Everything

Everything is ahead of schedule. The desert willow which usually blooms between May 10th and May 14th is green weeks early. No blooms but they are coming. Hayduker Serens came by and then headed down Lockhart to the next stop which is Needles. She also sent an updated water report.

Hey Tom, Thanks again for the Gatorade and water and front porch setting. Made it to Needles! Here’s a brief water update, referencing Fairweather’s email: The water source near mile 6.8 was no longer flowing over the road. I didn’t go up any washes looking for water since I filled up with you. I opted to take the 2-mile jeep road “Lockhart Road” (mile 23 i think?) down to the Colorado River and spend the night there. It’s a gorgeous area and halfway thru the 40-mile dry section between you and the “giant pothole” at 39.5. I was able to bathe, explore, and camel up, and left with more than enough to get to 39.5 the next day. The 2-mile detour takes less than an hour and, for me, was hugely preferable to carrying two days of water. Note: the end of the Jeep Road is blocked from the river by tamarisk but there is a well-worn path thru the brush to get to the inlet. Or, veer off the jeep road when nearing the end of it and follow the drainage to the river. I hiked up the boulder-choked ravine that Fairweather mentions in her email and there was no longer a puddle. Lockhart spring was still flowing but alkaline. Indian Spring is still mostly dry with some low alkaline flow. However, just after crossing Indian Spring I came across three very large potholes holding a large amount of water that did not taste or appear alkaline. The “giant pothole” at 39.5 was smaller than the above-mentioned puddles but still plenty big enough to gather from. I filled up there and then hiked up to the Loop overlook to watch the sunset and camp — highly recommend!!! A few days later Kick Back and Kite came through. This is probably about the end of Haydukers for this season otherwise they'll get to the Grand Canyon when it's too hot.

The River

Snow pack has gone from 15 feet to 10 feet but the water level has gone up hardly a foot at the boat ramp. First time I've actually wanted it to go up to get rid of the log block we have at the beach but it is what it is.

Eleven Years, Still Hiking

Veronica Water Report

Hi Tom, This is Fairweather, writing to you from Needles Outpost with some water info to share for future hikers. Good news! The water situation was not as dire as I expected. As of March 25: - Water source near mile 6.8 was flowing over the road. - Some small potholes found off the main road / HDT in a wash just beyond mile 6.8. - The "Possible water?" source at mile 19.1 was dry. - Tiny potholes found on the descent into Lockhart Canyon, but likely not enough to fill a water bottle. - Medium puddle of water found up the wash just before mile 23.1. Good water! Head up to the juniper tree. As of March 26: - "Slow seep" up a boulder-choked ravine had a large puddle of water. Right after final descent to Lockhart Canyon road. - Lockhart Spring at mile 25.4 is flowing. Source is coming out of the rockface and can collect there. Tastes alkaline. - Did not see/notice a seasonal stock pond after mile 26.8. Probably dry. - Water flowing in Rustler Canyon below the dryfall obstacle. Some pools where it's easy to collect. Tastes alkaline. - Indian Creek is not flowing. Only a few gross-looking stagnant pools here and there. - "Large pothole" near Loop Alternate in We-Hope-So Wash is not so large, but still holds lots of water. Good water too, not alkaline. As of March 27: - "Spring" heading up We-Hope-So Wash is dry (could not find any water there). - Lower Jump of Salt Creek is flowing down where the giant pour-off is (small trickle, but can collect easily). - Heard flowing water in Little Spring Canyon, but did not go down (very difficult descent for solo backpacker, or involves much backtracking from the south end of the canyon). - Saw water in Big Spring Canyon, but again, no easy way down. As of March 28: - Good water in the upper reaches of Elephant Canyon as you near Druid Arch. As of March 29: - Good flowing water in Wooden Shoe / Squaw Canyon down near the junction to trail into Lost Canyon. Hope this helps whoever else is passing your way! Thank you again so much and to all the folks staying with you at Basecamp Adventures for your kind hospitality. ❤️😊 Wishing you all the best this season, Fairweather (Véronica)

Season of the Hayduker and my apologies

These are all the Hayduker I'm not sure I can identify their pictures with their pictures. Here is Eyes, Mark, Callum, Nutcracker, Hummingbird, Picky and Mega Man probely not in the upcoming picture order.

It is the Season of the Hayduker

Twenty Haydukers came though in the last week or ten days. That's about what we get in a season and I'm aware of five more that didn't swing y for water. I wrote most of the names down on asraps os paper and now trying to identify them I'm failing badly. I'm fairly sure this is Ryan.

This is Josie

I think this is Tobias and Fire Beast,

and Kris and No Worries.