[pct-l] San Gorgonio to San Jacinto

[Mike Saenz]

I was just back from the PCT from "Creekside Camp" (mile 235) to Mission Creek Trail Camp. Back in late February, I had tried to get to the top of Mission Creek from the I-10, but not having a shuttle, I had to turn around at "Creekside Camp" and head back to the I-10.
Weekend before last, I took my son and a friend of his on a short overnighter starting at "The Aspen Grove" (a couple miles from Highway 38), up to Fish Creek, then up the PCT NOBO to Coon Creek. We then turned around and headed SOBO to Mission Creek Camp where we pitched camp. As it was still early in the day, I headed down Mission Creek SOBO to the point I left off back in February. After I tagged the spot, I headed back to camp. The next day we headed back to where I parked at The Aspen Grove.

There was absolutely no water flowing in Mission Creek below 8k. At a few deep spots around 7k, there were green grasses in the creek bed, so MAYBE there could be water seeps just blow the surface. But below 7k, it was dry as a bone.

At 8k, around the point where Mission Creek Camp is just southwest of the trail, you can see steel bar horse pens at a developed campsite (two yellow posts). A small trail leads south from the stables to a little "grotto" where Mission Creek still trickles over a small waterfall. Water can be had here (and there's water in a trough next to the pens- I've filtered from nastier looking puddles before, but the trickle at Mission Creek is much better).

Fish Creek is flowing very well right now.

If you want to connect to the PCT from San G, I'd take "Sky High Trail" that descends around the east side of the peak to Mineshaft Saddle, then take the "Fish Creek Trail" down to its trailhead. From Fish Creek Trailhead, it's about a 5-10 minute walk to the PCT. Water up here, cuz I doubt you'll find water between there and Whitewater (I could be wrong, as water may collect enough to spring up somewhere down Mission Creek). If there's no water flowing in Whitewater, the old trout farm has water. Between there and the I-10 there's a wind farm station near the top of Gold Canyon where they invite PCT hikers to get water from during the Thru hiking season. And of course, there are all the homes near the I-10. Water is at the fountain at Snow Creek.

The trail from Snow Creek to Fuller Ridge is an exposed, shadeless, grueling climb. It was an ass-kicker descending! The last known source of water near the trail in the San Jac was on the trail to Little Round Valley back in June, but even then it was a trickle. But that's the trail you'd take to summit San J.

It's been a dry summer up in the San G and San J. I think the reason Fish Creek was flowing was due to the monsoon T-storms we had a couple weeks ago.

Good luck!

Oh- and here's' a resource for San G: http://www.sgwa.org/trails2.htm


Michael  Saenz
Associate Partner

MVE & Partners, Inc. | Architecture + Planning + Interiors 
Irvine + Oakland + Honolulu

1900 Main Street, Suite 800 | Irvine, California 92614-7318 | T 949.809.3388 | www.mve-architects.com
-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of joseph kisner
Sent: Sunday, September 16, 2007 1:27 PM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] San Gorgonio to San Jaciento

Thank you for all the feed back both on and off list! Now if I can find anyone who has been through mission creek trail camp, mission creek, white water river, mesa wind farm, drinking fountain on Snow Creek Road and the pipe atop Black Mountain Road for water updates. If anyone has been to anyone of these locations recently, please inform me on or off list. I plan to do this with in the next couple of weeks. Thanks Tattoo- joe
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