Tram to the summit next week

[spursrule]

I'm interested in doing the tram to the summit next Monday morning. I'm definitely a novice hiker (I've done a couple of the trails at Yosemite... Yosemite Falls and the Mist Trail, but nothing hardcore like Skyline), so I figured I'd come in and ask you experienced guys a few questions.

1) Would you recommend the hike to a novice like me if there's any snow whatsoever on the mountain? I guess I'm a little concerned that temps are forecast to vary from the high 20s to the low 40s by the weekend with moisture moving in (according to the weather page at the Tramway's web page), and I am wondering if there are areas that will be dangerous from snow that thaws and refreezes into ice.

2) What kind of difference in temperature might I be looking at from Wellman's Divide up to the summit, compared to the temperature at the tram? Is there a large difference, other than the wind at the summit?

3) Is the tramway's weather forecast the highest altitude resource available online for Mount San Jacinto? Or, is calling the ranger station the best bet for finding out snow levels near the top?

One of my friends I'm going with is totally against the idea of hiking in anything more than very light snow, so it would suck to get there and find out there's a foot of it at 10,000 ft that isn't in the 8,500 ft weather report from the tram's website.

Thanks! Awesome website, BTW. Can't wait to be up on the mountain next week.

[magikwalt]

Here's a link that will help you. Save it to your favorites and you can call it up instantly to know the forecast within 300 ft of the top of San Jac. By clicking on the map you change the location of the forecast so you can pretty well check up on almost any location you might be interested in. It sure helps when going from the Valley floor to the summit.

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapCli ... -116.67625

[guest]

Hi, San Jacinto can be a tough place when you get wind & snow, like any other. Winds may be 20-35mph Friday, dying somewhat over wkend, 40% chance of snow at elevation.

If few people are on the trail, and if some don't know the trails, wandering foot prints can lead others astray.

It's normally a doable hike for most semi-fit folks, 2,300 ft in 51/2 miles, it does get noticably colder above 10k ft. & if the winds blowin, it be Cold!

(I'm sure you won't even think of Skyline with this possible WX, it can be dangerous & very tough to find the trail!)

ss