I have not been on San J since I was a kid. Gonna try either Marion Mt trail or Devils Slide next Friday. Anyone been on these recently? would like to get in a training hike and not get bogged down in snow, any luck in that?
Dave

Here are links to the Mt San Jacinto forum where a lot of the pros and pro want to be's hang out

http://www.mtsanjacinto.info/viewtopic.php?t=2230

http://www.mtsanjacinto.info/viewforum.php?f=1

I was up last weekend (May 1 & 2), went up the Tram, hiked over the top and stayed at (near) Little Round Valley last weekend. The Tram to summit hike still has snow on the ground, but it softens up mid-mornin and you should be able to get to the top if you get started from the tram after 8:30AM - 9AM.

The western side of the mountain, where the Marion trail is located, still has quite a bit of snow, and would require some sort of crampon/ice axe set-up from Little Round Valley to the top. I did a little postholing down to LRV on May 1, then it was all iced up when I hiked back up the morning of May 2. I used Kathoola microspikes with an ice axe to get back up to the summit. Not sure you could easily drive to the Marion Mtn trailhead right now, so call the Idylwild ranger station to check before you go.

My suggestion: Spend the $$$ and use the Tram if you want to hike to the summit anytime before June.

phydeux wrote:I was up last weekend (May 1 & 2), went up the Tram, hiked over the top and stayed at (near) Little Round Valley last weekend. The Tram to summit hike still has snow on the ground, but it softens up mid-mornin and you should be able to get to the top if you get started from the tram after 8:30AM - 9AM.

The western side of the mountain, where the Marion trail is located, still has quite a bit of snow, and would require some sort of crampon/ice axe set-up from Little Round Valley to the top. I did a little postholing down to LRV on May 1, then it was all iced up when I hiked back up the morning of May 2. I used Kathoola microspikes with an ice axe to get back up to the summit. Not sure you could easily drive to the Marion Mtn trailhead right now, so call the Idylwild ranger station to check before you go.

My suggestion: Spend the $$$ and use the Tram if you want to hike to the summit anytime before June.

Would like to go car to car, an excercise thing, not a money problem.

I would second the above advice re. snow on Marion Ridge. There is plenty of snow above 8,000 feet on San Jacinto. Any north slope above that elevation has at least a knee deep snow as of today. We hiked the Dear Springs Trail to Marion Trail and up on Wednesday with ton of snow above the intersection of these trails. Hiked Tahquitz Peak via the North Gully to Red Tahquitz last week, (cc 9K), soft snow everywhere. Be equipped.

I went via the Marion Mtn route on April 19. I needed an ice axe and crampons at about 7300 feet. I wouldn't expect the trail to be easy to follow. Two hikers got lost the day before me and ended up spending the night (and almost another one) on the mountain. They ended up on the Palm Springs side of Jacinto. So have a map and compass/GPS. I wouldn't have made the summit w/o mine.

edit: route was driveable upon my visit...

Thanks for the info.

ridgeline wrote:I have not been on San J since I was a kid. Gonna try either Marion Mt trail or Devils Slide next Friday. Anyone been on these recently? would like to get in a training hike and not get bogged down in snow, any luck in that?
Dave

Next Friday as in the 14th? I might interested in going via Devil's Slide pending work schedule and body parts cooperating. Pretty sure there's still tons of snow up there, no problem.

I'm planning on heading up the Tram on Saturday morning to knock out a quick summit and maybe head to some of the surrounding peaks. Planning on bringing crampons / ice axe. What about snow shoes? Is the snow deep enough and soft enough on the east side that I'll wish I brought them up? I assume the trail to the top will be packed down, but what about heading toward Marion along the ridge?

asmrz wrote:I would second the above advice re. snow on Marion Ridge. There is plenty of snow above 8,000 feet on San Jacinto. Any north slope above that elevation has at least a knee deep snow as of today. We hiked the Dear Springs Trail to Marion Trail and up on Wednesday with ton of snow above the intersection of these trails. Hiked Tahquitz Peak via the North Gully to Red Tahquitz last week, (cc 9K), soft snow everywhere. Be equipped.

Plan on going up MMT tomorrow with intentions of summitting either Marion Mountain or SJ. I intend to use axe and crampons. Out of curiosity how is MMT below the PCT junction?

There was a continuous snow cover while traversing the North side of the Bowl after Strawberry Junction. No trail was visible last week. Penelope had her map and a compass but we just crossed the bowl (we have been there before, in winter, we know the way more or less). You can count on snow all the way from there. I would use caution if you don't know where the trail goes and/or don't use map and a compass or GPS. Temps are reasonable. Some deep snow postholing above cc 8,500'. Took us 10 hours RT from Dear Springs TH (at our age). If the PCT is the Fuller Ridge Trail, the area has deep snow. We had ski poles, didn't use ice axe (had them with us) and had crampons (didn't use them either), just broke through the deep snow. A good workout.

Thanks for the info. I'm familiar enough with the area. I've been there over snow a few times with few route finding probloems. If the MMT is more or less visible for the first mile or two than route finding will be no problem. It's just the lowest portions that have dense forest cover with few landmarks. We'll see.

Deb wrote:

ridgeline wrote:I have not been on San J since I was a kid. Gonna try either Marion Mt trail or Devils Slide next Friday. Anyone been on these recently? would like to get in a training hike and not get bogged down in snow, any luck in that?
Dave

Next Friday as in the 14th? I might interested in going via Devil's Slide pending work schedule and body parts cooperating. Pretty sure there's still tons of snow up there, no problem.

This may be a last minute decision, going to a wedding in the area on Sat and kinda brainstorming the idea.
Would like to hear how it goes for Zcando.

Summited Marion Mountain today, saw one person all day who was a through hiker. The Marion Mountain Trail above 7600 feet to the PCT junction has large patches of snow on it but is easy enough to follow. Additionally, somebody tied some pink markers to the trees on the upper portion of the MMT to mark the trail but in a few days with this weather, I think the MMT to the PCT will be virtually clear. From the PCT junction, as of today the trail is essentially under 30 inches of snow. The PCT to Deer Springs is pretty easy to follow due to the recent traffic but that is where I left it to go up. I would have to agree with previous posts regarding a good snow pack above 8500 feet with the exception of South facing slopes. Hope this helps.

Summitted San Jacinto via MMT on Friday with perfect snow and temps. I had a lump removed from over my left knee 2 weeks ago, stitches due to come out in a week, but I couldn't take staying away from the mountains any longer!!
Took me just under 5 hours to summit; never saw/found or made a trail once leaving the PCT/Deer Springs junction, I just shot an azimuth and blazed over the frozen snow (in crampons) across Drury's skirt and straight up the the Folly-Jacinto saddle (that's what I call it).
There is a set of Honda keys on the San Jacinto summit block.
The trip back to MMT trailhead was wrought with a few somersaults (not intentional) down steep snow slopes, tripping head long over downed trees and "where the hell am I?" I never found the trail! In the 5.5 hours it took me to get back to my truck, I traversed MILES back and forth between PCT and 7 Pines trying to eliminate landmarks. Yes, I have map and compass but in the trees, everything looks the same! I clambered up a high point of rock (4th class in crampons), called Dave who was on his way home from Lancaster. "I'm lost." What a goober! Talking to him calmed my nerves and I was able to gather a plan and go for it. 90 minutes of gingerly sliding down into a deep draw, over (and through) a few creeks, hop-scotching over downed trees, climbing back up onto rock prepisces, and eventually finding the terminus of the logging/fire road - I reached my truck just moments before Dave drove up to help find my ass. He's so sweet!
I consider myself a decent navigator, but I was just massively confused by everything with the snow covering and too damn many trees. Clouds dropped onto the peaks and I could no longer ascertain who was what. Without the compass and map, I'd still be out there.