Strawberry Loop

[Ellen]

Howdy All

My mom and two sisters were at a Jazzercise conference in La Quinta from Thursday to Sunday and invited me to spend Saturday night with them at the La Quinta Spa and Club. We had a fabulous meal at Flemings steak house in Rancho Mirage, then headed to La Quinta. I will never stay at that so-called "resort" again. Pretty ironic that the conference happened during the heat wave

Caught the first tram up with the San Jacinto hiking club. The hike was to celebrate the magnificent Perry Andrus' return to San Jacinto following major surgery for urinary track cancer. We started together then parted ways at the Sid Davis junction -- I needed more mileage as training for the JMT. The Craigmeister warned me about the swarming gnats and other bugs , so I slathered on the DEET at the ranger station. Also met Ranger Aaron for the first time on the tram ride up.

The low water flow at Wellman's Cienga this early in the summer was depressing. Right after I started on Strawberry, I ran into two backpackers who noted I'd likely have the trail to myself The Strawberry Cienega was barely flowing and very buggy. I love the section between the Deer Springs junction and Fuller Ridge junction. The stream that I usuallly stop at for a head dunk/bandana dip also was barely flowing

I started the final climb up to Little Round Valley. Fortunately, there was a bit of cloud cover and an occaisional breeze. I was finally rewarded with a nicely flowing stream that had the added benefit of gorgeous wildflowers. I took a leisurely rest stop and got thoroughly wet The drop in my body temperature made the rest of the climb to LRV much easier. I didn't even mind the endless switchbacks out of the LRV to the peak.

Once on the summit, I was pleasantly surpised to see that it wasn't jam-packed with people. Plus, I ran into hiking friends who kindly joined me on the descent. We took the ridge rather than trail to Miller Saddle, then departed from the main trail again to take the Ranger trail to Tamarack and finally Sid Davis. We had so much fun talking that the descent seemed to take no time at all.

Once back at the tram, we celebrated with suitable beverages as this was the first San Jacinto summit for three of my four friends. Special thanks to Joyce for buying my Arrogant B--tard beer. I haven't been to Las Casuelas since doing this loop with the Craigmeister and Sugar, so dinner tasted especially good. A great day in spite of the heat.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Hikin_Jim]

My mom and two sisters were at a Jazzercise conference in La Quinta from Thursday to Sunday and invited me...

Visions of Ellen in a tutu prancing about with a lot of old ladies.

The hike was to celebrate the magnificent Perry Andrus' return to San Jacinto following major surgery

Huzzah!

...low water flow at Wellman's Cienga.
Strawberry Cienega was barely flowing and very buggy.

Invaluable water reports. THANK YOU.

I love the section between the Deer Springs junction and Fuller Ridge junction. The stream that I usuallly stop at for a head dunk/bandana dip also was barely flowing

Sounds like Deer "Springs" (where the water crosses the trail) is very nearly dry, yes? Is that the the location you're describing?

I started the final climb up to Little Round Valley. I was finally rewarded with a nicely flowing stream that had the added benefit of gorgeous wildflowers. I took a leisurely rest stop and got thoroughly wet

That's Bed Springs (all sorts of puns there). That'll be the last one to dry up.

Sounds like a nice ramble.

Take care,

HJ

[Hikin_Jim]

I'm a rather persistent guy (or can be when I'm thirsty). I was actually able to find water at LRV this past weekend. See West Side Water Report.



I was also able to get water at Deer Springs. I don't give up easily, do I? Tell me there's no water, and I find a way.

HJ

[arocknoid]

In which Hikin' Jim dons another hat, that of Dowsin' Jim:

"Tell me there's no water, and I find a way."

G'donya.

[Hikin_Jim]

I suppose a backpacker has a little different pressure than a day hiker. If there's no water, a day hiker has to carry that day's water which is not fun but is doable. A backpacker simply cannot carry three days worth of water.

I deliberately went light on water for the ascent of the Seven Pines Trail which while not as consistently steep as the Marion Mountain Trail actually has more gain and does have several Marion Mountainesque steep sections.

When I got to Deer Springs Crossing and found this:


I was more than just a little dismayed. I was completely out of water at that point and had a dry, waterless route ahead of me.

Up the stream bed I went, whereupon I found this:


With my Sierra cup, I was able to extract four liters, one of which I drank immediately and three of which I carried.

HJ

[Ellen]

Howdy Arocknoid

In which Hikin' Jim dons another hat, that of Dowsin' Jim

Remember when HJ had mosquito soup on his San Gorgonio trek last summer?

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Hikin_Jim]

Remember when HJ had mosquito soup on his San Gorgonio trek last summer?

Just call me "Hikin' Jim, connoisseur of questionable water."

HJ

[Andy]

I'm still working on my "Light water" invention, but until that comes through I thank you guys for these invaluable water reports.

[arocknoid]

Ellen wrote:
Remember when HJ had mosquito soup on his San Gorgonio trek last summer?

HJ sez:
Just call me "Hikin' Jim, connoisseur of questionable water."

Gourmet Jim, channeling Robert Mitchum:
"Skeeter soup--it's what's for dinner."

howls and growls,
arocknoid

[Hikin_Jim]

Nice thing about making Gatorade with "skeeter soup" -- it's self stirring.

HJ