Thanks for the update. I thought this latter portion of the storm was supposed to drop the snow levels to 4500'. Oh well.

Boo...no ice yet. Does the trough ice up every year? Or just as often as the rest of Tahquitz? Actually, I'd be interested in knowing when any route, no matter how crappy, has ice so that I can get some practice...

jackalak wrote:Boo...no ice yet. Does the trough ice up every year? Or just as often as the rest of Tahquitz? Actually, I'd be interested in knowing when any route, no matter how crappy, has ice so that I can get some practice...

Wait 'til Feb dude, you're waaaay early with this thread!

if we get some moisture (we did), followed by snow (started at about 3ish pm), and then cold (not really), el whampo area has provided me with some damn good, and consistent mixed climbing. it is more unique when that side of the rock does not at least have something to play on at this time of year. last season was not ordinary, and more times than not, december and january has given me more consistant climbing conditions... if you are inclined to mix it up and maybe get scared too... and you are willing to seek out single pitch fun and leave the trough alone.

but with all the moisture we got in the form of rain, this aint a typical december at MY rock either...

late,
the gate keeper...

Dec 26, 2010, 1:00 PM. Unfortunately not much of an update. Snow level is now down to about 7,500', consistent snow cover at about the top of Tahquitz Rock and up. San Jac has loads of snow above 8,500'. Good winter hiking terrain on the mountain, but on the Rock there's no ice, as the high temps continue (mid 40s to 50s). Conditions are unusualy warm for this time of year.

There is going to be ice this year. It's looking to be a wet winter. The San Jacinto river is flowing well (time for some whitewater fun, yeah?).
Just to give some perspective, looking at some notes of mine;

First week of April, 2001, I did the Trough as an ice climb with Ruben Minjarez.

May 4th, 2003, ice-climbed the Trough with x15x15 and ONE WEEK LATER we did it again!

I think our May climbs might be the latest season ascents ever up there, but March almost always has climbable ice in the Trough.
But it's the North Face that's the ticket, as x15x15 notes. That's a trickier place. Deb has been there and can confirm. The ice is not as consistently melted and forms lots of ballbearing snow that promises but does not deliver.
But on occasion.......
As x15x15 said, it's spooky fun.

thanks guys. this is exactly what i wanted when i started this thread. thanks to all, especially alois...

keep it coming!

i'm praying for ice. and hopefully fairly soon...

San Jacinto and Tahquitz, yesterday, 12,28,2010 from Doubleview Road in Idyllwild. This morning, it's wet snow, temp 35 degrees. Nothing to speak of right now.

well, looks like the temps are predicted to drop a bit for the next few days so keep us up to date. would love to see some ice form for the weekend.

(im guessing that it's going to be a while for any substantial ice, but i want to capitalize whenever it decides to come in)

Here are some shots from when me and few friends went up a few of the north facing chutes on Tahquitz Ridge. 10-28-2010

12-31-2010 6:30 am. There is some FROZEN snow on the ground after yesterday's storm, very low temp of 20 degrees here at 5,200' this morning. It's getting better. Pen and I are leaving for the desert, will be back the 7th of Jan. Hoping that x15x15 will comment on conditions for a few days, especialy if the conditions on the rock improve.

x15x15, it would be great if you keep us updated, especially with the weather rolling through right now. mid week may have some possibilities. thanks!

I suspect it is good ice today, but couldn't find a partner.

Spoke by phone with my buddies Miguel Carmona and Joe Lemay. They climbed the Trough on Saturday.

Miguel said the rock is plastered with snow, but beneath it is very little ice. They said this was more of an exercise in dry tooling and rock climbing then ice climbing. Miguel knows the rock in the winter mode, he has climbed on winterized Tahquitz for years. In this mode, the climbing is much more difficult then when there is a lot of ice. Miguel thought the North Face would be pretty serious climbing in these lean conditions.

So here you have it. Most likely we need at least one big storm, soon. BTW. Miguel said there was nobody on the rock.