Anyone break trail today???

[KathyW]

Yes, same route out and back - I always call it the winter route - it's a lot easier going that way in the winter than going all the way out to Wellman's Divide and then traversing to the summit. I saw a couple up high along the traverse to Wellman's Divide, so that route might be broken too.

Bluerail - Your group did a great job breaking trail - as we all know, breaking trail is tough work. I was lucky enough to be behind more people that were behind your group, so the track was packed down very nicely for me. I just can't figure out how your group didn't pass me when you were coming down and I was heading up - I didn't see anyone coming down on my way up and I followed the track all the way. Lee was still on the summit when I got up there, but he had been there a while.

Sounds like more snow is coming this week, so there will be more trail breaking to be done.

[bluerail]

Hi Kathy, we went to the hut and hung out for awhile and ate, on the way back down, then left and headed a little further south in some more new snow, the new snow is just too fun. Scott and I made another route most of the way back that was just kinda goofing around. sorry we missed you -steve

[Andy]

Bluerail, thanks to you guys for breaking trail yesterday. We were able to enjoy the sidewalk and didn't even need snowshoes for some sections. A most wonderful day with near perfect weather

[Sally]

Wow, Kathy! Thank you for the great pics. Weather permitting, I'm going up on Wed. and will rent snowshoes. It will be my 1st time on snowshoes.

[tinaballina]

I didn't start out until abut 9:15 today, so those on the tram cars before me did a great job breaking trail to Tamarack Valley and on to the summit. It was a quick snowshoe to the summit for me along the beaten path.

Here's some pics:

http://kathywing.smugmug.com/California-Hiking-Scrambling/Southern-California-Mountains/Mount-San-Jacinto-Tramshoeing/11033226_Hmx67#771769987_zprxf

Glad we were able to break the tail.

[Dave G]

Nice trailbreaking by you Saturday folks!

Norma and I caught the first tram up Sunday and met up with Ellen, Kathryn , Karin & Norris. We had a most excellent snowshoe adventure under sunny skies, though it was a tad nipply on the summit.

Pics are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21042415@N02/sets/72157623157661623/

[tinaballina]

nice pics dave. when we peaked saturday it was -9 degrees with wind chill.

[ATSkier]

Chad the ski guy here. Didn't sign off properly on top of the mountain yesterday. Once I got going downhill in all that powder I couldn't stop. Just wanted to extend a thanks for adopting a randonee skier on the climb up. Had a great time. The skiing on the way down was terrific by the way. Back in the parking lot by 2pm. Thankfully missed the crowds. Shocking to see all those people at the basin.

[lilbitmo]

Dave, great pictures.

It was great seeing everyone on the Tram on Sunday morning - Ellen, Norma, Karin (nice meeting you), Kathryn (Michigan Girl), Norris and Dave G, my sister was glad she got to meet you guys/gals Tim M from the San Gabriel board was on that ride up as well, but I do not know him so I missed introducing myself to him

Sister was so worried about making the check in time for her conference (started at 2 in Long Beach) that we "Semi-Jogged" high speed hiked across the snow to Round Valley in just over and hour, we just missed you guys when you turned towards Miller/Cornell Sid Davis split on our way back. We were back to the lower parking area by 11 and on our way so she made it in plenty of time.

Glad everyone else made the summit - what a great day out there, sister is hooked on coming back when she has more time

[zippetydude]

Great job on making it up to the peak, all you crazy hikin' fools!

Wow, I wish I could have gone up! I was snowed in Saturday morning (we got about a foot at our house in Yucaipa), which was fun, but the pics everyone posted are amazing. Maybe the snow will be nice and firm next weekend and we can break out the crampons...I've got a new set of Black Diamond Sabertooths just waiting to take a bite of that mountain.

Anyone know if there's significant avalanche danger on the slopes above Tamarack? I don't know enough about snow to be able to predict when it's safe and when it's not.

z