Tahquitz-Suicide Conditions 3/18/26

Surprising, unseasonably warm conditions in the San Jacinto mountains have given locals quite a bit of concern for what is to come this summer- daytime temperatures this week have been around 90 degrees. This is extremely unusual for March- these are the kinds of temperatures more commonly encountered well into summer.

Snow patches remain in various locations, and slabs in some places are still running with water. At Suicide, a recon on 3/18/26 to the base of the Weeping Wall and over to the North Face area found some snow drifts up against the base of the rock, and water running in some spots on the Weeping Wall, Sideshow Slab, and North Face.

From the top of Suicide Rock, here’s how Tahquitz Rock looked- still some snow patches on north facing aspects, and crack systems may still be wet:

Bruce Watts

Idyllwild lost a longtime local this past week- Bruce Watts passed away in his sleep last weekend. Bruce moved to Idyllwild in the 70’s, and was a well known fixture in the town. Those who have climbed in this area for many years will recall that Bruce was the manager at Nomad Ventures for at least ten years- while not a climber himself, he sold an awful lot of chalk to many of us. In recent years, he had invested himself in biologic studies of San Jacinto Mountains flora & fauna, and did a lot of nature photography. His presence in this town will be greatly missed.