It may have taken until late January to arrive, but finally we have had our first significant snow-generating storm (actually two back-to-back storms) of the 2023/24 winter. The two storms on Saturday 20th and Monday 22nd January ultimately produced very similar quantities of snow (at upper elevations) and of rain (at mid elevations), and had the combined effect of one moderate storm. The day in between the two storms, Sunday 21st, remained overcast at all elevations, and it drizzled intermittently as high as San Jacinto Peak that day, effectively merging the impacts of the two storms into one. Across the three days combined, Idyllwild received two-and-a-half inches of rain, and San Jacinto Peak 16 inches of fresh snow.
Both storms were relatively warm, with periodic drizzle at high elevations even among and between snow falls. With a probe it was surprisingly easy to detect multiple layers within the snow, the admixed ice layers a consequence of rain freezing on top of snow. At both Wellman Divide and Saddle Junction on 23rd, six layers were readily apparent (from bottom to top): a couple of inches of hard icy snow from earlier storms in January, a few inches of snow from 20th, a layer of ice from rain on 21st, a few inches of snow from 22nd, another layer of ice from rain in the afternoon of 22nd, and finally an inch of graupel from a thundersnow event in the evening of 22nd.
The rain has unfortunately had a very detrimental effect on the snow quality, mainly below 10,000 ft elevation. The layering makes for uneven and inconsistent snowshoeing (or postholing), with most steps giving way underfoot only after each step has been fully weighted. This should improve over the next few days as these layers consolidate. By the time I descended below 9000 ft on the afternoon of 23rd, melting was already well underway, and the thin snow had the consistency of soft-serve ice cream, which did not make snowshoeing any more enjoyable.
I hiked to San Jacinto Peak on four of the five days between 19th-23rd January to document the complex pattern of weather, and recorded a short video report from San Jacinto Peak just after sunrise on Tuesday 23rd (linked here) giving a feel for the conditions at that time.
Snow depths measured at various locations are detailed below. Note however that depths are extremely variable even within a small area, due to differential melting and drifting during the unusual sequence of minor storms this January. For example, while there is an average depth of about 12 inches at Saddle Junction on 23rd, within sight of the junction I measured a depth of 20 inches, and just 0.2 mile down Devil’s Slide Trail from the junction there are sun-exposed sections with only a sparse inch of rapidly melting snow in the trail.
Following my hike on 23rd there is now a reliable snowshoe track broken from Saddle Junction through to San Jacinto Peak via the Wellman and Peak trails. There is a well-traveled track on Devil’s Slide Trail, and a posthole track south from Saddle Junction through to Chinquapin Flat. The track put in by Kyle Eubanks late on 22nd is still largely visible from Long Valley through Round Valley to Wellman Divide.
Snowshoes are now very useful (although not essential) everywhere above about 8000 ft elevation. Carrying spikes is recommended everywhere above about 6000 ft, especially as conditions will change significantly over the next few days. Crampons are required on the north side of Tahquitz Peak, as discussed below.
Humber Park is open and is largely plowed.
WEATHER
Temperatures rapidly rise to well above seasonal for the remainder of this month, with conditions more typical of March or even early April at both mid and upper elevations until about Wednesday 31st January. There will be rapid melting at all elevations, especially on sun-exposed slopes. The next storm to impact our region is expected on 1st-3rd February with moderate snow currently forecast everywhere above about 5000 ft.
At San Jacinto Peak (3295m/10,810ft) on Tuesday 23rd January 2024 at 0630 the air temperature was 19.9°F (-7°C), with a windchill temperature of 5.6°F (-15°C), 86% relative humidity, and a light NW wind sustained at 5 mph gusting to 10.9 mph.
TRAIL CONDITIONS
There is continuous light snow cover on all trails above about 6500 ft, becoming moderate (>10 inches) above 8000 ft, and locally heavy above 10,000 ft. Snow depths measured at specific locations are given below.
Tracks known to be broken through the snow at this time are up Devil’s Slide Trail, onward via the PCT, Wellman and Peak trails to San Jacinto Peak, from Long Valley through to Wellman Divide, the PCT from Saddle south to Chinquapin Flat and north to Annie’s Junction, and South Ridge Trail from South Ridge Road to Tahquitz Peak.
Ernie Maxwell Trail (surveyed 24th January) is almost entirely clear of snow, with just a handful of tiny icy snow patches remaining near the upper (Humber Park) end of the trail.
Devil’s Slide Trail has already been well traveled to Saddle Junction. Snow cover is generally only a few inches deep at most, and below 7000 ft melting was already extensive by the afternoon of 23rd. Large sections of the trail will melt clear in the next few days, especially below 7500 ft.
I finished breaking trail up South Ridge Trail to Tahquitz Peak on Friday 26th. Snow has largely cleared up to about 7300 ft (just below Old Lookout Flat) and what remains is patchy and softening rapidly by late morning. From Old Lookout Flat (7600 ft) to Tahquitz Peak, icy snow is continuous. There is a relatively well-broken track to within six switchbacks of Tahquitz Peak, however above that the snow is very icy with just a single set of posthole tracks. Spikes are strongly recommended to complete the uppermost switchbacks to the peak, ideally in conjunction with hiking poles or even an ice axe. South Ridge Road is completely clear of snow and ice.
The 0.4 mile section of South Ridge Trail between Chinquapin Flat/PCT and Tahquitz Peak has no track to follow at this time through 2-4 feet of heavily drifted and angled ice and icy snow (photo below). Neither snowshoes nor spikes are especially helpful at this time, due to the angled slope and structure of the snow, respectively. Crampons (always with an ice axe) are recommended on this section at this time, along with the necessary skills and experience to use that equipment in icy, angled terrain.
Carrying spikes is recommended everywhere above about 6000 ft at this time. This elevation will rise steadily over the next few days due to melting especially in sun-exposed areas. Snow depths are now excellent for snowshoes above about 8000 ft (see discussion above).
SNOW DEPTHS measured on 23rd January 2024 (and on 21st for the first of the two storms) are as follows. The first number gives average total depth. The numbers in parentheses detail the new snow in each of the two storms, which largely occurred on 20th and 22nd January. Note that average depth is given; due to strong winds accompanying several storms this January, there has been considerable drifting, often especially accumulating in trails. Altitudes and PCT mileages are approximate.
San Jacinto Peak (10810 ft): 20 inches (8 inches new snowfall on both 20th and 22nd January)
Wellman Divide (9700 ft): 14 inches (6 inches new snowfall on both 20th and 22nd January)
Annie’s Junction/approx. PCT Mile 181.8 (9070 ft): 15 inches (6 inches new snowfall on 20th, 5 inches on 22nd January)
Long Valley (8600 ft): 6 inches (c.3 inches new snowfall on both 20th and 22nd January)[many thanks to Kyle Eubanks for measurements from Long Valley]
Saddle Junction/approx. PCT Mile 179.9 (8070 ft): 12 inches (5 inches new snowfall on 20th, 4 inches on 22nd January)
Devil’s Slide Trail at Humber Park (6550 ft): 1 inch but already very patchy by afternoon of 23rd (mixture of light snow and rain throughout 20th-22nd)
Idyllwild (at 5550 ft): 0 inches snow (2.49 inches rainfall 20th-22nd January; 0.92 inch on 20th, 0.36 inch on 21st, 1.21 inches on 22nd).
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