Sid Davis Drainage

[Rick F]

For my edification, I humbly request that someone please divulge where the Sid Davis Drainage is?

I see references made to the "Sid Davis Drainage" in a lot of posts on this board. So I pulled out my several maps of the San Jacinto, Santa Rosa wilderness to look it up but I didn't find it called out. Long Valley, Round Valley, Tamarack Valley, Wellman Divide, Miller Peak, Cornell Peak, Jean Peak and Snow Creek are all there but no Sid Davis Drainage, Sid Davis Valley or Sid Davis Creek.

I also googled Sid Davis and learned that he was known for his short films about the dangers of urban, civilized society, (another whole topic). But sticking to the subject of the San Jacinto wilderness area, Sid Davis was reported to have enjoyed the mountains and made hundreds of trips to the summit of San Jacinto.

Maps show two creeks on opposite sides of Round Valley that drain to Long Valley. A north fork originates around Tamarack Valley and the other, south fork starts below Wellman's divide. The established summer trail to Wellman Divide roughly pararllels the south fork. So is one of these creeks the prominent feature of the area known as the Sid Davis Drainage?

After over more than a dozen trips to San J via various routes, summer and winter, I like to think I know my way around the mountain and am familiar with the commonly used names of the features. But I haven't stumbled on to the answer to this question yet.

Thank-you if you know and are willing to share.

[lilbitmo]

For my edification, I humbly request that someone please divulge where the Sid Davis Drainage is?

I see references made to the "Sid Davis Drainage" in a lot of posts on this board. So I pulled out my several maps of the San Jacinto, Santa Rosa wilderness to look it up but I didn't find it called out. Long Valley, Round Valley, Tamarack Valley, Wellman Divide, Miller Peak, Cornell Peak, Jean Peak and Snow Creek are all there but no Sid Davis Drainage, Sid Davis Valley or Sid Davis Creek.

I also googled Sid Davis and learned that he was known for his short films about the dangers of urban, civilized society, (another whole topic). But sticking to the subject of the San Jacinto wilderness area, Sid Davis was reported to have enjoyed the mountains and made hundreds of trips to summit of San Jacinto.

Maps show two creeks on opposite sides of Round Valley that drain to Long Valley. A north fork originates around Tamarack Valley and the other, south fork starts below Wellman's divide. The established summer trail to Wellman Divide roughly pararllels the south fork. So is one of these creeks the prominent feature of the area known as the Sid Davis Drainage?

After over more than a dozen trips to San J via various routes, summer and winter, I like to think I know my way around the mountain and am familiar with the commonly used names of the features. But I haven't stumbled on to the answer to this question yet.

Thank-you if you know and are willing to share.

Rick F, it's that area behind the second trail sign (not the one super close to the ranger station) that leads directly from there to the north east corner of Tamarack Valley, I'll be there tomorrow so we can discuss further

It's right after you pass the openings on your right that lead up to the area on your maps called "shangri la".

I'm almost certain that you've gone up/down it before many times, but were unawares of it's nick name, I've been told by rangers and others that there used to be a regular trail there but they were trying to protect the water course in that area and started diverting everyone away from it some time ago taking them to the west/south directly to Wellmans Divide before having them turn north up the side of Jean to the saddle between Miller and San J

[Rick F]

Patrick,

Thanks for letting me in on that. I'm still not 100% sure that I understand so I'm gonna take you up on your offer to show me in person tomorrow.

[Florian]

Rick F, it's that area behind the second trail sign (not the one super close to the ranger station) that leads directly from there to the north east corner of Tamarack Valley, I'll be there tomorrow so we can discuss further

It's right after you pass the openings on your right that lead up to the area on your maps called "shangri la".

It's also roughly the route the old landline telephone cable use to take between the Long Valley and Round Valley ranger stations. You can still see a couple of the porcelain insulators on the trees.

What i've never been sure about is what the "shangri la" area is?

-Florian

[Lermo]

Hey Rick,

Hikin Jim posted an Acme Map of the route a while back. Maybe he can fill you if he reads this.

BTW. Are you going to AT Ski the peak when you go? I've wanted to ski San J. for years but the closest place to rent AT (Alpine Touring) equipment is at Mammoth.

[63ChevyII]

I want to try this route with snowshoes tomorrow. I found this map. Is this accurate?

http://www.peakbagger.com/map/BigMap.as ... =NA&c=2155

[Lermo]

Yes. This map is accurate through Sid Davis. Once you get past Tamarack Valley, there are many other options.

http://www.peakbagger.com/map/BigMap.as ... =NA&c=2155

[lilbitmo]

Rick F, it's that area behind the second trail sign (not the one super close to the ranger station) that leads directly from there to the north east corner of Tamarack Valley, I'll be there tomorrow so we can discuss further

It's right after you pass the openings on your right that lead up to the area on your maps called "shangri la".

It's also roughly the route the old landline telephone cable use to take between the Long Valley and Round Valley ranger stations. You can still see a couple of the porcelain insulators on the trees.

What i've never been sure about is what the "shangri la" area is?

-Florian

Florian 1/8th of a mile before the sign/creek crossing which starts the Sid Davis you will see a couple of openings in the rock formations off to the right that look like they go nowhere (with the creek just to your left) as you are going out to The Sid Davis. If you work you way up about 1/4 to 1/2 mile you find a large open area as you move up & to the north east. At the far end of this little mini-valley is where you top out on leatherneck ridge - that's shangri la it's a very nice place to view the falls creek drainage, the east & backside of Cornell,Yale, Harvard & miller

[KathyW]

What's the snow coverage like between Tamarack Valley and Miller Saddle? That area can be chinquapin and manzanita hell if there isn't enough snow in the winter.

[63ChevyII]

What's the snow coverage like between Tamarack Valley and Miller Saddle? That area can be chinquapin and manzanita hell if there isn't enough snow in the winter.

It wasn't too bad on Saturday. It was my first time up there, so I don't really have anything to compare it to, but the chinquapin and manzanita weren't a problem.