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Geothermal-Shane
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Sierra de San Pedro Martir, snowpack
I am very curious to know to what extent the Sierra de San Pedro Martir has recieved snowfall this winter so far.
If anybody has had a good look from the San Felipe Desert or has actually been up on the plateau please let me know how the conditions appear.
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BAJACAT
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As far as I know they close the Park throught out the Winter. And the webcam has not been alot help ither.
View from Mirador EL ALTAR. SPM
BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
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Geothermal-Shane
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I did not know that...?...based on the current condidtions at the northern tip of the peninsular cordillera(i.e. San Jacinto Mountains) I would guess
that there may be a foot or two of snow sitting on the plateau above 2000 meters/6800 feet. However, it is hard to say if the Alaskan cold fronts
responsible for So. Cal's recent winter storms have made it that far south.
Either way, I hope for a verdant spring in the Martir this year!
Also- where is Mirador El Altar? Looks like the view from the eastern edge of the plateau somewhere.
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mtgoat666
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Park is open all winter. The main road to observatory is kept open all year long, as observatory is occupied/used all year long.
Snow pack on lower (western) parts of the plateau are about similar (maybe slightly more) to the higher parts of the Lagunas here in San Diego county,
it comes/goes, but significant cover usually doesn't stay long; however, north facing slopes and canyons of higher elevations on east side of plateau
do have some longer-term snow pack/ice in winter.
Getting info on current conditions is difficult. If you speak spanish, you may try calling the park or observatory offices in Ensenada -- google them
to find tele numbers. The observatory website has a webcam and current and historical met. data for the telescopes, which is useful sometimes (but
often offline). http://www.astrossp.unam.mx/indexspm.html
I have visited there many times in late winter and early spring -- and found it best to realize that forecasts here are unreliable, and best to come
equipped for snow, rain and dry conditions, and if prepared for any conditions you'll enjoy the conditions you find. Always be prepared for nights
below freezing, and if climbing high peaks, you can encounter severe weather any day of the year, so travel high peaks with same precautions you would
take for high Sierras in CA. 
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BAJACAT
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El Mirador EL ALTAR is to the south of the Observatory, Also Mirador PICACHO is to the south of EL ALTAR, with a view of DIABLO MOUNTAIN.
Link for webcam for SPMhttp://132.248.4.10/~observa/simon/
BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
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BAJACAT
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Laguna hanson ( Sierra Juarez).
BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
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BAJACAT
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Pic#2
BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
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BAJACAT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
Park is open all winter. The main road to observatory is kept open all year long, as observatory is occupied/used all year long.
Snow pack on lower (western) parts of the plateau are about similar (maybe slightly more) to the higher parts of the Lagunas here in San Diego county,
it comes/goes, but significant cover usually doesn't stay long; however, north facing slopes and canyons of higher elevations on east side of plateau
do have some longer-term snow pack/ice in winter.
Getting info on current conditions is difficult. If you speak spanish, you may try calling the park or observatory offices in Ensenada -- google them
to find tele numbers. The observatory website has a webcam and current and historical met. data for the telescopes, which is useful sometimes (but
often offline). http://www.astrossp.unam.mx/indexspm.html
I have visited there many times in late winter and early spring -- and found it best to realize that forecasts here are unreliable, and best to come
equipped for snow, rain and dry conditions, and if prepared for any conditions you'll enjoy the conditions you find. Always be prepared for nights
below freezing, and if climbing high peaks, you can encounter severe weather any day of the year, so travel high peaks with same precautions you would
take for high Sierras in CA. |
Well
thats great news, last time I was there the park director,toll me the close the park in the winter,because of the road conditions,they don't want any
accidents..I wonder if it is way to be certain for sure.
BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
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David K
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Here is a photo of the snow covered Sierra San Pedro Martir on President's Day weekend 2001, taken by Amo Pescar while driving south in Valle Chico
towards Matomi...
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Geothermal-Shane
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Thanks for thr replies...I've only been out there once but that was enough to assert the drastic unpredictability of this place...we spent our first
night along the road to La Tasajera(just above 8000 feet) and stunningly found the temperature around 22 degrees F by midnight- in the middle of
September! Two nights later we camped at about 9200 feet, just below Scout Peak, and the temperature never dipped lower than 40 degrees F.
Certainly, there is no other choice in the Sierra de San Pedro Martir other than total preperation for the unknown- it's truly still a wild place,
hardly intersected by mankind.
I've heard snow can linger up there as late as May, anybody have thoughts on this presumtion?
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David K
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I highly recommend this book if you want to increase you knowledge of the San Pedro Martir!
Go to http://grahammackintosh.com if you are interested...
[Edited on 2-3-2008 by David K]
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Geothermal-Shane
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Thanks David-
I'm gonna guess the prominent peaks on the left of the photo by Amo Pescar are Tres Palomas?
Either way- Beautiful!
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David K
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That ridge is just south of Diablo...
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Geothermal-Shane
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Frightening..that is, to imagine being up there at this very moment!
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Mexitron
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Geothermal-Shane
Thanks for thr replies...I've only been out there once but that was enough to assert the drastic unpredictability of this place...we spent our first
night along the road to La Tasajera(just above 8000 feet) and stunningly found the temperature around 22 degrees F by midnight- in the middle of
September! Two nights later we camped at about 9200 feet, just below Scout Peak, and the temperature never dipped lower than 40 degrees F.
Certainly, there is no other choice in the Sierra de San Pedro Martir other than total preperation for the unknown- it's truly still a wild place,
hardly intersected by mankind.
I've heard snow can linger up there as late as May, anybody have thoughts on this presumtion? |
We've had snow flurries and 18 degrees in June even! But its not likely you'll get much snow hanging around very long after April.
New Year's Day 1999 we went camping up there--about a foot or two of snow in the shaded canyons but lots of bare ground to camp on. The road and
park were open. Even went sledding down one slope! 50 degs during the day and around 25 degs at night. The growth rings on the trees up there are
very symmetrical owing to the fact that the temperatue is fairly similar year-round.
The bad years to go would be the heavy El Nino years--more rain, less snow--in 1993 the road was all washed out on top, stranding the observatory crew
for 60 days. Some of the meadows still bear the scars of that year.
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Hook
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Lost of posts.................but still no answer to your original question.
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BajaVida
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we'll be there in about 2 weeks
we will post a report when we return
No se apure y dure.
Don\'t hurry and you\'ll last longer.
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BAJACAT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaVida
we will post a report when we return |
| Quote: |
Ok Bajavida, that means that you can find out for sure, if the park is open during winter.
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BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
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wornout
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We have been going out to the valley somewhere almost every Friday since October and have only seen snow once but don't remember what month. I can
see the mountain from my house and didn't see any snow this week even with the binoculars. There may be some on the west side but I would think if
there is, we should see some from here.
This Space Available, E-Mail Me If Interested.
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Gadget
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A few miles east of making the turn onto the Compadre trail off Mex 3 after the San Felipe 250 06'
[Edited on 2-4-2008 by Gadget]
"Mankind will not be judged by their faults, but by the direction of their lives." Leo Giovinetti
See you in Baja
http://www.LocosMocos.com
Gadget |
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