Skyline Conditions

[Swordphish72]

Here are a few pics up Grubs and summit taken 3/28/17.

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[Swordphish72]

A few more of our trip up...

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[Sally]

Congrats on the C2C, Swordphish72! Thank you for the great conditions report. I enjoyed the pics, too! I hope to make it up there soon (I haven't been up Skyline since November, before the Great Snow Dump of Winter 2017.)

[Ellen]

Howdy All,

Went up Skyline today with Cameron, Marilyn, Kalen and Sophie. Lots of beautiful wildflowers and annoying cheat grass (fox tails) -- recommend wearing gaiters. Some of us donned microspikes at the beginning of the traverse. There was significantly less snow than 9 days ago and route finding was much easier. Thanks to whoever took care of the new downed tree above Flatrock.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[SoGoodSummits]

I completed a successful C2C summit Sunday. I see that Ellen already reported on the conditions of the Skyline... really it was in pretty good shape. I saw lots of deer eyes reflecting back at me from my headlamp. I arrived at the traverse with my crampons and ice axe and felt wicked over-prepared. At this point, microspikes would have been plenty, and even then for just a snow crossing or two at the beginning. After that, it was all just my normal shoes going up Grubb's. 

That being said, conditions going up the peak made me grateful for my gear:
I ascended via the normal Mt. San Jacinto Peak trail. After the creek crossing, it was 99% snow the whole way. No problems with postholing with just crampons. I was about 200lbs with my dang over-prepared heavy pack. There were pretty good iced-in footprints the whole way...but many tracks deviate from the actual trail. I moved away from the tracks and followed my GPS's route and actually got to see the junction at Wellman's Divide. Rather than doing the last two switchbacks up the Peak, I just ascended via a chute and then along the ridge. 

I descended via Sid Davis and that was a little more sketchy with current snow melt. I punched through the top snow layer to bushes and branches a few times, but quickly learned what spots to avoid. There was one totally unexpected spot where I punched through deep and got a groin stretch. There is a lot less snow on the lower parts of this route. 

There were folks (who came up from the tram) who were hiking to the summit with no traction and no safety gear. It's definitely doable, but I wouldn't recommend it. Because I had my axe, I could descend some steep and icy slopes the fun way. There were also folks with snowshoes who looked happy enough. 
Nothing scary or surprising--only joy to report.