[pct-l] PCT hiker report of snow and trail conditions PCT north Hwy 74

[jeff.singewald at comcast.net]

Len,

Hang in there, the conditions will likely change signficantly over the next couple of weeks.  In 2006 I stopped in Idyllwild the week prior to KO on my way to Campo to start my thru-hike.  I hiked up the Devil's Slide trail and there was more than 2 feet of snow at Saddle Junction.  Two weeks later when I returned to the Saddle via the PCT, there was still a good foot of snow cover.  We had 1-2 feet of snow cover for the better part of the entire Fuller Ridge and it really wasn't that difficult.  Never did pull the ice axe or crampons off the pack.  My thought is when you leave Idyllwild make certain the weather forecast calls for a couple of clear days of weather and push across from Saddle Junction all the way to Black Mountain road or beyond in one day.  By the time you reach the so-called difficult section of Fuller Ridge the sun will have likely softened the snow more than enough.

With regards to the trail south of Saddle Junction, yes you are likely to find snow in the canyon just south of Saddle Junction as it is on the north side of the peak.  The key is to stay high as you traverse and as you turn north stay on the ridge line and you will drop right down into the Junction.  Get off the ridge to the east and you will likely miss the Saddle.

Have fun. Fuller Ridge is definitely worth the fun!

Elevator

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Len Glassner" <len5742 at gmail.com> 

> I'm not smart enough to make those kinds of projections, but I can 
> tell you what it's like up there, as I just got back from some day 
> hikes around the Idyllwild area. 
> 
> Summarizing: 
> 
> - South end entry to Fuller Ridge, where the PCT intersects with the 
> Marion Mountain Trail. Steep. Iced-over snow. Complete cover. I 
> didn't go any farther. 
> 
> - North end entry to FR, intersection with Black Mountain Road. I 
> made it at most a mile SOBO, then ditto the above. 
> 
> - The PCT NOBO from BMR has only trivial snow on the first mile that 
> I walked. I can't imaging there's any snow further down. I sure as 
> Hell hope not anyway, as I told a couple hikers there wasn't 
> 
> But you would have to get there first. 
> 
> Two hikers w/o ice ax or crampons got a fair way north from 74, One 
> believes he made it somewhere around Antsell Rock or South Peak, then 
> went back down to Fobes Trail , came out. The other came out on 
> Spitler Peak Trial, I think. 
> 
> Four actually got all the way to Saddle Junction and came down to 
> Idyllwild, at least two without ax or crampons. Here's the story I 
> got from the two that I met: They were proceeding north and lost the 
> trail. They encountered two others in the same situation. Quoting the 
> guy I was talking to: 'We bushwacked to the top, I shot an azimuth to 
> the saddle and we followed that.' I'm assuming he was talking about 
> Saddle Junction. I'm not sure if they came down Devil's Slide or just 
> came down their own way. 
> 
> FWIW, Devils Slide is no problem, snow wise, I walked that. Saddle J 
> has mix of snow cover and clear areas Went south from Saddle J and I 
> believe I got just short of the trail to San J Peak without tools. I 
> think was on the PCT. Increasing snow vs. trail. Ran out of time 
> rather than trail 'intuition'. I also walked a fraction of a mile 
> north from Saddle J, no problem there. I walked up the Deer Springs 
> Trail, then on the PCT almost to the intersect to go to Wellman 
> Divide, no snow issues. Bid nasty tree down, though. 
> 
> More FWIW: Part of my reason for going was to test out newly 
> purchased Camp 6-point crampons and ULA trowel. Got less than 
> exciting results from both. The crampons are hard to keep from 
> sliding toward and off the heel if there is pressure pushing them that 
> way. I couldn't ram the ax shaft into snow where I needed it more 
> than an inch or two. Where I didn't need it, no problem. Yes, I was 
> using the sharp pointy end. 
> 
> All quick recall -No warranty expressed or implied on the above. 
> 
> Pictures will come later. 
> - 
> On 4/10/08, Phil Newhouse wrote: 
> > Any thoughts on Fuller Ridge based on this data? Will Fuller Ridge require 
> > crampons/ice axe in a couple weeks (bar any future storm)? 
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