Perfect Snowshoe Day on San J

[Sally]

Ellen and I headed up to San Jacinto Peak from the tram today. We started out in Microspikes and switched to snowshoes higher up when the snow got really good. Check out the pics: https://picasaweb.google.com/1009477359 ... directlink
Ellen, will you please fill in the details? Thanks for a great day!

[lilbitmo]

Virgin snow one of my favorites - nice work ladies, thanks for sharing the photos.

[Ellen]

Howdy All

My morning didn't start well -- my Camelbak leaked Gatorade into my pack, my sofa table and floor. I found the leak and in trying to drain one Camelbak into another, forgot to close the stop cock and dumped more Gatorade onto my kitchen floor

Fortunately, I arrived in time tor renew my annual pass before Sally and I took the first tram up. The Craigmeister was our conductor and looked very chipper after doing Skyline with me on Tuesday I still felt wiped out.

We donned microspikes at the ranger station -- the trail alternated between icy snow and dirt to the Sid Davis junction. Headed up the Sid Davis drainage to Tamarack and followed the boot/snowshoe track up towards the area where the summer trail makes a big bend. Put on snowshoes at about 9.7 K and headed towards the gully that pops out on the ridge to the right of Jean.

I love switchbacking uphill in new snow using my televators on my MSR Lightning Ascent. The snow had consolidated nicely -- not too icy or soft. Once we reached the ridge, we stayed on the north side to traverse around several bumps before reaching the little plateau before the final climb up San Jacinto. We came up the south of the peak -- there was enough snow to negotiate the rocks and brush. Once on the summit, we were blasted with an artic wind. Mark (a member of the San Jacinto hiking club with long snowshoes) greeted us at the sign before heading down.

Although nippy, it was so beautiful that we took time to savor the great views. We had the added benefit of having enough snow to walk out on the north facing ridge for better views of San Gorgonio. I haven't been able to do this since the winter of 2011. Headed down to the hut, which had icicles hanging off the roof, and enjoyed a late lunch. Climbed back up to the ridge and followed the tracks down towards Miller. There wasn't enough snow to go cross country down the Miller Saddle, so we took the trail back to the big bend area.

We broke new trail back down to Tamarack -- I believe this is called the Ranger Overland route. The snow from Tamarack to the drainage was thin and icy. We removed our snowshoes and donned microspies before dropping back into Sid Davis. It was after 4 PM when we reached Long Valley and walked up the dreaded cement switchbacks -- at least there wasn't a throng of tourons coming down or kids sledding down the ramp trying to take out hikers

Celebrated our first San Jacinto summit of 2013 at the tram bar before enjoying wonderful food at Las Casuelas. A great end to a "sticky" start of the day

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[arocknoid]

Thank you Sally and Ellen for the pics and TR.

Goldilocks' snowshoeing conditions on the ascent:

The snow had consolidated nicely -- not too icy or soft.

Juuuusst right. Too bad that so many other areas like XC down to Miller, and Tamarack down to the drainage / Sid Davis had sparse uncooperative snow. Hope for good storms, soon.

Lovely conditions:



Caption: "I'm going to have a platter THIS big as Las Casuelas!"



kind regards,
arocknoid

PS I hope the PSTW gave you a grace day on the annual pass. Jan 31 is a disadvantaged day to purchase, unless they have instituted a date-to-date annual pass since the last one I bought.

[Carl F]

Hello Sally and Ellen

Thank you so much for the wonderful pictures. Looks like I was wrong about the snow cover up there - looks nice, bur not enough for telemarking. So much for relying on the Long Valley Cam!

Hey you two I still haven't met either one of you! Unless of course we count that day that the tram was shut down because of snow in the parking lot - when I think I saw Ellen. In any case, I wanted to congratulate you , Ellen, on your upcoming anniversary from your ordeal. One can only imagine, and so nice to see you stronger than ever.

This board is a nonstop inspiration to me (and the humor is at peak levels presently thanks to a guy in Arizona!!)

Cheers!

Carl F

[Sally]

You're welcome, arocknoid and Carl F! The snow higher up is way nicer than that in Long Valley, which will soon be gone altogether until we get another storm.

Carl, you might see us Sunday if you do Skyline or meet us at the upper tram station at about 1:30, as we are doing a celebratory hike in Ellen's honor. It woud be cool to see you, too.

Thanks for providing the TR, Ellen. Larry wanted me to include one with the pics, but I was too pooped out!

[bluewater]

Many thanks to Sally & Ellen for your snowshoe report & photos!

I am new to the forum and I appreciate the information everyone has so generously shared here.

I will be on my first winter over-nighter this weekend, starting from the tram to the top and camping somewhere in between. I was hoping some of the gracious San-J veterans would share info about the conditions after the recent storms.

Thanks again.

bluewater/Andy.

[OldnSlow]

Great pics and TR! Always an inspiration.

[Carl F]

Hey Sally, thanks for the invite!

Unfortunately, no hall pass this weekend. I've got the call duty.
Have fun!