[pct-l] Castle Crags water info

[Susan Virnig]

Neither the PCT guidebook, nor Yogi's book, are clear about the best place to load up with water before "the real climbing now begins -- about 2500 feet of it..."  Ten miles in from the start of this section P, the guidebook talks about a "seasonally flowing tributary of North Fork Castle Creek" that if it's flowing is "the last near trail water you'll have" for many miles.  Well, it was bone dry last week and it had a wooden sign posted above it labeling it "Disappearing Creek."  (Ah, the sense of humor of the sign makers...)  BUT, after crossing its rocky bed, there was a small wooden sign that said "permanent water 0.2 mile".  You switchback up the hill to a cairn at the edge of the trail, then a faint track leads to another cairn and you can scramble a short distance down a steep gully to the "permanent water."  This is definitely the place to fill up for the climb.  There are a number of water sources in the first ten miles, but no need to start carrying water until you reach this spot.  

I want to publicly thank "are-we-there-yet" (JoAnn) and Emory for putting me up and giving me rides.  They are WONDERFUL trail angels.  (For various reasons -- including extreme heat and equipment better suited to the rainy Oregon and Washington Cascades -- I ended up cutting short my section hike.  Next try, I'll be better prepared.)  In addition, thanks JoAnn, for all your good information and suggestions about hiking in the hot, dry Klamath range!