Fobes Saddle and Apache Springs

[dan9098]

I'm planning on taking Scouts up the Fobes Saddle trail and camp at or around Apache Springs on May 15. What is the parking situation at the Fobes Saddle trailhead and what is the water like at Fobes Saddle and Apache Springs?
I note from some thru hike postings that there is water 1/2 mile from Fobes Saddle. Can someone tell me where?
From PCT posts it appears that most are bugging out of the San Jacintos at Spitler Ridge to avoid snow. It seems, especially 10 days from now that our planned route will avoid snow.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

[Hikin_Jim]

I haven't been over that direction, but I went to http://www.4Jeffrey.com which has some pretty good PCT water info. Here's their description:
Walk down old Fobes Trail [NW] 1/2 mile to Scovel Crk (usually running during thruhike season, may go dry in summer). 100 ft past that creek crossing a forest service spring w/a 70-gallon rubbermaid tub w/pipe.
I haven't been to the water source described near Fobes Saddle, but if you're going NW on an old trail to a creek, it seems like it would be at point "A" on this map. Hopefully, someone can verify that.

I've also posted (below) some info about snow conditions, also from the same site.

HJ

SNOW: Patchy Snow starting after Cedar Spring Trail - nothing difficult to navigate or traverse until Apache Peak. (per Don't Panic <4/11/10)

SNOW: 2 feet of snow after South Peak (per Sir Mix-A-Lot 5/1/10)
Ice/ snow patches start a little past apache spring jct about mile 169.4. I counted five different general snow sections/ patches along the more exposed trail portion up to mile 175. The snow looks like it is melting fast. It was easier to kick steps at 11am compared to early morning. I saw a hiker make it through with trecking poles. I used an ice axe but didn't self arrest or slip once (Paul 4/29)

Previously: All N facing slopes covered in snow, very icy & steep exposed snow crossings forced us to cut steps for almost 1/4 mile around Apache Peak. [Trail journals from 4/6/10 tell several stories of NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES near Apache Peak.]
Slope on N side of South Peak had a very dangerous traverse, There are some VERY steep and icy traverses that will probably not melt very soon. I would have much preferred to have real crampons, and would not have attempted to go around without some sort of traction on my shoes. Used Microspikes and Iceaxes. (per Don't Panic 4/11)

From about Mile 175 to trail junction to Idyllwild (mile 179) trail completely covered in snow (1 to 3 ft deep) making navigation & hiking difficult. (Paul 4/29)

[halhiker]

Parking at Fobes is limited. There are probably spots for a few cars at most. The water is down from the junction of the PCT but it's only a couple miles from the start so you won't really need it.

You should be OK as far as snow. There may be some near Apache Spring but the Spitler Saddle looks clear from down here. Cedar Spring is a better camping area. You might consider that option. Apache can be very windy, especially in mid-May. Be prepared for that.

[hikehigh]

If there are some lingering snow patches, you could melt snow for water rather than hike to the spring.

[lilbitmo]

Just for the sake of saying it, there's a stash of water at the junction of the PCT and the side trial that comes up from the Parking Area(thus the name Fobes Saddle - which is a dirt track at the end of the old road leading into the Temple Grounds back there and there's only room for three cars at most, been there a couple of times) anyway PCT Thru hikers depend on that stash of water that is at that junction, so please do not help yourself to that water - Trail Angels humped that water up there for their sake, as I recall there's a "chair and a big wooden box with about 10 gallons of water" sitting in the box at that trail junction for the purposes of the beginning of each "thru hiking season", which just started last weekend. Be curtious to the thru hikers they have another 2,200 miles to go to the Canadian border

[KathyW]

We went up Spitler Trail to Apache Peak on 4/24/10, and there was some snow but it was just a dusting from the storm that passed through a few days before 4/24. The snow should be pretty much melted off by now. As Hal said, parking is really limited at Fobes Trailhead.

[dan9098]

Thanks for the info. Due to your comments and talk with Ranger concerning parking at Fobes Saddle Trailhead we will do Spitler Peak Trail. If we had gone up Fobes Saddle we would have added water to the cache.

[dan9098]

We had a great trip to Apache Springs this weekend. Plenty of parking at Spitler Peak Trailhead. We had a group of 12, three of whom were only with us for the day. There was another group of Scouts at Apache Springs and one couple. We were fortunate to have light winds at Apache Springs. What a great view of the Desert Communities.

Each time I hike in this area I wonder why more people don't. So many from Orange County drive up to Angeles Crest to go hiking when this area is closer and has far fewer people.

Don't worry, I won't go publicizing the area as I enjoy having the trails mostly to ourselves.

[lilbitmo]

Nice work, that desert divide area is quite the view, as you mention more should see it. Glad you had a great time.

[Florian]

I'm thinking to go up from Fobes on Friday. Not been up there for a long time. Do i need an adventure pass to park at trailhead?

-Florian