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[pct-l] Failure at the San Felipes: Trip and Water Report



Trip Report
Cuyamaca to Barrel Springs
3/6/04 & 3/7/04

I am humbled.

My first overnight solo attempt ended at 5pm at Scissors Crossing, when, after hiking down from Cuyamaca 16 miles, my feet and legs refused to consider the 3 miles of switchback climb up to the ridge of the San Felipes.

I felt good starting out at 8am as I crossed the pasture between the "Fegas" (sp?) monument on S1, to where I left The Trail last month, with full pack and extra water. The morning was cool...but not for long.

I tracked fresh boot prints just above Mason Truck Trail. Someone was no more than a couple hours ahead of me!
I tried to peer down the canyons to see if I could see who the tracks belonged to. The tracks were deep and of a heavy hiking boot. The raised crusts of the prints were still damp, as opposed to the evenly dried soil around them. The depth suggested a heavy load of a backpack. The toes dug even deeper, the owner was pushing ahead at a purposeful pace.

About halfway down into Rodriguez, I passed a Boy Scout Troop. They were heading south to some park along Mason Truck Trail. I asked if they saw anyone headed north within the past few hours. Yes! They told me about a guy who they passed at the Gate of Rodriguez, where they had camped the night before. They passed this guy when they started their climb up the trail. They said this guy was "Swedish", so I named him "Sven" in my imagination, saying to myself "Where are you, Sven?" each time I got a broad view of the valley floor. He couldn't be more than two hours ahead of me...

The trail down from Cuyamaca was consistently eroded into narrow gullies filled with fist-sized loose rocks. Each step was a consideration. I had to keep my eyes on the trail.
Not far past Rodriguez Truck Trail, the Scissors Crossing area comes into view. But after that, the trail not only hugs the foot of Granite Mountain for several miles, but for a time, you're actually putting distance between you and Scissors! At about noon, I began to notice the building heat. Just before you realize that the trail heads further east than you anticipated, it begins to climb! Not much, but after a day of picking your way through loose rock, the climb doesn't encourage you. By the time the trail begins a 2 miles crossing of the valley floor in the Borrego (still no sign of "Sven"), I was feeling the strain of the downhill pound through uneven, tough terrain. The final mile to Scissors was a stumble.
And to add insult to injury, when the trail meets the road, it's still a 1/2 mile to Scissors! I was beginning to grumble (bad sign) as I made my way to highway intersection that I could hear, but not yet see. A few weekend motorcyclist nodded to me as I made my way towards Scissors. I could swear I saw a mixture of incredulity and sympathy in their faces as the motored past.

I made it where Paul Freiman parked his car at the stagecoach monument and waited for him to come down from the San Felipes. The original pan was for me to pass him on his return side of his day hike into the hills. I was to camp in the hills about 4-5 miles north of the crossing, then do the remaining 20 miles to Barrel Spring. Well, as on a battlefield, the situation on the trail is fluid. When I finally made it to Scissors, I looked up the side of the first slope of the climb. My feet and legs were protesting the very thought of another 4 miles of climb! I dropped pack and sat down in the lacy shade of a scrub bush, scanning the switchbacks above for a glimpse of Paul's figure coming back down. After 30 minutes of rest, my muscles had tightened up. Standing up shortly afterwards finalized the decision for me: I wasn't going to make the climb up into the hills that day.

With another 24 miles ahead of me, I decided that the San Felipes was a two-day journey from Scissors Crossing.
If 16 miles kicked my butt, I'd be hating the final 8 miles into Barrel Springs. The San Felipes would have to wait for another weekend.

I waited until 5pm for Paul to make it back to his car. Without any sign of him coming down the trail, I concluded that he was still a couple hours away. I decided to try hitching a ride back to where I parked my truck at Barrel Spring. I left a note on his windshield and walked up to the San Felipe Road. My luck changed for the better, as when I made it to the intersection, there were a couple of off-roaders standing outside their truck and jeep. I asked them if they'd give me a ride to Barrel and I was off with them immediately.

I pitched camp at Barrel Springs next to the trough and waited for Paul to arrive, which he did just after nightfall.
Paul had done about 35 miles! Also, Paul had met up with "Sven" about halfway through the hills. His name was actually "Eric" and he was from Austria, not Sweden.

Next morning, we broke camp and drove to Warner Springs to do the final 8 miles of Section "A" backwards. I was going to wait to do this portion until I finished the San Felipes, but the day was mine and I was there to hike. I'll do it northward when I get back to it. We did the 8 miles in about 2.25 hours. Flawless blue skies, brisk wind in our faces and a warm sun the entire way south to Barrel Spring. When finished, our Austrian friend, Eric, had just come down from the hills and was cooling down at the trough. He made tremendous time through the hills and I (almost) felt a twinge of regret for not attempting them myself...

Water Report
The ravines just east of Cuyamaca had small puddles in them. Most likely to dry out by the time you folks read this.
The concrete tank at Mason Truck Trail was bone dry.
The concrete talk at Rodriguez Gate was full.
Scissors Crossing had about six gallons on the south side of the road and about 3 gallons on the north side.
Barrel Springs trough was about 1/8 full and looked murky.
The two streams along the trail from Barrel to Warner are flowing well with clear water.

M i c h a e l   S a e n z
McLarand Vasquez Emsiek & Partners, Inc.
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