If you take the Marion Mountain trail in the winter beaware that it is the less traveled route up the mountain. I did it once in april got up above the snow line (8,000ft) and lost the trail. There were only one set of tracks and they stopped shortly after they reached the snow. It took me an extra two hours to reach the top.
Went up Memorial Day 2005. With 6' of snow on the upper half of the trail, the trip was dictated by GPS route-finding and cross-country travel. There were a line of tracks heading up Marion Mountain and nothing past the cutoff toward San Jacinto peak so it was a snow slog the whole way. There are several sections of trail that have stairs due to steepness, similar to coming up Sawtooth or Franklin pass out of Mineral King, Sequoia NP. If you're not in shape, you won't make it.
It took me 6 hours to make the peak, 4 hours to return due to having no trail for 3 miles each way up the steepest part of the mountain. The views are awesome and you gain elevation quick enough to notice the sky darkening every mile.
Steve Ball - Oct 19, 2004 12:57 pm - Hasn't voted
Route CommentIf you take the Marion Mountain trail in the winter beaware that it is the less traveled route up the mountain. I did it once in april got up above the snow line (8,000ft) and lost the trail. There were only one set of tracks and they stopped shortly after they reached the snow. It took me an extra two hours to reach the top.
elellilrah - May 31, 2005 1:09 pm - Hasn't voted
Route CommentWent up Memorial Day 2005. With 6' of snow on the upper half of the trail, the trip was dictated by GPS route-finding and cross-country travel. There were a line of tracks heading up Marion Mountain and nothing past the cutoff toward San Jacinto peak so it was a snow slog the whole way. There are several sections of trail that have stairs due to steepness, similar to coming up Sawtooth or Franklin pass out of Mineral King, Sequoia NP. If you're not in shape, you won't make it.
It took me 6 hours to make the peak, 4 hours to return due to having no trail for 3 miles each way up the steepest part of the mountain. The views are awesome and you gain elevation quick enough to notice the sky darkening every mile.
Alex Wood - Jan 30, 2009 1:28 am - Voted 8/10
ClosedThe Marion Mountain Trail is closed until mid April according to the ranger station.