1/28/2012, section C, mile 329 to 342. Water was not a problem after the last rain. Several blow downs and after mile 342, but no big deal. Be prepared for cuts and scrapes because of some parts being over-grown. Very nice walk.

1/29/2012
Mason Valley Truck Trail to Scissors Crossing. Trail in good condition with only minor vegetation overgrowth on the descent into Chariot Canyon and along the flank of Chariot Mountain. From Rodgriguez Canyon north, the trail passes through areas of burn from the Great Fire in 2010 and is easily followed.

Hiked the next segment of our PCT hike (Hwy 78 to Barrel Spring, aka the San Felipe Hills)on Jan. 16th. The day was misty and cold, approx 44 degrees.
Based on previous posts, these were the ideal conditions for this usually hot & long hike. We hiked the approximate 24 miles rather fairly quickly. The trail was free of debris or overgrown brush and this made for a nice and yes, maddening hike. With so many canyon wash turns, it will be nice to hit some straight-aways sometime soon.

Between Campo and Moreno Lake about four mile from the International Border there is a spot where the trail crosses a feeder creek that has blow down crossing the trail. Easy enough to circumnavigate on foot but possibly difficult or impossible for equistrians. The location is the creek crossing near the obviouse cave(s) and culvert that goes under the raised railroad tracks.

My buddy and I continued our segment hike of the PCT yesterday (12/21/11). We began at Mason Valley truck trail, walked the approximate 2 miles down to the PCT, and then hiked down to Hwy 78. After about 4 miles on the PCT, we realized there was a possibility we were no longer on the PCT.
At the intersection of truck trails in Chariot Canyon, we looked closely for a PCT sign marker. We finally found it, blown over/knocked over in a bush. We re-positioned it, with the arrow pointing in the right direction.
We continued our hike and encountered the same thing at the junction with the Rodriguez Canyon truck trail, just after mile marker 68. The PCT trail at this junction was overgrown with bushes and the numerous foot trails near the intersection of truck trails caused us some delay as we scouted out possible routes. Realizing the PCT trail crossed the truck trail at a 45 degree n/e direction, we set off and encountered no other problems for the remainder of the trip.
In all, the trail is overgrown from nearby bushes and perhaps this caused my buddy who was in the lead, to find 2 ticks hitching a ride on his clothing.

11/26/2011 Kiavah Wilderness between Piute mountains and Highway 178-Visited Cochran Spring- about two miles west of PCT and NO water available there as it is just a wet spot on a rock. Rode my horse up a side trail of the PCT- 36E04 (Cholla Canyon).
As of October 2011, there are water caches available along PCT near road crossings at both Kelso Valley Road and Bird Spring Pass Road. Some water bottles are clear and full some are green some empty.

10/15/11 Hiked from Scissors to Barrel Springs. the first half of trail was good. second half had alot of brush to push through.
Aproximately 50 gallons of water at the third gate cache.
I ran into 2 rattle snakes on the trail before third gate, in the evening and passed another the next day as I dropped down into Barrel Springs. Be careful as you push through the brush.
There is alot of wildlife in the area, including an eagle with bright orange bands on its wings.

Removed tree blocking the trail 1/4 mile south of Barrel Springs as reported on July 5

Sat. April 23, 2011 - Day hiked 24 mi. stretch of San Felipe Hills, from "Scissors Crossing" (intersect Hiways S2 and 78) to Barrel Springs.
Trail condition was very good, needing some foiliage cutback off the trail (watch your lower legs for scratching shrubbery! - long pants recommended). Weekend was 15 deg above normal and much of my 1 gal. water was consumed.
Dry, no water runoff anywhere. We found the very generous water cache in the shade (THANKS GUYS!) several miles past the campsites at GPS fourteen mile mark from Scissors Crossing.
There's not much to see in the SF Hills, so this 12 hour hike was insipidly tiresome. Barrel Springs is cozy at the end , and water is available, but take precaution to treat it appropriately.

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We started at Campo on a cold stormy morning March 25, 11. We had plenty of water. Every little side canyon had something in it. As we continued into the Lagunas the water became a little more scarce but we still had plenty of ground water to filter when we needed. Everything that was supposed to have water did and some that didn't. I am sure this was becouse of the storm, but some may last. The Lagunas were nearly free of snow and we had very little on the trail. On April 1st we descended to scissors crossing. At mile 69.9, The faucet below the concrete fire tank was on and the tank was about 3/4 full. We filtered the water but it sure looked and tasted good. That day it was 100 degrees at scissors crossing. We hitched into Julian for some water, Scissors crossing cache was resupplied at 3 PM on April 1 and when we got to the cache at 6 PM it was EMPty. There were two gallons on the start of the climb into the San Felipe hills, I am sure they are one by now. 3rd gate cache was flush! our eyes popped out when we saw all that water. There is water in the trough at barrel Springs there is a warning sign about dead rodents and to treat the water. They recommend boiling for 5 Minutes. There was a one foot across flow in the San Ysedro. The canada Agua Caliente was flowing very well.

On April 1st we descended to scissors crossing. At mile 69.9, the faucet below the concrete fire tank was on and the tank was about 3/4 full. We filtered the water but it sure looked and tasted good. That day it was 100 degrees at scissors crossing. We hitched into Julian for some water, Scissors crossing cache was resupplied at 3 PM on April 1 and when we got to the cache at 6 PM it was empty. There were two gallons on the start of the climb into the San Felipe hills, I am sure they are one by now.

3rd gate cache was flush! Our eyes popped out when we saw all that water. There is water in the trough at Barrel Springs there is a warning sign about dead rodents and to treat the water. They recommend boiling for 5 Minutes. There was a one foot across flow in the San Ysedro. The Canada Agua Caliente was flowing very well.