backpacking in oct?

[beantown]

hello i was wondering about backpacking up san jacinto from the tram 2nd weekend in oct. ive never been up there before, but did do San Gorgonio this summer.

I have a few questions.
will i be able to get a permit easily this time of year?
expect temps at night below freezing?
looking at a map i was thinking take the tram up friday afternoon and hike to round valley and camp. saturday hike to strawberry junction to little round valley and camp. sunday bag the peak and head back to the tram. would i be able to find good water along this route?
any other reccomendations for a route?

thanks

[Hikin_Jim]

You'll probably find a permit pretty easy to get that time of year, particularly if you order in advance.

You should be able to find water. It looks like the water situation has held up relatively well this year. The one exception is probably going to be Strawberry Junction. Last I heard, Strawberry Cienega was barely flowing. Anyone got any current updates on Strawberry Cienega?

Temps vary, but expect it to be cold at night. I would be prepared for it to freeze at night.

HJ

[beantown]

so just waiting for my permit to come in the mail.

hopefully snow won't be more than an inch or 2 thursday. SJ ranger says to expect a dusting!

heading up the tram friday afternoon with a friend to round valley, then to little round valley saturday, hit the peak on the way back to the tram sunday.

[Hikin_Jim]

Well, keep an eye on the forecast and another eye here on the forum. One of the locals may post an update.

Let us know how your trip goes. I had a great BP'ing trip in Oct 2006, so I think Oct is a great time to BP in the SJ's.

HJ

[beantown]

yeah i like it colder than hotter. got a new bag to test out also

[beantown]

On Friday afternoon my friend and I hopped on the Tram and were up Long Valley around 4pm to start our weekend trip. This was my first time up San Jacinto and he had been here before overnight snow shoeing. We arrived at Round Valley camp approximately 5pm and found a camp spot. Had some homemade dehydrated chili for dinner that i rehydrated, stayed up a little after the sun went down to see the stars, and could also see the milky way. We didn't stay out long, it was quite cold out, i would say it was in mid 20's that night. I just got 20 degree down REI bag, i just slept in my boxers but was toasty all night, the new bag worked great.

Saturday got up around 7, packed up and we filtered some water from the spring and were on our way just before 10am. We took the long way to little round valley, to wellman divide. there was water flowing here from a spring that looked like it had started from the snow melt. then onto strawberry junction and up to little round valley. there was water flowing from deer springs, and there was water at little round valley. a good 8 miles.

We picked out thunder view for our camp, but turned out to be a bad choice because the wind ripped through camp all night long and i didn't sleep well. other than that the campsite was great, good views and sunset. wasn't as cold saturday night but still below 32f.

sunday morning got up and hit the summit by 9:30 am and we were the only ones up there. Views were great and also stopped in the ski hut to sign the register. on the way back to the tram passed hoards of day hikes on their way up, we were so glad to have the summit to ourselves, it must be a mad house during the day. also on the way down a group asked me if they were going the right way to the top before round valley camp, they seemed confused and only had a map no compass.....i wonder if they made it?

i really enjoyed san jacinto, the camp spots are great, spread out and secluded unlike the camp i went to at gorgonio. dry lake was nice, but the spots are so close together and the group of loud obnoxious guys who dragged a bunch of beer up were annoying when i went.

i can't wait to go back and hike up and not take the tram.

round valley camp


view at wellman divide

spring after wellman divide


san gorgonio

sleeping pad and new bag that kept me warm

thunder view camp little round valley


all my layers on staying warm with some apple cinnamon tea

good sunset




views from the summit

[Hikin_Jim]

Hey! Looks like a great time and a great hike. Thanks for all the photos and the water reports.

HJ

[Andy]

Thanks for the report beantown. Glad you guys had a good trip and had some solitude on the peak before the rush.