[pct-l] Fuller Ridge Conditions

[Bighummel@aol.com (Bighummel@aol.com)]

Some friends of mine and I hiked up the still closed road to Black Mountain 
campground on the north side of San Jacinto yesterday for a training hike.  
As we left my home in Diamond Bar heavy cloud cover threatened rain.  Driving 
up the road to Idylwild from the 10 freeway we passed through wet and blowing 
clouds to find perfect skies and brilliant sun above!  Perfect conditions, a 
gorgeous day. 

We hiked up the road to where the PCT crosses and then up the trail just 
about a mile to find patches of ice and snow from 7500 feet to 8000 feet and 
solid ice and snow above this.  No snow below 7,000 feet. Fuller Ridge (7500 
to 8500) still looks mostly covered and an ice axe and crampons is suggested 
if crossing this in the next week or so.  If I had brought an ice axe 
(didn't) I could have gotten further up onto the ridge to give better 
details.  

On this warm day, however, the snow and ice were seriously melting.   I will 
wager a guess that by the time a hiker, starting at the border at the end of 
this month, gets to here you will not require an ice axe or crampons IF (a 
really big "IF") no late Spring storms push through and deposit more snow 
(not looking likely the way our weather pattern is currently going).

Only a few foot prints apparent on the trail and in the snow.

Please take all caveats, IF's and guesses appropriately.

Good luck 2002's

Strider