Mount San Jacinto conditions 1/31/08

[halhiker]

Went up the Tram today for a little snowshoeing and have this to report.

It was fun.

Oh wait. There's more.


snow

There is good coverage all over. The condition of the snow is OK. There was a big lenticular cloud over San Jacinto yesterday and it was really windy. A lot of the snow is wind pack with a pretty thick hard layer on top and softer snow underneath. I didn't get to the summit because I had time restrictions (kids in school) but got pretty high on Miller Peak. I went up the far right ridge and I heard a lot of wind but was pretty much out of it.


The weather

It was clear and beautiful and really not that cold. I wore capilene underwear top and bottom and just shells over the top. No problem. I brought fleece and a down vest and left both in my pack. There was the wind and I did catch a few gusts but it was nothing major.

I walked almost all the way back without snowshoes because with the windpack I really wasn't sinking that much. There is a very defined trail leaving the Ranger Station and then a few tracks leading up Sid Davis Canyon. I didn't look like anyone had gone up the main Round Valley Trail yet. In the AM there were no tracks leading to Hidden Divide but by afternoon there was one set.

Anyway, it was an overall fun time but the snow wasn't all light and fluffy the way I like it. But when is it around here?

Hal

[zippetydude]

"It was fun."

Cool post halhiker. Actually, I'm okay with the crusted over stuff - my heavy carcass sinks in to my waist even with snowshoes in the fluffy stuff. That crust can be brutal, though, when I break through it. My feet sink, and my shins are shredded by the thin, hard layer on top. I guess that's okay, though, as I've always wanted to be like Ellen the Iron Woman.

Besides, the blood can be handy. The first time I summited San G in the winter, I had never gone such a direct, off-trail route before, so I would drip a little red gatorade every few feet out of my bottle to help me find my way back. Blood would be much more convenient.

z

[Ellen]

Howdy Z

I guess that's okay, though, as I've always wanted to be like Ellen the Iron Woman.

Besides, the blood can be handy. The first time I summited San G in the winter, I had never gone such a direct, off-trail route before, so I would drip a little red gatorade every few feet out of my bottle to help me find my way back. Blood would be much more convenient.

z

Well, if one goes by the amount of hemoglobin I've donated to the mountains, I still am an Ironwoman

Red Gatorade is better Z, you don't want to decrease the oxygen carrying capacity of your blood. I actually had to take iron supplements after my summer adventure on San J when I shredded my legs


Howdy Hal

Thanks so much for the report Will you be up there again tomorrow?

Do you recommend crampons or snowshoes -- I really don't want to carry both.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[halhiker]

I won't be up on Sat. I have a fun family day planned.

No crampons needed. If the sun has softened up the crust and the wind has died down I would imagine snowshoes will be necessary.

Hal