My girlfriend and I are visiting her father next week, who lives in Idyllwild, CA. I would like to take my first steps on the Pacific Crest Trail. Does anyone know what the weather in the San Jacintos will be? Will there be any snow at this time of the year?
Bankrobber
I’ve backpacked almost all the trails in the San Jacintos over the years visiting relatives in Idyllwild. Snowcover depends, of course, largely on the amount of snowfall that winter and how high you intend to hike. You will be able to get reasonably good information from the San Jacinto National Forest Ranger Station, or the San Jacinto State Forest Ranger Station located in town. I can Remember being in ankle deep snow in March on the trail up to Taquiez Peak. In terms of temps, it can get down to freezing at night but the days can be quite pleasent and dry. But it is high country and you should have the gear for cold, wind and wet. Unless you are an experienced high country hiker, a trip all the way to the peak of Mt. San Jacinto itself could be rather risky from a wind and variable weather point of view.
Talk with the rangers, they will give you the low down. By the way, The ranger station that is located directly across from the Mexican restaurant (sorry, can’t remember weather it is the state or national) in my experience tends to be much more helpful than the other one.
If you have the time, a really nice trip is to start at Hwy 74 (thats the road from town down to Palm Springs)on the PCT and hike up to the Saddle Junction and back down Devils Slide trail into town. That, as I remember, is about 38 miles including side trails to water. That for me was two and a half pretty tough days, but you start down in desert like terrain and work your way up into and through an alpine paridise. The trail along the side of Murray Canyon is beyond discription! Quite a varied trip. If you have the experience highly recommended! But it has the potential to be quite cold and windy.
Razor
i can’t see the San Jacintos from my house, but i saw the San Gabriels yesterday and they are COVERED in snow. i mean COVERED, like pictures i’ve seen of the Rockies. we had a huge storm on Tuesday night. the Jacintos are only slightly more south, and a little lower in elevation, so i assume they got covered as well. but it could melt off really quickly. just be careful if there is snow - stay in areas where a slip won’t mean you fall to your death. too many people have died here in our SoCal mountains this winter. don’t become one of them.
tarbubble
The California Mountains seem much steeper than the mountains out East. My only experience in walking in the San Jacintos was when I took the Gondola Ride up from Palm Springs and then at the top went for a very short walk. I was with a group with a different agenda. The interesting thing for me at that time was the notice that there was an Indian Reservation up there and that the Indians had a long history of occupying those mountains.
Down at the other end of Palm Springs there are Canyon Trails where people ride horses and I suppose hike as well. It is hotter in the canyons than at the higher elevations. Right now I would welcome some "hot walking."In June, July and August through Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York I will probably regret those words.
Skylander
I can see Mt. San Jacinto from my front yard,(and Grayback)(Mt. San Gorgonio)LOTS OF SNOW! The Palm Springs Ariel Tramway has new round “Cars” that rotate once on the ride up the mountain. Nice ride,if u go, take an intertube, and glide down the slopes. Then warm up next to the fire in the ranger station.FUN, FUN FUN! take the kids!, and warm clothes, ENJOY!
dahmer