On May 26-27, 1962 members of the Rock Climbing Section (RCS) of the San Diero Sierra Club along with some members of Explorer Post 360 climbed the North Face of San Jacinto Peak via the Snow Creek Route.
Snow Creek is one of the premier alpine climbs in Southern California. It has a tremendous vertical gain of 10,000 feet in less than 5 horizontal miles. Supposedly, it is the steepest escarpment in the contiguous 48.
The starting elevation is about 1,200 feet. From the start to about 5,500 feet, depending on the snow pack, it is all bushwhacking and boulder hopping. Once you reach the snow tongue of Snow Creek you will need crampons and an ice axe. Climb the remaining 5,300 feet of snow and/or ice in one of the several chutes. You will encounter 30 to 45 degree snow slopes, with the angle increasing as you get near the top.
Click here for details with pictures of the Snow Creek Route on San Jacinto Peak. More information here.
![Heading out for San Jacinto Peak on North Face Route Heading out for San Jacinto Peak on North Face Route](san_jacinto_wilderness_north_face/SJM01_San_Jacinto_0001cspfw450.jpg)
Heading out for San Jacinto Peak on North Face Route
![North Face Route approach North Face Route approach](san_jacinto_wilderness_north_face/SJM01_San_Jacinto_0002cspfw450.jpg)
North Face Route approach
![North Face Route approach North Face Route approach](san_jacinto_wilderness_north_face/SJM01_San_Jacinto_0003cspfw450.jpg)
North Face Route approach
![Snow Creek on the North Face Route Snow Creek on the North Face Route](san_jacinto_wilderness_north_face/SJM01_San_Jacinto_0005cspfw450.jpg)
Snow Creek on the North Face Route
![Snow Creek on the North Face Route Snow Creek on the North Face Route](san_jacinto_wilderness_north_face/SJM01_San_Jacinto_0004cspfw450.jpg)
Snow Creek on the North Face Route
![Snow Creek Waterfall Snow Creek Waterfall](san_jacinto_wilderness_north_face/SJM01_San_Jacinto_0006cspfw450.jpg)
Snow Creek Waterfall
![Clouds over San Jacinto on rest stop Clouds over San Jacinto on rest stop](san_jacinto_wilderness_north_face/SJM01_San_Jacinto_0007cspfw450.jpg)
Clouds over San Jacinto on rest stop
![Snow Creek waterfalls Snow Creek waterfalls](san_jacinto_wilderness_north_face/SJM01_San_Jacinto_0008cspfw450.jpg)
Snow Creek waterfalls
![Hiking up Snow Creek Hiking up Snow Creek](san_jacinto_wilderness_north_face/SJM01_San_Jacinto_0009cspfw450.jpg)
Hiking up Snow Creek
![First view of snow gully First view of snow gully](san_jacinto_wilderness_north_face/SJM01_San_Jacinto_0010cspfw450.jpg)
First view of snow gully
![In the snow gully just below camp In the snow gully just below camp](san_jacinto_wilderness_north_face/SJM01_San_Jacinto_0011cspfw450.jpg)
In the snow gully just below camp
![Camp at 7500 feet Camp at 7500 feet](san_jacinto_wilderness_north_face/SJM01_San_Jacinto_0012cspfw450.jpg)
Camp at 7500 feet
![Snow slope on North Face Route Snow slope on North Face Route](san_jacinto_wilderness_north_face/SJM01_San_Jacinto_0013cspfw450.jpg)
Snow slope on North Face Route
![Snow slope just below San Jacinto Peak summit Snow slope just below San Jacinto Peak summit](san_jacinto_wilderness_north_face/SJM01_San_Jacinto_0014cspfw450.jpg)
Snow slope just below San Jacinto Peak summit
![On top of San Jacinto Peak On top of San Jacinto Peak](san_jacinto_wilderness_north_face/SJM01_San_Jacinto_0015cspfw450.jpg)
On top of San Jacinto Peak