Jo pond trail

[bigmountain]

Anyone hiked this trail from bottom to top?
How is the terrain, how rocky/steep is it compared to C2C? Overgrown or pretty clear when you last did it?
Thanks

[halhiker]

The Jo Pond leaves the West Fork Trail and goes up to Cedar Spring and then over into Garner Valley. It is steep in sections but I don't think it's as steep as Skyline at the top. There are rocky sections but no as bad as the Museum Trail.

The last time I did it, it was not overgrown at all but that was quite a few years ago. It is a regular trail and not a "route" like Skyline so it may see occasional maintenance.

I would like to do it this year before it gets too hot (you can't get the predawn start like on Skyline due to it starting in the Indian Canyons). I can help with arranging a shuttle so let me know when and hopefully we can work it out.

[KathyW]

I'm doing the part of it when I do the West Fork Trail Saturday. I sure would like to do the hike all the way up Jo Pond sometime, so I'm willing to help with a shuttle too.

[Cy Kaicener]

The Coachella Valley hiking club is doing the Boo Hoff Trail to Lost Canyon this Saturday, so you will see a whole bunch of people at the gates at 8.00 am
http://cvhikingclub.net/hikeschedule.htm

Check out a 50 year old mystery in the Santa Rosas in the Chat section

[KathyW]

Or maybe I'll start in Garner Valley sometime in the next month or two and hike up to Fobes Saddle, down to the point that I stop on Saturday, and then hike back out to Garner Valley. That way I can start earlier and end later without those 8 to 5 restrictions that are in place at the other end.

[halhiker]

Fobes is not where the Jo Pond Trail comes out. It comes out at Cedar Spring. You'd have to do a LOT of bushwhacking to get to the Jo Pond from Fobes.

I went up there today and the trail is pretty easy to follow but there are definitely sections that are overgrown. I thought about taking some loppers when I left this morning and regretted that I didn't. I only went a mile or two past the West Fork junction so I don't know the conditions beyond that.

I posted a few pictures on my blog.

[halhiker]

The Coachella Valley hiking club is doing the Boo Hoff Trail to Lost Canyon this Saturday, so you will see a whole bunch of people at the gates at 8.00 am
http://cvhikingclub.net/hikeschedule.htm

Check out a 50 year old mystery in the Santa Rosas in the Chat section

The Bo Hoff Trail is not in the Indian Canyons. It's over by Lake Cahuilla in La Quinta.

[KathyW]

Fobes is not where the Jo Pond Trail comes out. It comes out at Cedar Spring. You'd have to do a LOT of bushwhacking to get to the Jo Pond from Fobes.

I went up there today and the trail is pretty easy to follow but there are definitely sections that are overgrown. I thought about taking some loppers when I left this morning and regretted that I didn't. I only went a mile or two past the West Fork junction so I don't know the conditions beyond that.

I posted a few pictures on my blog.

We'd be lost without you Hal. I see - Morris Ranch Road of 74 is where I'd have to head to for other end of the hike.

[Cy Kaicener]

Thanks for the correction Hal.

[bluerail]

I came down the Jo Pond and I was almost glad it wasn't up . There is a 5-6 mile stretch that is completely steep and fairly rocky 2-6inch rocks, not stair step type rocks but the ones that you slip on and have crappy traction. Skyline is steeper at the bottom and the top but in my opinion Jo Pond has a longer stretch of a kinda more brutal grade.
Really a nice walk though. some broken trees on the trail (moved a couple to get by)and very few overgrown sections nothing bad.
I have photos I'll post later today.