Anew route has been climbed in Patagonia
Elusive wall of Paine in Patagonia climbed
http://www.meetup.com/Hiking-Coachella-Valley/events/146779772/
http://www.mtsanjacinto.info/viewtopic.php?t=4433
http://mtsanjacinto.info/viewtopic.php?t=4431
(4) From Facebook
To doreen sabiaMe
Nov 15 at 12:52 PM
Ellen is hiking over 30 miles and 11,000 ft of gain tomorrow, and might get some snow -- from facebook
Saturday -- Snow Creek PCT to tram with Fearless Dan, Daivd M and other friends. Over 30 miles with 11 K gain Today and tomorrow I'll be eating and resting. Now if I can just get rid of this awful sinus headache Hope to complete this beast in 14 hours or less.
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http://peaksforfreaks.blogspot.com
At 5,400 ft, the scenery really started blowing up. I couldn't help thinking I was standing in the Alaskan tundra, looking up at gigantic, glaciated peaks. Other trails of Mt. San Jacinto, such as Cactus to Clouds, head directly up their main ridges. This allows one to see no more than a few thousand feet above them as the remainder of the mountain is blocked by closer highpoints. S2S heads up a small sub-ridge which wraps around Mt. San Jacinto, allowing one to see all the way up to 10,834 ft. The overall grander of the mountain is truly expressed.
16.3 miles after the PCT turnoff, we came to Fuller Ridge Campground (7,700 ft). The trail had crossed a few roads shortly before this (see map at the bottom of this page, most maps are a little funky depicting this section).
Five of us reached the picnic tables shortly after 10:30 am. We dropped our packs and retrieved a water cache that Mihai and a group of eight had left there a week earlier. The area was nice and cool, shaded by a grove of conifers, finally above all that desert heat. We decided to have lunch at one of the picnic tables and wait up for the back end of the group, which was more than an hour back. We chatted with a few PCT'ers who had started from the Mexican border a few weeks ago and hoped to reach Canada later that year. They said that the PCT season was off to a full blast, and we would meet several more thru-hikers on the trail.
The whole group eventually rejoined and was back on the trail by 12pm. The remaining trail to the summit snaked gently up the mountain under a forest of large conifers. The conifers blocked off much of the views, but it was very nice to have them for their green color, shade, and contrast to the desert below. We ran into patchy snow just below 8,000 ft.
At 8,900 ft (5 mi after Fuller Ridge Campground) we exited the PCT and latched onto the Deer Springs Trail, which branched off to the left of the PCT. From here, it was a mile to Little Round Valley, a popular primitive campground, and then another 1.6 miles to San Jacinto Peak. The trail ascended nice and steadily. I began to feel a little sleepy, but was fully awake again at 10,000 ft as a slightly chilly wind began blowing in from the west
We spent about half an hour on the summit, rejoicing and cheering as several more members of our group made their way up to the summit. By 6:10 pm, most of us had made it. There were still a few that were supposedly 45 minutes below the summit. We hoped that they were closer so they would be able to make it in time for the last tram off the mountain at 9pm. Mihai said that he would wait for them below the summit. Greg, Gong, and I headed down the San Jacinto Peak Trail to the tram station to inform them that there might still be people on the mountain after 9pm.
http://peaksforfreaks.blogspot.com
Snow Creek via PCT IN 2012 (Wrong Labeling on URL) Great Pictures
http://peaksforfreaks.blogspot.com/2013/02/mt-ritter-mt-mendel-july-28-29-2012.html
Snow Creek Trail to San Jacinto (S2S)
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May 12, 2012
When most people hear of a trail that starts at the desert floor and ascends over 10,000 ft to the summit of Mt. San Jacinto, the first thing that usually pops into their heads is the "Cactus to Clouds" trail. Cactus to Clouds is well known, well traveled, and easily accessible. It is seemingly the only one of its kind in Southern California.
What many don't know is that there is another one of those such trails which ascends a completely different side of the mountain. The elevation gain of this trail is slightly lower than that of Cactus to Clouds, but the overall distance is longer. This "Snow Creek Trail to San Jacinto (S2S)," is the only trail that ascends Mt. San Jacinto from the north. It contains very different scenery than one would encounter on any other part of the mountain. Out of all the trails I have hiked in the San Jacinto Mountains, in my opinion S2S is the most scenic one, even more scenic than Cactus to Clouds.
S2S begins on a road a little over a tenth of a mile before (north of) Snow Creek Village (elevation 1,200 ft), a small settlement below the north face of Mt. San Jacinto. Because of DWA property issues, one must park here and then walk 1.2 miles up a gravel road to a junction with the Pacific Crest Trail (1,700 ft), which branches off to the right. From here, the PCT switchbacks 16.3 miles to a campground and picnic area at Fuller Ridge (7,700 ft). After Fuller Ridge, the PCT goes for 5 more miles to intersect the Deer Springs Trail (8,900 ft). From here, exit the PCT and head 1 mile up the Deer Springs Trail towards Little Round Valley (9,800 ft), and then another 1.6 mi to the summit of Mt. San Jacinto (10,834 ft). From here, most choose to hike 5.5 mi down the popular San Jacinto Peak Trail to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (8,500 ft), take the tram down, and shuttle back to their cars at Snow Creek Trailhead.
Getting to the trailhead (from the west): Take I-10 east, 6 miles past Cabazon, and turn right onto CA 111. Travel 1 mile on CA 111, then turn right onto the paved Snowcreek Canyon Rd. Travel 1.6 miles on Snowcreek Canyon Rd until you see two signs on either side of the road: one that says "Snow Creek Wildlife Refuge" to the left and another that says "Snow Creek Village" to the right. This is the trailhead. Upon starting your hike, be sure to veer left onto another paved road (Falls Creek Rd) 100 ft further up Snowcreek Canyon Rd from the trailhead. If you continue up Snowcreek canyon Rd, you will enter Snow Creek Village. You should not have to pass through any part of the village for this route.
Trailhead coordinates (lat/lon): 33.893765, -116.682985
Left turn onto Falls Creek Rd: 33.893587, -116.682969
Trailhead
It was early in the morning at around 2:30 am as twelve pairs of feet began hitting the pavement. Temperatures were supposed to rise over 100F on the desert floor later that day. At 3am, the temperature was already in the low 80s. A steady 40mph wind managed to keep us cool for the first mile or so. We hoped to get above 4,000 ft by sunrise, when the heat would really start vamping up. We started up the main road, but this proved to be wrong as we ended up in Snow Creek Village. We doubled back and found the left branching road. There was a gate at the intersection with a sign reading "no trespassing on watershed property." Feeling excited, Desmond and I quickened the pace. Soon, we had the group somewhere behind us. I didn't know how far they were because I couldn't make out their lights anymore. We kept on walking. After a while, I thought to myself that this could not be right. We had walked more than 1.2 miles. Suddenly, we head a voice on Desmond's radio. It was Mihai, who said that the group was already at the PCT turnoff and was wondering where we were. Oops, looked like we missed it. We doubled back and found it. It was an obvious turnoff. Someone had even spray painted "PCT" on a rock. There were another group of hikers bivying there. It looked like our large group had woken them up.
The PCT gradually switchbacked up the hillside. The upwards angle was so gentle that most of us were barely aware that we were ascending. Everyone was still generally quiet, probably not awake yet because of the early start. The only sounds that followed us were the rustles of legs brushing against desert shrubs. It was a very peaceful morning. As we ascended, it was nice to feel the temperature gradually drop. We reached 4,200 ft at sunrise.
May 12, 2012
When most people hear of a trail that starts at the desert floor and ascends over 10,000 ft to the summit of Mt. San Jacinto, the first thing that usually pops into their heads is the "Cactus to Clouds" trail. Cactus to Clouds is well known, well traveled, and easily accessible. It is seemingly the only one of its kind in Southern California.
What many don't know is that there is another one of those such trails which ascends a completely different side of the mountain. The elevation gain of this trail is slightly lower than that of Cactus to Clouds, but the overall distance is longer. This "Snow Creek Trail to San Jacinto (S2S)," is the only trail that ascends Mt. San Jacinto from the north. It contains very different scenery than one would encounter on any other part of the mountain. Out of all the trails I have hiked in the San Jacinto Mountains, in my opinion S2S is the most scenic one, even more scenic than Cactus to Clouds.
S2S begins on a road a little over a tenth of a mile before (north of) Snow Creek Village (elevation 1,200 ft), a small settlement below the north face of Mt. San Jacinto. Because of DWA property issues, one must park here and then walk 1.2 miles up a gravel road to a junction with the Pacific Crest Trail (1,700 ft), which branches off to the right. From here, the PCT switchbacks 16.3 miles to a campground and picnic area at Fuller Ridge (7,700 ft). After Fuller Ridge, the PCT goes for 5 more miles to intersect the Deer Springs Trail (8,900 ft). From here, exit the PCT and head 1 mile up the Deer Springs Trail towards Little Round Valley (9,800 ft), and then another 1.6 mi to the summit of Mt. San Jacinto (10,834 ft). From here, most choose to hike 5.5 mi down the popular San Jacinto Peak Trail to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (8,500 ft), take the tram down, and shuttle back to their cars at Snow Creek Trailhead.
Getting to the trailhead (from the west): Take I-10 east, 6 miles past Cabazon, and turn right onto CA 111. Travel 1 mile on CA 111, then turn right onto the paved Snowcreek Canyon Rd. Travel 1.6 miles on Snowcreek Canyon Rd until you see two signs on either side of the road: one that says "Snow Creek Wildlife Refuge" to the left and another that says "Snow Creek Village" to the right. This is the trailhead. Upon starting your hike, be sure to veer left onto another paved road (Falls Creek Rd) 100 ft further up Snowcreek Canyon Rd from the trailhead. If you continue up Snowcreek canyon Rd, you will enter Snow Creek Village. You should not have to pass through any part of the village for this route.
Trailhead coordinates (lat/lon): 33.893765, -116.682985
Left turn onto Falls Creek Rd: 33.893587, -116.682969
Trailhead
It was early in the morning at around 2:30 am as twelve pairs of feet began hitting the pavement. Temperatures were supposed to rise over 100F on the desert floor later that day. At 3am, the temperature was already in the low 80s. A steady 40mph wind managed to keep us cool for the first mile or so. We hoped to get above 4,000 ft by sunrise, when the heat would really start vamping up. We started up the main road, but this proved to be wrong as we ended up in Snow Creek Village. We doubled back and found the left branching road. There was a gate at the intersection with a sign reading "no trespassing on watershed property." Feeling excited, Desmond and I quickened the pace. Soon, we had the group somewhere behind us. I didn't know how far they were because I couldn't make out their lights anymore. We kept on walking. After a while, I thought to myself that this could not be right. We had walked more than 1.2 miles. Suddenly, we head a voice on Desmond's radio. It was Mihai, who said that the group was already at the PCT turnoff and was wondering where we were. Oops, looked like we missed it. We doubled back and found it. It was an obvious turnoff. Someone had even spray painted "PCT" on a rock. There were another group of hikers bivying there. It looked like our large group had woken them up.
The PCT gradually switchbacked up the hillside. The upwards angle was so gentle that most of us were barely aware that we were ascending. Everyone was still generally quiet, probably not awake yet because of the early start. The only sounds that followed us were the rustles of legs brushing against desert shrubs. It was a very peaceful morning. As we ascended, it was nice to feel the temperature gradually drop. We reached 4,200 ft at sunrise.
At 5,400 ft, the scenery really started blowing up. I couldn't help thinking I was standing in the Alaskan tundra, looking up at gigantic, glaciated peaks. Other trails of Mt. San Jacinto, such as Cactus to Clouds, head directly up their main ridges. This allows one to see no more than a few thousand feet above them as the remainder of the mountain is blocked by closer highpoints. S2S heads up a small sub-ridge which wraps around Mt. San Jacinto, allowing one to see all the way up to 10,834 ft. The overall grander of the mountain is truly expressed.
16.3 miles after the PCT turnoff, we came to Fuller Ridge Campground (7,700 ft). The trail had crossed a few roads shortly before this (see map at the bottom of this page, most maps are a little funky depicting this section).
Five of us reached the picnic tables shortly after 10:30 am. We dropped our packs and retrieved a water cache that Mihai and a group of eight had left there a week earlier. The area was nice and cool, shaded by a grove of conifers, finally above all that desert heat. We decided to have lunch at one of the picnic tables and wait up for the back end of the group, which was more than an hour back. We chatted with a few PCT'ers who had started from the Mexican border a few weeks ago and hoped to reach Canada later that year. They said that the PCT season was off to a full blast, and we would meet several more thru-hikers on the trail.
The whole group eventually rejoined and was back on the trail by 12pm. The remaining trail to the summit snaked gently up the mountain under a forest of large conifers. The conifers blocked off much of the views, but it was very nice to have them for their green color, shade, and contrast to the desert below. We ran into patchy snow just below 8,000 ft.
At 8,900 ft (5 mi after Fuller Ridge Campground) we exited the PCT and latched onto the Deer Springs Trail, which branched off to the left of the PCT. From here, it was a mile to Little Round Valley, a popular primitive campground, and then another 1.6 miles to San Jacinto Peak. The trail ascended nice and steadily. I began to feel a little sleepy, but was fully awake again at 10,000 ft as a slightly chilly wind began blowing in from the west
We spent about half an hour on the summit, rejoicing and cheering as several more members of our group made their way up to the summit. By 6:10 pm, most of us had made it. There were still a few that were supposedly 45 minutes below the summit. We hoped that they were closer so they would be able to make it in time for the last tram off the mountain at 9pm. Mihai said that he would wait for them below the summit. Greg, Gong, and I headed down the San Jacinto Peak Trail to the tram station to inform them that there might still be people on the mountain after 9pm.
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http://www.climbing.com/news/wall-of-paine-elusive-patagonian-wall-climbed-but-still-no-summit/
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http://www.summitpost.org/the-nub-alberta-canada/876236
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