Alternatives to Rabbit/Villager Peak

[63ChevyII]

I was planning on giving Rabbit Peak a try this weekend. The plan was to start hiking at 4am. When I arrived at Villager, I would then decide it I wanted to turn around or continue on.

Looking at the forecast, it looks like there may be some rain there this weekend. If that is the case, I'l save this hike for another time.

I'm looking for a backup hike. Does anyone have any suggestions? I was initially thinking of something in Joshua Tree, but I'm open to any suggestions. We're looking for something that doesn't require any winter gear, other than warm clothing.


Thanks,

63ChevyII

[neverwashasbeen]

You might enjoy the wonderland traverse in JT.

[halhiker]

I'd stick with Rabbit Peak if you've got the clothes for it. The chances of rain are slight and a lot of times the area of the Southern Santa Rosas gets little or no rain even if the western regions do. Wind will probably be your biggest problem although it's really impossible to be sure at this point.

[Ulysses]

I agree with Halhiker (Hayduke lives!). Not likely to rain on Villager/Rabbit, although I would pack something to keep you dry just in case. If it does rain it would be light. I have seen snow on Villager, but it's probably not cold enough this week. Never made it to Rabbit but have done Villager 6X. One of my favorite hikes. Difficult.

[hvydrt]

Normally I would agree with Hal, but it looks like it might rain, even in the desert, on Saturday. Sunday looks good.

"THIS
DISTRIBUTION WILL LIKELY CHANGE FOR LATE FRI THROUGH SAT AS THE
UPPER LOW MOVES EAST OVER SOCAL/NRN BAJA...BRINGING DYNAMIC FORCING FOR GREATER PRECIP AMOUNTS TO AREAS NEAR THE MEXICAN BORDER."

[halhiker]

Was supposed to rain here today—about a 60% chance according to weather.com—and if you count the 12 or so drops that came down as rain, then it did. I heard LA, the Valley in particular, got pounded but we got nothing to speak of. It would have been an awesome hiking day.

And what's a little rain to a real hiker, anyway?

[hvydrt]

Looks like it is ahead of schedule, abdsp seems to get rain when they come more from the south like this one. It does look like it will be minimal in the desert on Saturday now, like Hal said.

[Florian]

hvydrt, what site did you use for that weather map?

-Florian

[hvydrt]

http://www.weather.com/weather/map/interactive/USCA0119:1?interactiveMapLayer=radar&baseMap=r&zoom=7

[halhiker]

I wonder if he went. The weather turned out to be OK with patchy clouds. It may have been foggy on the ridge because of low clouds in places but while it rained at night in La Quinta, where I live, by morning it had stopped.