Backcountry Skiing -Southern California

Caleb Milner wrote:

Tried to get out to San g today. Forgot it was new years with fresh snow. Took 2 hours to get from Forest Falls to Angelus Oaks. Bailed before I even hit the parking lot

I came down from Big Bear last night and had to take the Jenks Lake loop to avoid an accident. The loop was quiet, but any snow 0.4" from the 38 was completely overwhelmed with parked cars. Longest drive down from the mountain ever. Bumper to bumper the entire way.

Plenty of snow at the trailhead parking lot though! I'd bet its about time to skin up! Thursday is looking to bring another almost 18" to the summit of SanG/ Charlton/ Jepson. 

Caleb Milner wrote:

Tried to get out to San g today. Forgot it was new years with fresh snow. Took 2 hours to get from Forest Falls to Angelus Oaks. Bailed before I even hit the parking lot

What time did you drive up?  I drove up NYD around 7am no problem. Chain controls and dodging falling rocks into the road were the only obstacles.  

Ethan Ayer wrote:

What time did you drive up?  I drove up NYD around 7am no problem. Chain controls and dodging falling rocks into the road were the only obstacles.  

Yeah I made the mistake of leaving late.. I went up around 10am. Today was wide open though. Went up for a quick uphill tour today to about 8k around San G cus im a Gumby and the snow was good basically from the parking lot. Followed a single skin track all the way up to where I stopped 

Reading the NWS forecast for Southern California it calls for snow levels around 6000.  What I don't get is they are calling for massive amounts of rain but when they talk about snow they call for "light accumulations above 6000 feet".  How do you get massive amounts of rain yet only a few inches of snow?  Hoping they are just lazy or wrong.  My dog is itching to go skiing.

I always click on various points on the NWS point forecast to check different altitudes.  Then click on the hourly forecast to see exact temps and likely precip.  Plus read the forecast discussion which sometimes is talking about resort altitudes of 7000 feet, so you have to adjust for any higher altitude.  Also Mt. San Antonio is on the border of the LA and San Diego zones, so I check both sides.  You can also check BensWeather summary and cams, and see what has happened at the PStramway weather and cams.   Both snow and rain are forecast especially below 7500.

I've been a big fan of OpenSnow (OpenSummit) as well. Lots of detailed info and forecasts for specific peaks if you want it. 

Charlton Peak forecast:

Estimated snow maps

Big list showing all the favs and forecasts. The 6-10 day is a lot less accurate than the 1-5 day, but its still helpful to look ahead.

The annual snowfall one is fun to watch too, Mammoth is booming!!

Anyone down to check out S Gorgonio on Friday or Saturday? Open Snow is calling for 24". Would like leave the South Fork Trailhead super early either day. Hit me up if you are down. Cheers

Corey Hass wrote:

I've been a big fan of OpenSnow (OpenSummit) as well. Lots of detailed info and forecasts for specific peaks if you want it. 

Charlton Peak forecast:

Estimated snow maps

Big list showing all the favs and forecasts. The 6-10 day is a lot less accurate than the 1-5 day, but its still helpful to look ahead.

The annual snowfall one is fun to watch too, Mammoth is booming!!

I use OpenSnow too and its modeling AND local forecaster has been off by Socal by bit. Their latest forecasts favored the San Gabriel Ranges but the snow level ended up higher and less snow. NWS however has been dead on.

Mark Jolin wrote:

Anyone down to check out S Gorgonio on Friday or Saturday? Open Snow is calling for 24". Would like leave the South Fork Trailhead super early either day. Hit me up if you are down. Cheers

I'm planning on going out there on Saturday. 

Anyone been up San Jacinto recently? Thinking about it this weekend.

EDIT: Also would love to find more partners. Can easily take off weekdays for good snow.

I’m hoping to head up to the South Fork tomorrow. Generally prefer the skiing on Jepson and Charlton to San Gorgonio. Shoot me a message if you’re interested. 

Colin Jaskiewicz wrote:

Anyone been up San Jacinto recently? Thinking about it this weekend.

EDIT: Also would love to find more partners. Can easily take off weekdays for good snow.

DM me and we can see if we are good match. I'm always looking for more partners!

Got up To San Jacinto on Saturday. Enough coverage to make it to the summit from the ranger station. A bit of icy windswept crust, but some fresh turns. The bowl was 50/50, seems like some of the trees had a bit lighter snow. Might be good if any of these upcoming storms hit.

Caveat: Still super new to touring so take everything I saw with a healthy grain of salt

In the spirit of https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/123615574/new-years-wish-for-the-forum
Toured the San G area on Saturday, high level takeaways

• Went up and down the east side of Charlton peak, path below
  • Was riding solo so tried to keep it low angle/ low risk
    
    
  • 
• Approach road and trail was covered enough to pretty much skin from the car
  • Several skiers passed me and rode it back down all the way the back to the lot
• Snow quality was prettay, prettay good
  • Windboard that was plenty soft and playful on the E and NE aspects
  • Pretty shady tree run, quality will likely remain good in that zone for a while
  • 
  • Everyone I spoke to seem to have been able to find some soft snow
• No real signs of concerning instabilities
  • Main concern was wind transport to the N and NE aspects from two day prior, didn't manifest itself as an issue
  • Did see some really minor cracking during the approach at the base, didn't occur again for the remainder of the trip

All and all it was a blast, can't wait to go back.

Brian M wrote:

Caveat: Still super new to touring so take everything I saw with a healthy grain of salt

In the spirit of https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/123615574/new-years-wish-for-the-forum
Toured the San G area on Saturday, high level takeaways

• Went up and down the east side of Charlton peak, path below
  • Was riding solo so tried to keep it low angle/ low risk
    
    
  • 
• Approach road and trail was covered enough to pretty much skin from the car
  • Several skiers passed me and rode it back down all the way the back to the lot
• Snow quality was prettay, prettay good
  • Windboard that was plenty soft and playful on the E and NE aspects
  • Pretty shady tree run, quality will likely remain good in that zone for a while
  • 
  • Everyone I spoke to seem to have been able to find some soft snow
• No real signs of concerning instabilities
  • Main concern was wind transport to the N and NE aspects from two day prior, didn't manifest itself as an issue
  • Did see some really minor cracking during the approach at the base, didn't occur again for the remainder of the trip

All and all it was a blast, can't wait to go back.

We were out there on Saturday too! 4 of us

Anyone interested in cruising up Charlton or Baldy/ San Antonio on Saturday? The storm of yesterday must have delivered another 2 feet to San G area. Looks like another storm is blowing in on Saturday which could make it pretttttty windy though. 

Baldy looked like it was mostly rain. Bring all your sharps.

Planning for Charlton tomorrow, low expectations. Just a first season leg warmer, keep it low angle. 

Anybody planning on going up to San J on Saturday the 21st? I'm a complete newbie to backcountry boarding and am going to check it out for the low angle riding and mellow touring.

Corey Hass wrote:

Planning for Charlton tomorrow, low expectations. Just a first season leg warmer, keep it low angle. 

how was it?