Upper Hwy 2 Loop hike 5/30ish

Bill · Upper Hwy 2 Loop hike 5/30ish

I am planning a hike starting at Vincent Gap, following the Manzanita trail down to Southfork of Big Rock Creek, following the SF Big Rock creek trail up to Islip Saddle, continuing on to the PCT trail North to Mt Islip. Probably stay at Little Jimmy, and bag Hawkins, Throop, Burnham, and Baden Powell, and returning to Vincent Gap. Around 20 miles or so.
The map shows a few springs along the way. Reed spring, Little Jimmy spring. Anyone know the reliablility of these springs for drinking water along the way? Depending on when I do it, there might well be some snow I can melt, or may have to cache water?

drhabes

Bill,

Never been to Little Jimmy without water in the spring...always there year round. Not familiar with Reed spring however. Have a great trip! Surprised

mattmaxon

Reed Spring isn't very reliable

Only time I have seen surface water there was at the height of the melt in a heavy snow year

I have never seen Little Jimmy dry ever, my mouth is watering just thinking of that tasty water!

Little Jimmy Camp has very active bears... Hang your food... Leave your pack open...Don't be surprised if you're visited

Unfortunately the surest water will be the water you carry up from South Fork Crying or Very sad

Bill

Hikin_Jim

Last year, I believe they actually had to remove one bear that had become so agressive it actually knocked one backpacker over (as the backpacker was setting his backpack down) when going after his food.

Take a look at this map link.

As noted, Reed Spring isn't a good bet. Neither is Windy Spring ("D"). Cortelyou Spring ("C") is very reliable. If you didn't want to wait until Little Jimmy (two more miles) to get water, you could stroll over to Cortelyou, get water, stroll back to Islip Saddle, and get back on route. Alternatively, you could walk along ACH from Islip Saddle to the spring, get water, continue walking down ACH, and then pick up a service road near Pine Hollow Picnic Area that rejoins your route. The service road in my opinion is nicer than the hot, exposed section of trail that climbs out of Islip Saddle. The service road isn't shown on the topo, but it shows up if you switch to satellite mode and zoom in a bit.

Little Jimmy spring ("E") is as noted rock solid. There's also Lilly Spring ("F"), but it's down a steep unmaintained side trail and is a pain to get to. It's pretty close to Little Jimmy Spring, so just fill up at Little Jimmy for your push back to Vincent Gap. There's no water from Lilly to Vincent Gap except for Lamel Spring ("G") which should have water this time of year. You have to watch for a path branching off to the spring as you descend from Baden-Powell to Vincent Gap. It's pretty close to the gap, so it may be just as easy to cache water in your vehicles. Of course the spring water might be a lot colder than water that's been sitting in vehicles for a while.

HTH,

HJ

Bill

EnFuego

Bill - when you planning this hike? Are you doing it as an overnighter?

Sounds pretty impressive.

Hikin_Jim

Bill

Richard N.

I was down at Icy Springs on Wednesday and there is good water there. Its early on once you start from Vincent Gap. There is still snow in the drainages high up on Throop to Baden-Powell. There is actually snow along the highway as well.

Have fun. Maybe we'll pass you somtime this weekend.

Bill

Hikin_Jim

Where is Icy Springs? I don't recall that one off the top of my head.

Normally, I'd look it up, but the topo maps tab on maper.acme.com doesn't seem to be working.

Richard N.

Icy Springs is about a mile or so down the dirt road from Vincent Gap towards Big Rock Campground. The trail & road both go by it.

Hikin_Jim

Cool! Thanks.