[pct-l] Status of Section A on 2/21/99

[reynolds@ilan.com]

The support team (Greg, Charlie & Tom) will post our support plans as soon as we
can. However, in the meantime, here is a report on the southern part of the
trail. This is my opininon. Greg and Charlie may disagree.

Illegial activity is at an all time high. Apparantly the border patrol has
tightened security around San Deigo forcing border crossing further east -- into
the Campo area. In fact the entire PCT is being used as a path to smuggle
illegials. These illegials have no gear. Some have no shoes. Many are from
further south in Mexico and unfamiliar with the weather. Some have frozen to
death. Still, they come. The border patrol was tracking one group through Mt.
Laguna and had Five! (5) cars stationed at scissors crossing. I would not
consider it safe to camp alone south of Lake Morena. Your sleeping bag and tent
looks very good to someone with no shoes. True, it is illigocial for an illegial
to cause an incident. It can only lead to greater scrutiny. However, who says a
human is always logical?

We heard that Hauser Canyon has water. However, it is a remote area. We decided
that stashing this far south would be a waste of time -- illegials drink water
also. Morena Campground is very nice. The Backpacker Campground is flat. Spend
the three bucks. The people at the store seemed friendly

Boulder Oaks Ctore is closed but piped water is always available. In an
emergency see Ken who lives behind the store.

Cibbits Flat campground is open but the water is off. In general, campground
water may not be turned on until Memorial Day. There was water in the creek that
may last or may not. It depends on the weather.

Burnt Ranchireta Campground is closed and their is no water. However Mt. Laguna
is a short distance ahead. There is no water at Desert View but it is a short
walk back to Mt. Laguna. Where the trail hits the road 1/4 mile north of Laguna
El Prieto Campground there is no water. However, there is water across the road
the next time the trail hits the road. The water at Pioneer Mail Campground is
off. There is aweful water in the horse cistern. The summary of this section is
that Mt.Laguna is the only sure water in this area.

We spent a lot of time scouting the area past Pioneer Mail Picnic Area before
Scissors Crossing. A property owner/relatorwho reportedly knows the area and a
boy scout who regularly hikes the area indicates that there is no water where
the trail hits Mason Valley Truck Trail. The water location shown on the map is
incorrect [they say]. The boy scouts who just drove up Chariot Canyon did not
volunteer any knowledge of water in that area. We did not check out the "detour
to water in Chariot Canyon" or the "Detour to Water in Rodrigez Canyon". This
area did not match up with the topo.  We drove in from Oriflame Canyon [West and
South of the trail], taking the right fork in the "Y" and found PCT trail [the
map shows a road and indeed it once was. However, it looked like a trail]
intersecting the road from Chariot Canyon [This is where we talked to the boy
scouts]. We then backtracked towards Oriflame Canyon and found the PCT leaving
the road [north] at the ridge line.

At Scissors Crossing we found water. We also found the big cottenwood tree. It
is a great place to sit. The water looked ok -- not good --ok. We spent some
time in Julian -- 6 miles up the road. It is a tourist town. It wasn't clear to
me that this town would welcome scruffy backpackers. I would not spend the time
and trouble to hitchhike up the twisty-turney road. We drove along the San
Felipe Hills. It was clear that their is no access from the west. The trail is
over a steep ledge. The only possible access to these waterless 23 miles is from
Grapevine Canyon. Charlie MAY have a private property route for a water drop but
don't count on it. To me it looks like two (2) gallons of water leaving Scissors
Crossing. Given that the switchbacks leaving Scissors are absolutely wicked, you
may be tempted to carry less than 16 pounds of water and try to walk these 23
miles in one day. I wouldn't. You may have blisters for weeks. I might try
resting until 3 PM under the cottenwood tree, then trying to make six (8) to
eight (8) miles before it became too dark to see the rattlesnakes, then finish
the next day. This way you could probably get by with a gallon -- but you'd be
in big trouble if you twisted an ankle. Fortunately, Barrel Springs had the best
water we saw. The pipe was running freely. If it is not when you get there walk
back down the trail [the way you came] to a use trail going up the hill to a
bench to the left. This is where the actual spring is. Don't try to follow the
pipe from the cistern up the hill. Those pretty bushes you will walk throu --
are poision oak! I would camp at Barrel Springs. It's a nice. flat shady spot.


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