San Jacinto tram to peak March 25

[Beth]

Considering this hike tomorrow. Has anyone been up recently, and know about the snow? Are micro spikes needed?

[dmteaton]

There have been a few people posting about C2C saying that microspikes above 7000 will be useful. If you go please and let me know how it is...I usually snowshoe to avoid postholing, but would like to leave them behind this trip if it's packed. I'll be heading up from Idylwild on Saturday. denamteaton@gmail.com

[tim]

So Beth and dmteaton, did you go?
If so, what were the conditions? I am particularly interested in the area around PCT.

Thanks ahead for any info.

[ufm]

Coming up via Mt Marion Trail on 3/27/2016 from the West there are some snow patches below the PCT junction (elevation 8700 ft), and it's almost all snow from the PCT junction onward. There are some clear patches where the trail is in the sun, mainly on the switch-backs above Fuller Ridge junction, and on the switchbacks above Little Round Valley. Snow is compacted, maybe 1 to 2 ft, and generally can be walked on without post-holing. Final summit access across the boulders from the rescue hut to the summit (last 5 minutes of the hike) is fully snow covered. Freeze-thaw conditions with the snow hard and icy in the morning, a bit soft after mid-morning.

Mt Marion Trail is mainly North-West facing and is more in the shade than the trail coming from the tram, so the tram trail should have more clear patches. Still, folks coming up via the tram trail I met on the summit said conditions are similar to what I encountered on the other side of the mountain.

Micro-spikes or similar recommended. I am glad I had them.

[dmteaton]

I wan not able to make it...my new pack, which I wanted to test was delayed by the storm system in WY...I'm heading out Saturday with runners for the bottom and boots and spikes (and crampons) for the top. I may bring the axe just as a backup. It seems more snow may be blowing in at some point. I don't mind being heavy.

[roncruiser]

Anyone know what the current trail conditions are for tram to peak?

A few others and myself plan to do the hike on April 9th. We can deal with the weather and low temps but prefer not to deal with extensive stretches of ice on the trail. Short stretches of ice we plan to use micro-spikes, but post-holing and extensive ice we prefer to defer to a later hike date.

Thanks....