[BULK] - [pct-l] San Jacinto

[msaenz at mve-architects.com (Mike Saenz)]

Wayne-

I'm very familiar with the San Jac wilderness. Any specific questions, I
can either answer first hand, or can direct you to an answer...

As for late March, depending on the weather, of course, you could either
encounter deep snow and ice to clear, sunny and warm conditions.
Currently, Round Valley has up to 4 feet of snow. More is expected in
the next week. Currently, snowshoes, crampons and ropes are required to
summit. From Long Valley to Tamarak, you'll need snowshoes. Climbing up
between San J and Cornell, there are plenty of spots where the trail
traverses some steep slopes. I would bet they're currently icy and snow
covered. Most definitely, the final scramble to the peak is difficult,
as it's a rock-hop which is now covered with snow. Hard to tell where
the tops of the rocks are...

I'm planning a trip up the San Jac wilderness along the PCT, NOBO from
the 74 first weekend of March. I anticipate ice and snow in the higher
elevations, but I won't have to slog through it until the tail end of
the hike.

Your best route from Palm Springs would be from the tramway. At the top,
the tram deposits you at 8,000 feet! So there's very little climb until
you get close to the main slope of San Jac peak. In clear conditions,
the peak is an easy day hike from the tram and back.

Tram-cam:
http://www.pstramway.com/cams-weather/cams-detail.html

If you want to make it an overnighter, there's a ton of really nice
trails all around the top of the mountain! Water is, no doubt, flowing
everywhere right now, and should stay plentiful at least until
June/July.

Call the ranger station in Idyllwild at: (909) 382-2921 for specific
trail conditions.

M i c h a e l   S a e n z
McLarand Vasquez Emsiek & Partners, Inc.
A r c h i t e c t u r e    P l a n n i n g    I n t e r i o r s
w  w  w  .  m  v  e  -  a  r  c  h  i  t  e  c  t  s  .  c  o  m


-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net
[mailto:pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Wayne Kraft
Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2005 7:04 AM
To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: [BULK] - [pct-l] San Jacinto

Well, looks like the family has decided to spend my hard earned cash on
a spring break trip to Palm Springs.  There will be lots to do visiting
friends and chaperoning "teen age stuff" but I hope to get away for one
nignt in the mountains.  Anyone got the inside line on what I would be
likely to encounter at 9000' in the San Jacinto Wilderness in late
March?  Is the climb up San J. peak likely to be snow bound? I am
thinking of hiking from the top of the tram.  Would Joshua Tree be a
better option in late March ya think? Any comments welcome.

Wayne Kraft
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