View Full Version : Springs in JoyceKilmer/Slick Rock
Headed for Joyce Kilmer/Slick Rock area Friday. Anyone know how the water situation is up around Bob Stratton Bald, Naked Ground areas.
Thnx.
Tipi Walter
07-29-2006, 12:10
This post will come too late but reading it will be fun when you get back: The Naked Ground spring in the gap always seems to flow no matter how dry it gets whereas the Bob Bald spring can get pretty low. Last summer in '05 and this summer in '06 I've seen the spring almost dry with just a tiny pool of seep water. Using this pool and my filter it took me 30 minutes or more to fill one liter but then again right after a short rain up there I was able to get water easily for a couple of days.
No one wants to carry all of their water up from the Kilmer loops and it isn't necessary, the Naked Ground spring at 4840 feet is always wet. The Hangover end of the ridge also has a spring and sometimes this gets pretty dry, too. I've often walked from Naked to the Hangover with a full load of water as it is only 1.5 miles and I didn't feel like descending the Hangover hill a long way for water.
Maybe when you get back you can describe your trip in detail.
Thanks Tipi Walter. I kind of thought that, but it's been a dry year so I wasn't sure.
Like you said, the springs at Naked Ground and Hangover were running good. Then again, every squre inch of Joyce Kilmer, Slick Rock and Citico was running good. <grin>
There was a huge thunder storm Friday night and rain all night afterwards. More rain until around noon on Saturday.
Still had a nice weekend hike. Of course you've got to enjoy the misty side of the mountain and the sound of rain falling through the leaves.
The trails are a bit overgrown with the usual summer foilage. Huckleberries are starting to get pretty tasty, but the blueberries I saw need are still green.
The tread way needs a lot of maintenance in many places, with one very bad slide area on Hangover about a quarter mile out of Big Fat Gap.