Whitewater Canyon advice

[cynthia23]

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but since we're on the topic of Whitewater and PCT, can anyone shed any light on the feral cows on the southerly section of the PCT (i.e. going from whitewater to Snow Creek) I was up on Saturday to climb Peak21 and the cows have totally devastated that section of the PCT--it's unbelievable how much damage they've done. Huge swaths of hillside have been completely eaten down to the bare ground. The trail itself is damaged, parts are collapsing down the hillside. it's really really bad. Anyone know anything about these cow-i.e are there feral or is somebody grazing them?

[zippetydude]

I'm almost certain they are not feral. The section you're talking about is at least in part San Gorgonio Wilderness, but it appears to be totally legal. It seems to have something to do with being grandfathered in from long ago. I was a bit concerned one time as I crossed through, not wanting to get chased by a bull. Turned out he was no problem and ran away as I came across the trail. Occasionally I'll pass through the area and hear an isolated cow off in the distance mooing, perhaps looking for the herd. The trail is normally pretty well maintained through there.

z

[Hikin_Jim]

I was a bit concerned one time as I crossed through, not wanting to get chased by a bull.

Yipes! Maybe I'd better pack the pepper spray.

HJ

[cynthia23]

Interesting Zip. Has anyone been on this section in the past month or so? Because the section I was on was truly devastated--like a moonscape, hillsides without a single scrap of vegetation, littered with hundreds of cow patties, NOTHING left but bare dirt. My friend has seen numerous cows there in the past, but this time we saw no cows, I think because they had so overgrazed the area there was nothing left to eat. If these cows are privately owned as opposed to feral, some kind of complaint should be made as they have utterly destroyed all the vegetation. We only went a short way on this section so no idea if the devastation continues all the way to the freeway--would be interested to hear from anyone else who has traveled this section of the PCT (between Whitewater and the 10 fwy) in the past month or so ...