably head toward Mt San Jacinto and see how far I get. I hope the snowshoes will be on my feet all day and not on my back. Anyone else headed up that way this weekend?

[LAMike]

Oh heck yes... winter is my favorite time of year...
but will the trails be open?

[Hikin_Jim]

Define "open"

If you've got snowshoes, you should be fine. You might have to break some trail depending on where you're going. Keep an eye on the wx forecast and this board. If things get really icy, then that changes the equation.

If however by "open" you mean "suitable for normal hiking," then probably not.

[halhiker]

I am hoping to go up on Friday so I'll give a trip report, if I do.. I don't have a lot of time because I have to pick up kids at school but I'll take the high trail to at least Round Valley.

The snow level on San Jacinto looks to be down to below 5000 feet and the level on San Gorgonio down to maybe 2000 or maybe 3000. I'll try to get some pictures.

[KathyW]

Thanks Hal - your report will be helpful. Hopefully, there will be enough snow for snowshoeing on San Jacinto, but if not, I'll head out in the San Gorgonio Wilderness area.

[LAMike]

Define "open"

I thought that the rangers closed the trails during the first snow so that people "unfamiliar" don't get lost... until someone has 'broken' the trail, giving 'footprints' for the newbies to follow ??? no?

[Hikin_Jim]

Define "open"

I thought that the rangers closed the trails during the first snow so that people "unfamiliar" don't get lost... until someone has 'broken' the trail, giving 'footprints' for the newbies to follow ??? no?

I've not heard of that. Anyone out there heard of that? I guess you could call the ranger station and check. The only closures I've heard about are fire closures although there was some talk at some point of a closure due to budget cuts.

Of course, if the trails were closed until "someone" broke them, it would be rather hard for "someone" to get on the trails to break them.

[LAMike]

Ok... maybe I misspoke. It's not a closure, but rather a 'delay'. The rangers will hike the trail first to 'mark' it, then by the time the hikers arrive, it's 'open'... but not until one of the rangers walks it first.
I'd never heard that either, but someone mentioned it when I was taking the tram down last weekend, so I thought maybe someone else heard of this procedure?
anyone?

[lilbitmo]

I was up and down Mount San Jacinto from the Tram side and the Idyllwild side last year in fresh snow and never once had a ranger say anything about waiting for them to break trail.

From the tram I've seen rangers come up behind me (at the first spring crossing where the trail turns south/left) but everyone that knows the canyon goes right up the canyon to Tamarack Valley, following the spring. When I'm cutting fresh track and all they want to know is that you know where you going and how to get there.

The problem with rangers wanting to cut the trial is that half the people who know the wilderness well enough go there own way anyway. There's at least four approaches to the summit just from the tram area alone. So I don't think they will be standing at each turn making sure you are following the right approach.

I like it when they cut the trail for the folks that only want to go so far before they turn around but even the experienced hikers get turned around and take the wrong trail, it happened if Feb to Ellen and she made the best of a broken ankle and her situation but if you are going to go out in the high country in deep snow, be prepared for every possibility - overnight stay, compass, food, back up plan, map, leave a note in your car, maybe make imprints of your boots and leave those with someone who knows when you will be back, proper cloathing, etc... To many people get caught up in the moment and are not prepared for the possibility of something going wrong.

Be safe out there.

lilbitmo

[Hikin_Jim]

Ok... maybe I misspoke. It's not a closure, but rather a 'delay'. The rangers will hike the trail first to 'mark' it, then by the time the hikers arrive, it's 'open'... but not until one of the rangers walks it first.
I'd never heard that either, but someone mentioned it when I was taking the tram down last weekend, so I thought maybe someone else heard of this procedure?
anyone?

Just gut feeling, but if they do break trails, I wonder if the rangers just walk out the tourist trails in the Long Valley area and perhaps the main trail to Round Valley. Somehow I don't think they'd go all the way to the summit to break trail. Maybe they do, but it just seems unlikely. Surely, they don't break the trails on the West side of the mountain (Little Round Valley, etc.)

In any event, it looks like most of the snow will have fallen by Wednesday night/Thursday morning, so if they are in fact doing trail breaking, they should have a day or two before Saturday to open things up.