[pct-l] Deep Creek Detour

Tue Apr 5 16:01:35 CDT 2011

Patti, Halfmile

I drove on the detour road just the other day.  I was not able to drive the whole way as there was a flooded section where two streams converge and the water level was over two feet high.  This was near the convergence with 2N75.  I hiked from there out to HWY 173.  The rest of it looked good.  Low clearance vehicles are not advised for the Willow Creek crossing but higher clearance vehicles should do okay. 

My understanding is that a storm is predicted up here from Thursday through Saturday with snow levels down to 2000 feet.  You may not be able to drive out there again until sometime the next week.

While I was scouting the area, I was thinking that water might be is short supply and need to be brought out there as the heard comes through.  I will be checking with the rangers to see how the streams flow/dry up, their office is closed until Thursday.

I don't know what you had in mind as far as magic but you should know that the area was burned in a wild fire just a few years back and is in the process of recovery.  Cooking fires may be prohibited.  I'll ask.

The thought had occurred to me to set something up on the south side of the Silverwood Dam.  There is access via a paved road (HWY173) and the parking lot is only 100 yards from where the trail crosses.  I checked with the rangers and a gas powered Bar-B-Q would be permitted.  My thinking ran toward Hot dogs, burgers and cold drinks.

Interested in working together?

Shepherd

--- On Tue, 4/5/11, patti kulesz <peprmintpati88 at yahoo.com> wrote:

From: patti kulesz <peprmintpati88 at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Deep Creek Detour
To: halfmile at pctmap.net, "Amanda L Silvestri" <aslive at sbcglobal.net>
Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
Date: Tuesday, April 5, 2011, 12:00 PM

boo on Deep Creek being closed that was one of my biggest places to look forward to when I was hiking :-( Halfmile...so u know if the road to the detour Th is open yet/? Last I heard it was closed also. Just wondering if we could go out and do some magic there.

Sugar Moma  

From: Halfmile <list at lon.net>
To: Amanda L Silvestri <aslive at sbcglobal.net>
Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
Sent: Tue, April 5, 2011 11:21:15 AM
Subject: [pct-l] Deep Creek Detour

My maps and GPS data of the Deep Creek detour are ready and available
for downloading here:
http://www.pctmap.net/detour/index.html

The same maps will be available from www.pcta.org shortly if you
prefer to download them there.

-Halfmile

On Fri, Apr 1, 2011 at 7:37 PM, Amanda L Silvestri <aslive at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> I spent the day scouting the Deep Creek Detour.  The Forest Service came up with the same plan I did.  I don't know if that speaks well of them or poorly of me.  Oh well.
>
> The route is marked with new RED fiberglass sign posts for the temporary route.  Occasionally there is a PCT decal on a Forest Service sign also.  There can be a great distance between markers but then there are not a lot of intersections.  If you come to an intersection that confuses you, just stay on Forest Service Road 3N34 until you reach the paved 2-lane road, HWY 173.  Turn right and follow that to where is becomes a dirt road and then hike down the mountain until you rejoin the trail.
>
> The detour is through an area that was burned a few years back.  There are few trees, mostly chaparral.  Today was April 1st and it was hot and dry.  There were a number of very small streams running but I would expect them to be dry by the time the heard gets here.  There was one creek that might still have some water, Willow Creek.  It was about 3/4 of the way through and I wouldn't count on it unless the Forest Service says that it is running.  Treat this area like the high desert.  If you have an umbrella, you will need it, as shade is rare.  Carry a lot of water.  If you can do this early in the morning or in the evening, that would be best.
>
> Oh yea, as this is a dirt road and not a hiking trail, it tends to go up and down a lot.  There are ruts in it from rain run off and some of the curves tend to have rather high banks.  You start out with an up hill pull, but most of it is rolling hills, they are not too tall.  The end of this section involves a long but gradual climb to a staging area for motocross type motorcycles and quad runners, some of which you may well meet on your way.
>
> I don't think that there is any water once you reach 173 either.  You have to descend the mountain and go to the Mojave River.  That is going to be a long dry stretch.  I might try and set up a Cache or two along the way.  Would anyone be interested in helping me with doing this?
>
> Shepherd
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