[pct-l] Trip Report Fuller Ridge

[jake]

Yesterday (4/16) I hiked the Fuller Ridge portion of the PCT and descended
to the Snow Creek access point today (4/17).  I carried an Ice Axe and used
Microspike crampons.  I entered via the Palm Springs Ariel Tram through
Round Valley.  I then went to Wellman Divide, over Jean Peak to San Jacinto
Peak and hit the PCT a little North of Deer Spring at the trail junction to
Little Round Valley.  From the tram to the PCT the snow was soft and
melting, slippery in steep areas, but easily traversed with Microspikes.
The first 2 PCT miles I hiked were mostly steep East facing slopes to reach
Fuller Ridge.  I reached the PCT at 3:00 PM and the start of Fuller Ridge at
4:10.  There were signs of one recent hiker ahead of me (extremely large
footprints, with full crampons).  Since it was towards the end of a warm
day, the snow was relatively soft, and kicking steps was relatively easy.

The portion of the PCT which is actually on the ridge is only approximately
3 miles long.  For the first 1.5 of which, it was possible to avoid all of
the exposed snow crossings by either bushwacking to the Southeast side of
the the ridge, or going directly over the top of the small rises (for some
reason the PCT seems to stay mostly to the Northwest side of the ridge).
After reaching the Castle Rocks there is no choice but to traverse the
extremely steep North facing slope.  There is still enough snow for a waist
deep posthole in this section, but given the time and warmth of the day I
was able to kick steps and make it to the Fuller Ridge Campground (where I
camped) at around 6:40 PM for a total of 2hrs 30 mins to cover the 3 miles.

The whole stretch was under deep snow, and only when the trail went on the
Southwest side of the ridge was there any actual exposed trail.  Although
there were a set of foot prints ahead of me, they were by no means
followable for much of the way and significant way-finding was necessary (as
it would be for anyone following me).  Even though the snow conditions were
highly favorable, I still had to use my Ice Axe to self-arrest on of the the
steeper portions of the traverse when the snow gave out under my Microspikes
(crampons might have prevented this, but I'm not sure).  There was no liquid
water on the trail until the descent into Snow Canyon, where there were
several seeps and small streams starting at around 6500'.  Aside from some
mostly level snow crossings, there was no difficulty from the Fuller Ridge
Campground to the drinking fountain at the bottom (which was turned on, and
always appreciated!).

Don't Panic