Water near Skunk Cabbage

[sjhiker]

I have heard rumors of a piped water source near skunk cabbage meadow. Can anyone confirm this and give directions on how to find it.

Thanks - Charles

[Nick-SJM]

I'll try to get you there. Think in terms of there being a triangle of trails around Skunk Cabbage Meadow. Each leg is about 1/2 mile long. The north leg is part of the trail from Saddle Junction to Willow Creek. About 40 yards west of the eastern end of this leg, there is a small drainage coming in from the north. This small drainage appears on most maps. Go up this about 15 yards and you will see the pool of water made by the black colored pipe (which may be under the water). There was water there two weeks ago. As always, treating the water is a good idea.

There is also a black pipe that provides water into the north section of the actual Skunk Cabbage Meadow. Look for the clump of vegetation growing in the meadow and you will find the pipe in a deep drainage.

Good luck.

Nick

[sjhiker]

Nick,

I appreciate the information you provided. I am going up this weekend to scout the area for an overnight backpacking trip that I am leading for the Boy Scouts. I want to locate our campsite (brown post site 3b in the skunk cabbage area), and try to locate a water source. This information will help a lot.

Thanks - Charles

[Andy]

I'm curious...Does anyone know the mechanics behind these "magical water pipes" in the mountains. I've always seen them and wondered how they are actually tapped into their sources of water. I understand that some springs are artesian wells, but how are these pipes installed so they don't get clogged up etc... Just curios if anyone really knows. Oh, and who went around and stuck all these in the ground anyway?...USFS, Homesteaders..?

[Nick-SJM]

I understand that the pipes were put in by the Forest Service quite awhile ago.

Up the slope some distance a hole was dug down in an area that has a relatively shallow water table. The hole is made large enough for a box to be built that is porous enough that water can enter, but the box will not collapse. Water enters the box from the water table and flows into the pipe and down the hill to where it exits the pipe. The box is called a spring box.

Have a lot of fun with the Boy Scouts. Boy Scout leaders have such a great opportunity to help build great adults.

Nick