View Full Version : Current status of water sources?
Hi,
Is there a good place to go to find out the current status of a water source when planning a hike?
-Trooper
www.whiteblaze.net (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/www.whiteblaze.net) has a forum where you can ask people. but those guys are crazy.
john gault
09-02-2009, 15:59
What area?
max patch
09-02-2009, 16:07
Best just to ask about a specific area.
In Georgia, Mountain Crossings and the GATC both have water status reports on their websites for the most used water sources in the state, but neither one updates the info on a current basis. I think right now the last updates on both sites are a month and a half old; useless for summer planning. Good idea that wasn't followed thru with.
I see Trooper is from Royersford. If he's interested in learning about sources of drinking water on the A.T. in Pennsylvania, he should refer to Pennsylvania Water Sources 2009 (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=52656). Most if not all springs are in better condition than usual at this time.
A small group of local A.T. hikers assisted by section hikers are contributing information to the thread and I'm filling in gaps with current information as it's made available to me. I'm hopeful we have helped newer hikers and those unfamiliar with the A.T. in Pennsylvania to be better informed and prepared.
dreamsoftrails
09-02-2009, 16:21
Best just to ask about a specific area.
In Georgia, Mountain Crossings and the GATC both have water status reports on their websites for the most used water sources in the state, but neither one updates the info on a current basis. I think right now the last updates on both sites are a month and a half old; useless for summer planning. Good idea that wasn't followed thru with.
yeah, you'd think the 10,000 miles of trail experience and all that expertise would lead to a little more time on the trail.:p
Is there an entity that performs the same function south of MARFC's area of activity? It would be a useful link to which hikers may wish to refer and might be added to GATC's website.
I'll be between the Allentown Shelter and Eagles Nest Shelter in PA this weekend. Per the AT map, it looks like I'll be ok with the developed water source at the Eckville Shelter, and there's the Hamburg Reservoir near the Windsor Furace Shelter. I am more interested to know about the springs near the Eagles Nest Shelter after a long day of hiking.
Tennessee Viking
09-02-2009, 17:33
The south is wet.
ShoelessWanderer
09-02-2009, 17:37
The south is wet.
So should have no problem with water near Mt. Mitchell this weekend?
Best just to ask about a specific area.
In Georgia, Mountain Crossings and the GATC both have water status reports on their websites for the most used water sources in the state, but neither one updates the info on a current basis. I think right now the last updates on both sites are a month and a half old; useless for summer planning. Good idea that wasn't followed thru with.
Maybe what's needed is for someone to watch here for people who will be hiking or have hiked, to gather information and feed it to the data-entry person(s).
I wouldn't know why there couldn't be a New York-New Jersey or Connecticut-Massachusetts water conditions thread. All it requires is for someone to start it and prod hikers a bit behind the scenes to update it.
I'll be between the Allentown Shelter and Eagles Nest Shelter in PA this weekend. Per the AT map, it looks like I'll be ok with the developed water source at the Eckville Shelter, and there's the Hamburg Reservoir near the Windsor Furnace Shelter. I am more interested to know about the springs near the Eagles Nest Shelter after a long day of hiking.
Refer to the thread I linked for you earlier. It's all there. I posted about Eagle's Nest's spring a few days ago. If you want more current information, ask at Ye Olde Backpacker in Port Clinton.
Don't draw water from Hamburg's reservoir. I just spoke with someone in the borough office a few days ago about that question which was raised here. It's posted and they'd prefer hikers get water from the spring near the shelter or Furnace Creek where the A.T. crosses it.
Rockhound
09-02-2009, 18:41
With all the rain this year water is plentiful along the whole trail. I cant imagine you would have to walk more than 5 or 6 miles along the whole trail without finding a decent source.
The portion of the A.T. about which Trooper inquired is a place where one would ordinarily walk more than 5-6 miles in September. It was a good question illustrating why specific information should be sought and why it's provided.
These ridgetop springs about which we post are very dependant upon regular rainfall to maintain their flow and most of our rain in summer is from thunderstorms which often can be quite localized. They can be flowing one day and dried up the next, but flow more often tapers off gradually and one can get a pretty good idea what to expect by referring to MARFC's precipitation departure maps.
max patch
09-02-2009, 18:55
Maybe what's needed is for someone to watch here for people who will be hiking or have hiked, to gather the information and feed it to to the data-entry person(s).
Last year the latest Mountain Crossings update said that Springer was dry. I was up there on like Dec 28 and there was plenty of water. I knew that Springer would be busy on Dec 31 so I emailed them and let them know so people wouldn't have to worry about water. They didn't change the info on the website.
If neither GATC or Mountain Crossings can get the job done, start a Georgia Water Sources thread. With all the hiking on the Georgia A.T. I read about on WhiteBlaze and all the requests for information about GA water sources, there ought to be more than enough people to gather and post the information.
I can only wish for a single, A.T.-specific maintaining organization in Pennsylvania and a website where the information could be made available!
Chaco Taco
09-03-2009, 12:49
So should have no problem with water near Mt. Mitchell this weekend?
Like TN said, its been pretty wet here all summer. Should have no probs
www.whiteblaze.net (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/www.whiteblaze.net) has a forum where you can ask people. but those guys are crazy.
Hi all!
I've just visited this forum. Happy to get acquainted with you. Thanks.
ShoelessWanderer
10-22-2009, 13:28
Hi all!
I've just visited this forum. Happy to get acquainted with you. Thanks.
:welcome To whiteblaze! (But yes, those WB people are crazy http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-char030.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php))