Trail condition reports from Mt. San Jacinto and Mt. San Gergonio
Bob & Nancy Ulrich's Day Hiking Adventures
Trail Condition Report Index
Join Bob and Nancy Ulrich as they hike all over the place and back again!
The following trail reports were emailed to us..

Please remember - Winter storms will modify trail conditions.
The following are reports of the conditions that were found on the date reported.

South Fork Trail, February 2000
Tram to Hidden Peak Jct.- Round Valley Loop, May 4, 1999
Tram to Hidden Peak Jct, San Jacinto Mountains, April 14, 1999
Tram to Hidden Peak Jct, San Jacinto Mountains, March 4, 1999
Tram to Welman Divide, San Jacinto Mountains, February 4, 1999
Tram to San Jacinto Peak, San Jacinto Mountains, January 30, 1999
Tram to Round Valley, San Jacinto Mountains, January 27, 1999
Jenks Lake to Dry Lake, San Bernadino Mountains, January 16, 1999
Tram to Round Valley, San Jacinto Mountains, November 20, 1998
Humber Park to Round Valley, San Jacinto Mountains, September 26, 1998
Aspen Grove Trail in the San Bernadino Mountains, September 23, 1998
South Fork Trail in the San Bernadino Mountains, September 16, 1998
Skunk Cabbage Meadow - San Jacinto Mountains, September 15, 1998
Fish Creek Trail - San Bernardino Mountains, August 13, 1998
Devils Slide Trail - San Jacinto Mountains, July 15, 1998
Jenks Lake to Dry Lake - San Bernardino Mountains, July 1, 1998
South Fork Trail-Trailhead update  4000 elevation at Highway 74-Trail goes thru a recent fire burn area, The trail is not closed but the areas beauty has been greatly reduced by the fire. Submitted by Bob R.
Tram to Hidden Peak Jct.- Round Valley Loop, May 4,1999
Took the tram to hidden Peak divide junction along the ridge trail to Round Valley and back down the round Valley trail to the Tram. Trails were clear with only a few small patches of ice, which could be walked around. The snow melt is in full force, and almost all of the snow below 8000' is melted. The creeks is running strong, and soon the meadows will start to green up.
Tram to Hidden Peak Jct., San Jacinto Mountains, April 14, 1999
Temperature at the tram station was 48 at noon.. What a wild spring. Only one foot of snow had fallen all winter. Since the first day of spring, the mountain has gotten over two and a half feet. Springs conditions, have kept the snow accumulation down. The trail was covered in snow, with drifts up to a 18" in a few places, but very hike-able. We didn't run into any ice, and didn't need crampons. The trees were free of snow, and the , and the weather was perfect for hiking. The extra snow will help out the wild flower season when it starts up.
Tram to Hidden Peak Jct., San Jacinto Mountains, March 4, 1999
Temperature in the 50's at the tram. It looks like winter is on its way out already. What a nice day for hiking. It got a bit windy near the divide, and we had to put on windbreakers. Not much else to report, its too early for flowers. There was some ice on the trail, but we it was spotty at best. The trail was mostly clear with isolated patches of ice. This trail, the willow creek trail  melts before the round valley trail.
Tram to Welman Divide, San Jacinto Mountains, February 4, 1999
Boy, what a change in the weather a week can make. We hiked to Wellman Divide. Didn't need crampons, didn't need a jacket on the way up. Put on a sweetshirt on the
way down. It was 43 at the upper tram station, and 30 to 35 at wellman. A big change from a week ago. Sunday's storm left left only an inch or two, and the traction was very good past the creek crossing. Had some ice on the trail from the ranger station to the creek crossing. We walked to one side or the other of it. Carried crampons just in case.

Rob wasn't kidding about the trail going from Round Valley to Wellman Divide not following the trail.I think the only part of the snow shoe trail that was anywhere near the
actual trail was the last 25 yards, and the first 200 yards. I never approached the divide from that side of the canyon before, but it got the job done. Who ever cut it must have figgured up was good, and we'll adjust to the right when we get closer to the ridge.

Took some great shots on that trail. I posted them on my site. Click here to see them. Another fine hike on Jacinto. Bob Ulrich
Tram to San Jacinto Peak, San Jacinto Mountains, January 30, 1999
It was simply a wonderful experience on the summit and all the way up! The trail was snowed under but already broken.  The most difficult part of the hike was the last 2 miles or so to the summit. Prior to summiting we stopped for an hour to have lunch at the divide (which was probably a mistake as we got cold) and struggled up to the highpoint. Without any real windblock it was cold (2pm) we rushed down with cold feet and hands (estimate
30 with wind-chill). For the most part folks will have to follow the footprints left behind although vestiges of trail are still visible. I suppose the next storm may wash it all out. The trail to wellman divide peters out and we relied on both the map and a set of footprints before us.

As for crampons, we wore them after the divide though they were not a necessity. We were comfortable with fleece jackets and fleece technical pants and light layering. I also brought down and a gortex jacket which I really didn't have need of today (a longer stay at the summit would have required them). Rob
Tram to Round Valley, San Jacinto Mountains, January 27, 1999
Boy, it got cold quick! The temperature at 11:15AM at the upper tram station was a cool 20 degrees. The trail to Round Valley was completely covered with new snow. I did not need crampons, but I carried them just in case.  Conditions were perfect! No wind, mostly sunny sky with some puffy clouds. The snow was excellent light powder, and from 6-8 inches deep from the Tram to Round Valley. I estimated the temperature at and near Round Valley to be between 5 an 10 above zero. We are lucky that the normal winter stiff
breeze was not present at Round Valley, or else we would have been looking at wind chills 10 to 20 below. This is the coldest I have seen it in a long time. The water in our canteens was freezing up. Due to a massive wind storm last week, there are a number of downed trees across the trail you have to detour around. Some of them are very big, and snapped off like a matchstick, evidence of the degree of  high winds of last week.

Despite the cold temperatures, we were dressed for it, we had a great time. Hiking right after a storm is breathtaking.  Got some great pictures that we will post when we get them back.-  Bob Ulrich
Jenks Lake to Dry Lake San Bernadino Mountains, January 16, 1999
Trail is about 40% covered in ice but passable. In and out of Ice (Instep crampons might be helpful but not essential) all the way to the lake, with deeper coverage beyond the lake to the summit. Lake is Frozen but still gorgeous. Temps are cool and one should dress appropriatly warm for stops. Wind can pick up towards latter of day making temps real chilly. - RCDA4
Tram to Round Valley, San Jacinto Mountains, November 20, 1998
Fall is here! Good news: The snow left by the storm of  November 11, 1998 is mostly melted. Bad News: It melted onto the trail and is now in the form of ice. The trail is very icy from above the creek crossing. I know it is early in the season for crampons, but I am not going back without carrying them. It is possible that without any more snow, the trail will free up in a couple weeks, but present ice conditions warrant carrying crampons unless you like sitting down and slipping all over the place. Weather is very nice, in the low 40's on the trail near noon, colder in the morning and afternoon. Dress accordingly.- Bob Ulrich
Humber Park to Round Valley, San Jacinto Mountains, September 26, 1998
Via Devils Slide Trail and Welman Divide (San Jacinto Mountains) Stuart Smith checks in with an update on an overnighter that that he took a few of my friends (all 7 of them) on from Humber to Round Valley on 26 Sept 98.

From Humber Park to Saddle Junction the trail is clear and well worn and the streams are pretty dry. From Saddle Junction to about a 1/4 mile below the junction at Wellmans Divide its fairly clear with a couple of large patches of brambles that have overgrown the trail on the switchbacks below Wellmans. The Forestry service was out with a few volunteers cutting the brush back that last 1/4 mile to the divide and I must say they did an outstanding job, they said they would be back next week so the trail might be totally clear all the way up. The water is still running adequately at the ranger station in Round Valley. We saw a very large(well fed) coyote at the Coyote Gulch campsite where we stayed for the night. The downhill trek the next day was a tad bit dusty considering the amount of traffic received that weekend. Another good tramp done in San Jacinto. Will keep you posted. - Stuart Smith
Aspen Grove Trail in the San Bernadino Mountains, September 23, 1998
I went to Aspen Grove yesterday. They have graded the dirt road. It
is now open and passable, the road is still rocky and bumpy. There is an
area with a big rut that must be driven around, just be careful.
The weather was crisp and cool in the morning, probably in the 50's.
The trail is well shaded so it never really got warm. Otherwise the hike
was nice. A permit is required. You can pick a permit up at the Mills
Creek Ranger Station. Have a good day. -Rob
South Fork Trail in the San Bernadino Mountains, September 16, 1998.
All the thunderstorm activity of the past weeks has done wonders. Lots of flowers in bloom. Horse meadow is still green, and the ferns are in very good condition. The trail is in good condition, and the weather was nice, with no rain. (As a side note, Mill creek Ranger Station had a notice that the road to fish creek had been graded on 9/15/98.) - Bob Ulrich
Skunk Cabbage Meadow - San Jacinto Mountains, September 15, 1998
Just came back from Skunk Cabbage Meadows in the San Jacinto Mountains. The trail is fine, the springs on the way to the top (via Devils Slide Trail) are gone or just trickles. It was a little cool this morning, but a light jacket was sufficient. There were a few muddy spots, but nothing to be concerned about. -Rob
Fish Creek - San Bernardino Mountains, August 13, 1998
The monsoon season is here, and there are huge thunderstorms in the area daily. We had to abort our hike due to flash flooding. Rain is no problem, as we have proper gear. Walls of water coming out of nowhere is a different story. The road to Fish creek is not passable without 4 wheel drive, as the flash floods have caused servere damage to the dirt road. We encountered massive flash floods and we won't be crossing any creeks or low areas if it is raining or about to rain. I"ll post a photo of a flash flood we ran into when I get the pictures back. It was truly unbeleivable. Dry one minute, A raging torent the next full of trees, rocks , and other things. I can see how one of these flash floods could wash you and/or your car away in seconds. Check with the weather guys on TV. Avoid creeks, streams, and parking in low areas until the current Thunderstorms back off. -Bob Ulrich
Devil's Slide Trail - July 15, 1998
When we were climbing up Devil's Slide from Humber Park, we found the most incredible wild Jasmine growing around the water falls, it was so thick and the flowers grew in large ball like clumps. -Judy Johnson

Jenks Lake to Dry Lake - July 1, 1998
We saw so many Snow flowers above Jenks Lake towards Dry Lake 2 weeks ago, it was incrediable. There were wild Iris (bright purple) in the lower range, first I had ever seen them. -Judy Johnson

More Info & Links
(Back To Hiking on Mt. San Jacinto Index)

Photos by Bob Ulrich / E-Mail Bob

Sponsored by BOB ULRICH, Century 21 Beachside 562/947-8125