San Jacinto Snow Storm

3/18/12  An unusually cold mid-March snow storm meant record low snow levels for this time of year and great snow conditions. So I decided to take the tram up to Long Valley and do some snowshoeing towards the San Jacinto summit.
DSC00922 This was a fairly spontaneous trip to take advantage of the unusually cold snow storm for mid-March. The tram had been closed all day Saturday due to high winds...
This was a fairly spontaneous trip to take advantage of the unusually cold snow storm for mid-March. The tram had been closed all day Saturday due to high winds…
DSC00926 Leaving Long Valley. The tram up was packed with people. Of those people probably only 30% ventured outside the lodge, and of those only a handful ventured out...
Leaving Long Valley. The tram up was packed with people. Of those people probably only 30% ventured outside the lodge, and of those only a handful ventured out…
DSC00927 The first trail junction and creek crossing. This would be the last time I was anywhere near the real trail. My route for the day would head cross country...
The first trail junction and creek crossing. This would be the last time I was anywhere near the real trail. My route for the day would head cross country…
DSC00933 I was following some well defined tracks that looked to be from cross country skiers. Normally I prefer to break my own trail, but with this much fresh powder,...
I was following some well defined tracks that looked to be from cross country skiers. Normally I prefer to break my own trail, but with this much fresh powder,…
DSC00935 As the elevation started to climb, the storm got heavier, and the powder got deeper. The tracks I was following were already starting to fill. At this point...
As the elevation started to climb, the storm got heavier, and the powder got deeper. The tracks I was following were already starting to fill. At this point…
DSC00937 As I approached Jean Peak, things get steeper, and the powder got deeper. In places, I was post holing knee deep even with snow shoes on. I have never seen...
As I approached Jean Peak, things get steeper, and the powder got deeper. In places, I was post holing knee deep even with snow shoes on. I have never seen…
DSC00941 Just below the Jean Peak ridge, I caught-up to the cross country skiers whose tracks I had been following. They were skiing up and down the slope below the...
Just below the Jean Peak ridge, I caught-up to the cross country skiers whose tracks I had been following. They were skiing up and down the slope below the…
MAH00945 My (partial) 360 video for the day at my turnaround point near Jean Peak above 10,000'.
My (partial) 360 video for the day at my turnaround point near Jean Peak above 10,000'.
DSC00943 The return trip was tough. In places my tracks had completely covered over and I was squinting finding to find traces of them to follow. Without tracks, I would...
The return trip was tough. In places my tracks had completely covered over and I was squinting finding to find traces of them to follow. Without tracks, I would…
IMG_0690 I finally made it back to Long Valley by about 5:15pm. It was a bit warmer and snowing much less here at the lower elevation. My camera was completely...
I finally made it back to Long Valley by about 5:15pm. It was a bit warmer and snowing much less here at the lower elevation. My camera was completely…
IMG_0691 It's a lot easier to take pictures now that my hands aren't frozen.
It's a lot easier to take pictures now that my hands aren't frozen.
IMG_0692 Nothing like fresh snow in the trees.
Nothing like fresh snow in the trees.
IMG_0699 The barely visible creek winding through Long Valley.
The barely visible creek winding through Long Valley.
IMG_0693 Some spots of the creek were completed iced over. Probably don't want to walk across that.
Some spots of the creek were completed iced over. Probably don't want to walk across that.
IMG_0700 Lots of great snow scenery in the valley.
Lots of great snow scenery in the valley.
IMG_0701 And much easier to enjoy now that it's a little warmer and not snowing as hard.
And much easier to enjoy now that it's a little warmer and not snowing as hard.
IMG_0705 The view from the lodge balcony. Definitely not the normal clear view of Palm Springs. After eating a huge dinner in the lodge, I headed back down the tram with...
The view from the lodge balcony. Definitely not the normal clear view of Palm Springs. After eating a huge dinner in the lodge, I headed back down the tram with…