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Toolumpy
07-05-2015, 10:52
Thinking of hiking north from Damascus sometime later this year and wondering what water supplies are like later in the year. May try to make it to Daleville. Maybe September?

Tuckahoe
07-05-2015, 11:47
From a post I made a couple weeks ago regarding water between Massie Gap and Damascus --


You will find water at Thomas Knob, about 100 yards behind the shelter (3 miles from Massie Gap).

About half way between Thomas Knob and Elk Garden, there is water at Deep Gap. Also between Thomas Knob and Elk Garden, there are a number of springs that cut the trail that flow strong or weak depending on recent rain. And then between Elk Garden and Whitetop there are two springs that cut the trail about 2/3 of the way to the top.

At the top of Whitetop, about 150 yards from the Forest Service parking lot is a strong piped spring (about 8 miles from Thomas Knob).

Between Beech Mt Road and Summit Cut, there are a couple strong springs, plus Star Branch when you cross Rt 58. (About 5 miles from Whitetop).

At Lost Mountain Shelter there is a piped source about 100 yards behind the shelter. (About a mile from Summit Cut)Then the 2 miles between Lost Mountain Shelter and the Hassinger Bridge there are a couple springs again cutting the trail.

We camped at a site near the Hassinger Bridge and took water from Whitetop Laurel Creek.This time I only carried 56 fl oz in two 20oz bottles and a 16 oz bottle.

johnnybgood
07-05-2015, 15:26
If you hike to Daleville be aware water sources the last 30 miles after Pickle Branch Shelter can be a crapshoot.