ROAD CONDITIONS:  HWY 243 FROM BANNING TO IDYLLWILD IS CLOSED INDEFINITELY DUE TO LANDSLIDE.  WE ACCESSED THE TRAIL VIA HWY 74 WHICH WAS ALSO CLOSED DUE TO FLOOD DAMAGE EXCEPT FOR PILOT CAR ESCORT 7 DAYS A WEEK BETWEEN 5-8AM AND 6-11:59PM.  CHECK THE CALTRANS WEBSITE AND BE READY FOR DELAYS.

TRAIL CONDITIONS:  THE TRAIL WAS IN GREAT SHAPE BESIDES THE EVERY NOW AND THEN DOWNED TREE.  PATCHES OF SNOW WERE STILL PRESENT IN COOL SHADED SPOTS OF THE TRAIL.  BEWARE OF ONE SNOW ICE BRIDGE OVER ONE OF THE CROSSINGS.  IT MAY COLLAPSE SOON WHEN MELTED FURTHER.  I JUST WENT AROUND IT.  AS OF THIS WEEKEND, THE PEAK STILL HAD A BIT OF SNOW ON THE EASTERN SIDE.

WATER:  MULTIPLE STREAM CROSSINGS WITH MANY PLACES TO PUMP AND FILTER WATER IF NEEDED

SCHEDULING: IF ACCESSING THIS PEAK FROM MARION MTN TRAIL FOR A DAY HIKE, I RECOMMEND ARRIVING AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.  IT WILL BE A LONG DAY.

WEATHER:  THE WEATHER WAS GORGEOUS FOR US.  PROBABLY IN THE 60'S AND the 70'S.  COOL AT THE TOP.  BE PREPARED FOR SUMMER MTN THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY

VISIT THE RANGER STATION IN IDYLLWILD TO FILL OUT A BACKCOUNTRY PERMIT AT THE KIOSK WITH DROPBOX.  AND, A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE PASS IS REQUIRED TO PARK WITHIN THE NATIONAL FOREST.