San Jacinto via South Ridge/Tahquitz

[DUG]

I'm looking for one last tune up prior to my Whitney hike on the 5th. The days of just doing Half Dome/Clouds Rest and heading to Whitney a few weeks later are over - the legs are not coming back as fast as they used to.

I took my son up Jacinto last Saturday via Marion Mountain Trail (the 2nd mile is pretty STEEP btw) and now I think I have a sucker (partner) to go back up to the top on the 27th. I'm thinking about heading up to Tahquitz via South Ridge and then wandering on over. I've done Tahquitz before with the Scouts out of Camp Emerson, but haven't been any farther than the tower. My QUESTION is - what's the water avalibilty like in that neck of the woods? I plan on carrying a heavy load, but my partner (sucker) wants to go light as possible without dying of thirst. There was plenty of water going up Marion Mountain Trail (steep btw - did I mention that?) so I'm hoping the whole area is like that.

Any info would be helpful. Thanks...............................DUG

[nobohobo]

B9 ~176.6 Tahquitz Creek good flow 5/31/09 Fireweed 6/1/09
B9 176.7 Little Tahquitz Valley (Trail, 0.33 mi N) flows. <4/5/09 Reaper 5/6/09

not sure if that helps you but i can confirm that the water was flowing very well on june 6th in taquitz creek

pct water report link
http://www.4jeffrey.net/pct/

[Hikin_Jim]

Dug:

If you descend from the tower to the PCT, and then take the PCT north to get to San Jacinto's summit, I think you'll be dry the whole time, although there might be water at Wellmans Cienaga and there might be water in the creek near the Little Tahquitz/PCT trail junction. The junction I'm referring to is to the east of where you join the PCT coming from the tower. This jct is where the trail coming up from Little Tahquitz Valley joins the PCT. I think nobohobo's post says there's water here.

However, if you descend into Little Tahquitz Valley and Tahquitz Valley (instead of taking the PCT), and then go up to Saddle Jct to get back on route, you will find water. Slightly out of your way, but not bad. And, besides, you're training, right?

If you don't see any obvious water on this detour, there's a pretty reliable spring about 20 - 30 yards east (down hill) of the trail about 0.25 miles (probably less) before you hit the four way trail junction in Tahquitz Valley. It's a little hard to spot because the spring is flowing out of a pipe recessed into the ground. When you come to some trees and the meadow starts petering out, start looking for the spring. The spring is before you exit the meadow. You may see something of a use trail. Look for it, and you should be able to find the spring. It's convenient in that it's right off the trail.

Tahquitz Creek as nobohobo suggests will have water.

HTH,

HJ

[DUG]

HJ,

That's EXACTLY the info I was looking for. Thanks!.....................................................................DUG