Water, or the lack of

Water is a prescious resource in the desert, and it comes in many forms. I  did not start taking photos of my water sources until after the first hundred miles. This was the first real creek I got water from a few miles past the town of Warner Springs.

The most interesting and unusual water sources I did not think to take photos of early on. This fountain was at the end of a very long dry stretch at the bottom of Fuller Ridge. 

Mission creek was wonderfully refreshing for 16 miles. 

Many times over the first 652 miles of trail my water has come out of the ground instead of running across the surface. This barrel catching the water that was dripping from the top of the small cave. 

Deep Creek was the largest of the creeks I have encountered. I took a mid day nap here and soaked my feet. My most unique snake sighting was here. I was sitting on a rock in the middle of the creek when it poked it's head out of the water to check me out. 

The most common odd water source in arid southern California is the piped spring. I find these in odd places. I always wonder who placed the pipe into the ground. Was it put in to bring the water to the surface for hikers, or was the trail built here because it is where the water is. Which came first, the trail or the pipe?

This little creeklet was stagnant and slimy. I was glad to have enough water already that I did not need to filter from this source. 

The creek was likely stagnant due the dam. Many of the rivers and lakes have been altered by man made structures.

This was the largest reservoir I walked around. It was full of alge and speed boats.  

The most wonderful type of water source is the cache. Often it is in the form of a box of water jugs tucked under or tied to a tree. They are maintained by Trail Angels who spend their own time and money supplying water to hikers they will often never meet. While I love finding a full cache, I am reluctant to rely on them. Most recently the well stocked caches have allowed me to avoid long walkes off the trail to get water from a seep in the ground.

I spent a night walking along the LA aqueduct. It was covered most of the way making the prescious water inaccessable for 18.8 miles.  

This spring was surrounded by mud, flowing at half a liter per minute and was some of the dirtiest water I have encountered yet. I treated it twice!

I was very happy that the next spring was clear. 

We talk about water constantly! A thru hiker from years past has put together a system for hikers to let others on the trail know the status of the springs, seeps, and caches. We all pay close attention to the water report.

I always appreciate other hikers leaving dated notes giving more recent info so that I know if I should bother to walk the 0.7 miles off the trail. 

Soon, very soon I will be walking through the Sierra Mts where water will be plentiful. There will be new challenges in the high Sierras; mosquitos, high altitude, and bears. I have enjoyed my desert adventure, but am looking forward to the next step in my journey.