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[pct-l] Pines To Palms to I-10 Conditions - Section B

* Message posted to PCT-L from the National Scenic Trails Website
* by our guest Steve White <swhite@infosac.com>.
* Please use <swhite@infosac.com> to reply to the sender.

I just completed a week on the PCT in the San Jacintos so here is an update on the recent trail conditions down there.

I went in at the Pines to Palms Highway on Friday 5 May and came out at I-15 on the Friday 12 May.  As you can see progress was not outstanding mainly because there is still a fair bit of snow at the higher elevations and on those north facing slopes.  Frankly there was quite a lot more than I ever expected - I had debated on the need for an ice axe but was thankful that I did take one in the end.  It would have been very risky without one.

All was well as far as Andreas Canyon - there is nice camping at Cedar Spring Camp (no snow there now but apparently it was covered just a week or so earlier), not so great camping at Apache Spring.  But as the trail turns westwards along the north facing slope of Andreas Canyon and crosses Tahquitz Creek there was a lot of snow and following the actual path of the trail was futile.  In sheltered spots under the trees the snow coverage was pretty much complete.  And so it continued more or less until the end of Fuller Ridge.  While ever the slope was shaded in the trees and/or was facing NW to NE then there was still significant snow.  There were a few brief respites while the trail followed along the non-north facing slopes but they seemed so short and then it was back to slogging through snow again.

After leaving the Fuller Ridge Campsite the trail was clear.  There was plenty of water just below the Fuller Ridge Campsite so there was no need to hike down to Black Mountain Campground for water.  There was even some water about two thirds way down the trail to Snow Creek but I wouldn't imagine that water would be around for too much longer.

For myself, it turned out great - trying to follow the trail across the snow was an interesting challenge and I was not interested in putting away any great distance each day - it took an entire day to traverse the length of the Fuller Ridge which is only some 4 miles.

The question is, of course, how long will the snow last?  I would have imagined that it was disappearing pretty quickly now, but then, as I was riding into LA from Cabazon, it was raining pretty heavily, just emphasizing what a weird weather year this is.

Good luck to those planning a trip.  There is some exceptional scenery in this section of the PCT - snow or no snow its well worth it.


Steve White
swhite@infosac.com





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