Mount San Jacinto and/or San Gorgonio Suggestions

[nyker]

Hi all,

I might have the opportunity for a couple of free days in Southern California in the first/second week of April and was
contemplating attempting Mount San Jacinto and/or San Gorgonio.

I have a couple of questions I was hoping our collective knowledge here could answer:

1. I expect there to be snow; at what elevation range should I expect snow? (basically so I can better plan on overall duration/time for climb)
I'm planning on bringing all my gear - axe, crampons, poles, etc.

2. I've seen several routes for each. Are there any preferred routes for each at that time of year? (assuming I could do each one in a day climb)
and associated gain and round trip mileage for each?

3. Avalanche risk comments on the above "recommended" routes?
(ie, slope angle on routes, face exposure direction, etc)

4. Are there any access restrictions - either for permits required, parking, road closings, snow blocking trailheads, etc?

Any other thoughts or suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks in advance!

Rob

[Kevin Baker]

Looks like there's 20-30" on San Jacinto right now and 40-50" on San Gorgonio per NOAA. I did San Jacinto in 12/06 and San Gorgonio in 12/07. My TR's are below. The easiest routes are from the top of the aerial tramway for San Jacinto and via the Vivian Creek trail. CA snow can be very icy since it is a lot wetter, so crampons can sometimes be needed even on a class 1 trail. I would post a query over on the CA board on summitpost. Somebody there would have a better idea of current conditions.


http://www.summitpost.org/so-cal-ultras ... ldy/252804" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.summitpost.org/stealing-one- ... nio/366460" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Kevin

[areed20]

Rob,

I have only done these in the summer so I cannot speak for the winter specific questions. Here are the links to the ranger stations: San G San Jacinto

They should be able to answer your questions. I know they have gotten a good amount of snow up there this year in socal terms. You will need an adventure pass for your car but you can buy those for 5 bucks at a ranger station or at a sporting goods store out there. During the summer you need permits for San G and San J but I do not think you need them for that time. You should still check with though just in case.

Routes wise you could always take the tram up most of the way on San Jacinto and leave from there. In the summer I have done the Marion Mountain Trail up San Jacinto and I have done the tram. Marion Mountain is about 11 miles RT in the summer with higher elevation gain and from the Tram to San J is 11 miles RT with lower elevation gain.

For San G I have only done the Vivian Creek Trail in the summer. It is the shortest route and it is about 18 miles RT if I remember correctly. It is a long day but there might be a much better snow route that is shorter.

The Ranger Stations will be able to tell you better routes for that time of the year.

Another option might be J-Tree or Death Valley. That is the best time for the desert. It is blooming and the weather is the best that time of the year.

[gzrrnnr]

I live in San Diego and have been up San Jacinto several times in the spring, fall, and summer. In the spring, you get into snow at about 8,000' at the upper station of the tram in Long Valley. I have used an axe and microspikes and had no problems for the 11 mile RT to the summit from the tram. However, the route may be a bit difficult to find if someone has not been there since the last snow. Note that if it is snowing and blowing, the route will be harder to find as it is not well marked for those conditions. There is an old cabin a quarter mile below the summit if you get into trouble

I have not encountered any avalanche hazards on the normal route from the tram in the spring.

If you want a real adventure, start the climb from Palm Springs, and use the ten mile Cactus to Clouds primitive trail to Long Valley. That makes for a 10,500' climb in about 16 miles to the summit. Some experts say this is the highest single trail climb in the lower 48. And if you want a really tough workout, go up and down the C to C trail instead of using the tram - 32 miles from the desert floor to the summit and back.

[bj]

1. I expect there to be snow; at what elevation range should I expect snow?

I'd expect to find snow at about the 8k level in April, but is been a wet year, so it could be lower.

2. I've seen several routes for each. Are there any preferred routes for each at that time of year?
and associated gain and round trip mileage for each?

Basically all the routes on both mountains are day hike-able, in the 12 to 22 mile range, with 3k to 10k gains. Let me know if you looking for a easy or challenging routes and i cam make further recomendations.

3. Avalanche risk comments on the above "recommended" routes?

Generally speaking there is little avi danger in April, but again it's been a wet year.

4. Are there any access restrictions - either for permits required, parking, road closings, snow blocking trailheads, etc?

Access is not a problem, permits, when required, are easy to get.

If you're interested in the more challenging routes, and your timing is right, I might join you for the Cactus to Clouds route on San J or the North Face of San G?

[nyker]

Thanks Guys, appreciate your input.

BJ, to answer your question, I think something doable in a day given the expected snow levels and slower movement,
so perhaps in 12-15 mile range (roundtrip), 4000-5000K gain?

[nyker]

The Cactus to Clouds route seems pretty cool...though with the snow coverage in early April, I don't know if I can finish this in a single day-
This is like ~18miles (one way), +10,400ft gain?

[bj]

The cool thing about C2C is it's easy to bail. Start a 4 am or earlier to avoid the desert heat. By 10 am you'll be at the 6000' level where you start to get some shade. Worst case you make the tram station by one (best case around 10). If you're toast, take the tram down. If not, you've got 12 moderate miles ahead of you and light until 7:30. If there's enough snow theres big shortcuts to the summit. Let me know when you plant to go. I don't have any solid plans this month so I might be able to join you.