San Jacinto's H20

[zippetydude]

Zoiks. Read the next page of Bluerail's link, and you'll read a report of a rattler at 15,000' -- higher than the summit of Mt. Whitney. Bad news if your name is Zippity Dude.

HJ

Makes me shudder even thinking about it! Rats. I thought I was safe above 10,000'.

z

[Backwoods]

I read somewere when I was learning to hike a year or so ago that Rattlers only went up to about 7k I guess I better start second guessing what I read. I dident compleatly let my gaurd down up high but now I'll be a bit more observant when up there. I'm still convinced that there are less snakes up high though. And what about somewere like climbing north on the PCT out of Little Taquitz valley on the N face of Red Taquitz were there is always deep snow longer than elsewere in the San J's? The snow takes a month or more longer to melt and it's always much colder than other parts of the San Jacintos. Do they just wait a few extra months to come out? Or are they smart enough to live somewere warmer? I spent the night up there last week and it still got down to the low 30's at night,

[arocknoid]

Near Ice House Saddle, elevation ca. 7500':







Elevation one foot:



(I let this snake cool his heels during the night, 40*, so I am not as foolhardy as it appears in the above photo. He is Verrry sluggish still. Also, my foot is positioned so that the snake would need to move in a cross-body counter direction towards me, much harder to thrust quickly. "I'm not as dumb as I look!" )







(I caught this snake in an area frequented by kids, near a school, and relocated him far afield to reduce potential hazard.)

[Hikin_Jim]

Yipes, 'Noid!

Sluggish or not, that's close!

HJ

[Wild]

Very cool arocknoid!

[Ellen]

Howdy Arocknoid

EEK!!!

"Elevation one foot" -- hilarious.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Hikin_Jim]

Well, considering that this is actually a water thread, I thought I'd post something on the subject.

Here's a map of what off the top of my head are the most reliable water sources in the SJ's.

A = is the Long Valley Ranger Station. Laugh if you like, but if the drought continues, this might be it for the San Jacintos up top. If you were ever at Round Valley and the "spring" there were dry, the two or so mile hike to the Long Valley Ranger Station would be your "Plan 'B'".
B = is the aforementioned "spring" in Round Valley at the trail junction. It's pretty darned reliable although in late season this year it's anybody's guess as to whether or not it will still be running. Pretty rock solid this June and probably July too. Late August and September are when I'd really be worried about it this year.
C = is the water source you pass en route to Little Round Valley from Deer Springs. I've seen this running when both LRV and Deer Springs were dry. Is it 100% and never goes dry? No. The later in the season it gets, the more likely it is to go dry. Again late August and September are the most likely times it will go dry although this year even earlier in the season it may go dry.
D = is the spring in a little recess in the ground in Tahquitz Valley. Pretty reliable although not 100%. If you want 100% water sources, frankly, you should go to the San Gorgonio Wilderness this year.
E = the confluence of Willow Creek and Tahquitz Creek. I've found kind of stagnant looking pools here even in late season where I could filter water. You've got two creeks coming together here, so your chances are good, but again not 100%, particularly in late season (August and September).
F = is the falls area below Caramba camp. Tahquitz Creek flows over solid rock here. If there's any water flowing in the creek at all, it's going to get forced above ground here. Even if the creek is dry at the camp itself, it's worth going downstream looking for water. No guarantees, but it's a good bet.

Those are my top six picks; anyone else got a favorite?

Of course many more sources are flowing now. As of last report (here on the forum), the following additional sources are currently flowing:
Deer Springs
Strawberry Cienega
Powderbox Spring
Wellmans Cienega
Willow Creek Crossing
Candy's Creek (I think that's the right spelling)
Tahquitz Creek in Little Tahquitz Valley

I'm sure some of the other sources in Skunk Cabbage Meadow are still flowing as well. June is still fairly good, but things are going to dry out as we head into Summer.

Stay safe -- and stay hydrated,

HJ

[Hikin_Jim]

Hikin Jim,
The stream you indicated as "D" is Bed Springs. If you go up stream you will eventually see a bed spring for a bed. I understand it was flown in by someone with Landells Aviation for a campsite they used. This stream is one of the last to still have water in dry years.

Ah, so that's "Bed Springs?" Good to know.

HJ