Topic: Vivian Creek Trail Current Conditions? | San Gorgonio Wilderness Association

Tagged: Vivian Creek Trail Current Conditions?

This topic has 24 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 12 months ago by Half Domer Homer.

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- 04/08/2019 at 12:04 pm #2828
  
  Mike
  Participant
  
  Hey guys,
  
  Has anyone been up Vivian Creek recently? And if so, what gear would you recommend (snowshoes, crampons/microspikes, ice axe, etc)? Some friends and I are shooting for a summit attempt this coming Saturday 4/13. I just hiked South Fork this past weekend (4/6) with the goal of reaching Dollar Lake to scope out the conditions but ended up turning back shortly after the fork as several groups coming down were saying it just wasn’t worth it. I had snowshoes with me but the snow was inconsistent in a lot of places and seemed like microspikes were the way to go, but the summit looks pretty covered still. Any recommendations on the best route to the summit?
- 04/10/2019 at 9:08 pm #2833
  
  Gaby
  Participant
  
  Hi i want to know also please thanks a lot 🙂
  what time do u usually start the hike?
- 04/11/2019 at 9:37 am #2836
  
  Mike
  Participant
  
  It’s about a ~10 hour hike to the summit from Vivian Creek trailhead during the warmer months, but with the current conditions I’m assuming it will take much longer depending on how much snow there is. We plan to start no later than 5am.
  - 04/13/2019 at 10:33 pm #2840
    
    Gaby
    Participant
    
    thanks a lot 🙂
  - 04/13/2019 at 10:51 pm #2843
    
    Gaby
    Participant
    
    10 hour RT? or one way. tnx
- 04/11/2019 at 9:47 am #2837
  
  kq6up
  Participant
  
  I was thinking of backpacking up to halfway camp or possibly high camp and camping overnight on Friday night. Then pushing for a Summit attempt on Saturday. Maybe too ambitious? Anyone else interested in trying an overnight trip? I prefer the company of other folks, but no one I know has mountaineering gear.
- 04/11/2019 at 1:57 pm #2838
  
  Mike
  Participant
  
  UPDATE
  
  I called the Mill Creek ranger station this morning and they said the snow line starts at around 9,000ft, just before high creek camp, and the snow conditions on the south side of the summit (Vivian Creek trail side) is about 6 inches deep and mostly hardened in the cooler temps so crampons/microspikes should be sufficient.
  
  @kq6up you should be good for a 2 day summit attempt. We’re shooting for a day summit and back on Saturday but are going to go as light as possible, going to start around 5am. Maybe we’ll see you up there, happy hiking!
- 04/12/2019 at 1:57 pm #2839
  
  kq6up
  Participant
  
  Got my permit for High Creek tonight. Hopefully see you guys on the trail tomorrow.
- 04/13/2019 at 10:35 pm #2841
  
  Gaby
  Participant
  
  so is it possible in current conditions a day RT hike?
  - 04/16/2019 at 3:44 pm #2852
    
    flyzapper
    Participant
    
    I’m planning a RT day hike next Monday or Tuesday. I’m planning on starting before 6am and I’ll bring snowshoes, micro-spikes, and ice axe. It looks like snow conditions will be variable throughout the day.
- 04/16/2019 at 5:32 pm #2853
  
  db
  Participant
  
  For those that hiked last weekend, how were the conditions and what is recommended. I have micro spikes, crampons, and ice axe and plan on doing an overnight.
  
  Thanks in advance.
- 04/25/2019 at 1:26 pm #2869
  
  flyzapper
  Participant
  
  I hiked on Monday, April 22 as a day hike. Lots of snow above Halfway Camp, including somewhat steep sections that cut switchbacks and head straight uphill. Definitely recommend microspikes/crampons and ice axe, especially for the steep sections and traverse to the summit.
- 05/01/2019 at 7:07 am #2882
  
  Hikedude
  Participant
  
  Hiked on 4/27. Left trailhead around 8. Summit ~1:30. We just went straight up and bypassed switchbacks for a lot of the first part. We packed crampons and axes, although we did the entire snow portion with microspikes and poles. I could see some people wanting to use an axe, though, so I would pack things like that anyhow.
- 05/03/2019 at 11:16 am #2895
  
  Rocko
  Participant
  
  Hiking this route near the end of May. With all the snow, would it be safe to assume the water sources-Halfway and High Creek will still be flowing?
  - 05/08/2019 at 11:59 am #2900
    
    kq6up
    Participant
    
    Yes, you should be fine. Water has been plentiful all Summer in my experience.
- 05/13/2019 at 11:17 am #2902
  
  Alee
  Participant
  
  Hi all,
  
  I’m hoping to do some backpacking beginning around May 19th. I’m not familiar with this region so I’m wondering if anyone can shed some insight on what the trail might look like by then, given the snow that’s persisted so far.
  
  Thanks for any and all help!
- 05/14/2019 at 11:47 am #2903
  
  Rocko
  Participant
  
  Does anyone have a guesstimate on the snow conditions at the end of next week-barring anymore new snow? Have a hike planned for May 24th and trying to figure out what equipment may be needed-crampons, etc. Thanks.
- 06/13/2019 at 4:09 pm #2979
  
  Rocko
  Participant
  
  Just checking to see if anyone has current trail conditions for Vivian Creek trail?
  - 06/14/2019 at 4:18 pm #2981
    
    Bryan
    Participant
    
    I was up there Sunday the 9th. No snow til past high creek. Then just a few short patches here and there. The last half mile before the junction to go towards dollar lake was snow covered. After that snow free. I had micro spikes but never put them on.
- 06/14/2019 at 4:10 pm #2980
  
  Bryan
  Participant
  
  I hiked up Vivian creek on the 9th. Snow free til high creek. Then it’s just short patches up the switch backs. Then maybe a 1/2 mile or so of snow til you get to the trail junction going to dollar lake. Top was free of snow.
- 04/09/2020 at 10:41 am #3903
  Hikedude
  Participant
  Vivian is the least technical approach to the summit in my opinion, so you’re good. Pretty sure there will be a couple others that lay tracks. At High Creek I recommend just going straight up until you meet back up with the trail (that little bit of switchbacks just after there. Then pay attention to East Side topo lines for that last ridge before summit. They’re fairly steep. I’ve done it with poles and spikes before, but I’d recommend packing your crampons and axe. I think my last time in snow, I had a moving time of around 9 hrs, and overall time of 11 hrs. I just pick a turn around time if it gets late. Packing a headlamp, and some of the other survival stuff just in case is recommended for a day hike. It’s still snowing, I believe and will clear Sat.
  - This reply was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by Hikedude.
- 04/09/2020 at 10:48 am #3905
  
  Hikedude
  Participant
  
  Dollar Lake approach to summit is my fave in snow conditons.
  
  But something like this (up the chute) instead of the trail is fun if you’re okay with going straight up some steepness.
  
  https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/san-gorgonio-summit-via-south-fork–114
- 04/09/2020 at 11:58 am #3906
  Hikedude
  Participant
  http://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/san-gorgonio-summit-via-south-fork–114
  Don’t know why the link didn’t work. Maybe this will..
  - This reply was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by Hikedude.
- 04/09/2020 at 11:00 pm #3909
  
  chris in redlands
  Participant
  
  Just an FYI to anyone reading this, someone resurrected a post from last summer, so much of the condition info you read above is incorrect.
- 05/18/2020 at 8:18 am #4068
  
  Half Domer Homer
  Participant
  
  Summited on Sunday May 17, left the parking lot at 4:20AM and reached the summit around 10-ish. The snow above High Creek Camp has melted finally and the switchbacks are open. The snow was not a problem from about 10,000ft to the summit, minor patches easy to walk over, no spikes required. A little windy, but beautiful conditions overall.
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