Snow Creek Village To Aerial Tram Mountain Station

[mjordon]

Also strongly consider bringing some good quality electrolytes such as Hammer brand or others that you may find at a biking or running store. Gatorade is crap and can make it so you don't hydrate properly. Without proper electrolytes and some good nutritious snacks along the way, you will bonk out and this will make the rest of your hike suck. Consider stashing water at Fuller Ridge via Black Mountain as it's super dry up yonder and it's good to be prepared without having to haul gallon up the trail.

Good luck to you! It's a beautiful hike -- especially Fuller Ridge to the peak!

[Hikin_Jim]

the pipe at Round Valley is dry, not sure about Little Round Valley area.

I can't imagine that Little Round Valley would have water if Round Valley is dry.

The one water source I'd be willing to bet on is Bed Springs. The water from Bed Springs crosses the trail at two points. I've got the upper point where the water from Bed Springs crosses the trail marked as #7 on my blog post about water sources in the San Jacintos. For some reason, I didn't mark the lower point, but you can follow the stream down on the map.

That's the one place that I'd be willing to be that there was water. There might be water at Lilly and Rock Springs, but I'm not sure.

Best of luck,

HJ

[zippetydude]

We're also planning to head up that route this saturday Nov 15. We'll be doing it as a "run" as a point-to-point finishing in Idyllwild via Deer Springs, planning to hit the trail around 630ish.

@zippetydude, you're welcome to join us, I think you gave me some tips on this one years ago the first time we did it (and yes, dumb enough to go back again)

Thanks for the invite! I'm rehabbing a sore knee so right now I'm just doing Skyline - the pure uphill doesn't seem to bother it, but running and downhill get it all excited. I'm hoping to get in a nice Snow Creek trip in early December or maybe Thanksgiving weekend if all heals up well. I like your idea of going on over to Idyllwild instead of down the Tram. I haven't hit that trail in many years. Hope you guys have a great trip and if you feel like going a second time in a few more weeks, hit me up!

z

[Hikin_Jim]

Descending to Idyllwild does sound like a nice option. Shoot, get a hotel room or stay with a friend and run back the next day. No car shuttle!

HJ

[davidalynn]

No car shuttle for us, we've got some hikers that drop us at the bottom and then amuse themselves on something pleasant while we destroy ourselves and pick us up at the end. Works out great.

Thought the end is now sounding like it might actually be heading to Tahquitz and coming off at South Ridge. That'll make it extra fun. From what I can tell, the fire closure has been lifted for the Wellman trail and PCT north of Tahquitz. Though apparently still can't go to Caramba, unfortunately, a great spot.

Z, take care of that knee.

[smiles]

Thanks all for the great comments and information. I plan on wearing shorts for this one -- so hopefully no shin slicers await around 5-9 miles up. Just checked weather again. Latest says high of 76 around Snow Creek Village, and around 45 on the peak. Hopefully not much wind. I won't have the time to drop off stuff via Black Mountain Road -- gunna leave Mission Viejo at 1am in order to get the boots down no later than 2:30am. So we are going to have to bear some weight on this one

[zippetydude]

BTW, there's a fun, easy xc route you can take at the beginning that leads you through some interesting rock formations. When you leave the road at the water fountain and start going up the trail, just do the first switchback or two and then go straight up the mountain. It's not overly steep, there's no bushwhacking, and you pop out at that big sort of egg-shaped rock where the trail turns and goes into the canyon. From the point where you begin to go xc the trail goes way off (as in a couple miles) to the right, so don't worry, you're not cutting switchbacks, you're nowhere near the trail. It's not any faster, so it's definitely not a shortcut, but it's different terrain and a fun xc route. I do it that way about half the time, and I just kind of wander on up so as to keep from making a new use trail. It might not be the best time to explore when you have a very long route ahead of you, but it's fun when you have the opportunity. Lately I've done about as much off-trail as on, and it's a welcome change if you've already become familiar with a trail. Anyway, just a thought.

z

[Ellen]

Howdy Smiles

I'm heading up on Sunday -- cannot go Saturday due to a friends work schedule. Looking forward to your trip report

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[smiles]

Will do Ellen,

it's 7pm now and I am hitting the rack in preparation for tomorrow's early start

[Ellen]

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Follow Ellen and Sally on Nov 16,