Water, West Pinto Trail

[stevebo]

With all the rain lately, does anyone know if there is water along the West Pinto Trail #212? Particularly West Fork Pinto Creek about 6 miles West of the Miles TH.

Can I assume there will be water at Oak Flats where the Campaign Trail #256 meets the West Pinto Trail?

Thanks!

[nonot]

Looks promising 6 miles west:
[ photoset ]

Oak Flat is more like 3 miles west. Last time I visited there all the water had gone underground in the vicinity of Oak flat as the area has become a giant gravel/sand bar, but there was surface water flowing a half mile upstream.

[stevebo]

@nonot
Great photos! It's so green and so much water, thanks.

I'm doing a loop from the Miles TH to Rogers Trough, Angel Basin, Plow Saddle, Reavis Ranch, Circlestone returning on the Campaign Trail, so that's why I was asking about water at Oak Flat.

On the way out, I don't plan on making it to Rogers Trough the first day, so that's why I was hoping there's water (and a flat spot) about 6 miles in.
Thanks for the update

[nonot]

Miles 3-6 of your first day are choked by catclaw and I'd recommend abandoning the trail and staying in the creekbed between Oak Flat and the Silver Spur cabin area around 6 miles in.

[xsproutx]

choked by catclaw

Angel Basin to Plow is also not exactly fun. I hope/assume that someone hiking the trails planned knows what they're getting into as far as that goes

[stevebo]

@xsproutx
I've been down Rogers Canyon when the water was waist deep, so I hope it's passable. It's pretty riparian so I wouldn't expect that much catclaw but I could be mistaken. Are you saying that there's a lot of catclaw on the climb up from Fish Creek and down to Frog Tanks? Or are you saying the rest of the Frog Tanks trail is full of catclaw? Or all of it?

I'm also planning to take a day hike from Plow to Reavis Falls, but I would guess that's pretty overgrown as well once you turn off the main trail.

I haven't been to that part of the Supes since the Woodbury fire so I just don't know.

[xsproutx]

@stevebo
Roger's Canyon east/south of Angel's Basin is mostly okay; easier to stay in the creek bed in some areas but generally not bad. I was talking about Frog Tanks between Angel's Basin and Plow Saddle, particularly the Fish Creek portion. I went last year and it was a nightmare. My understanding is that it has not gotten any better. If you look at a couple triplogs here, you'll see multiple reports of it being enough to turn people away. Everyone has a different tolerance for that sort of adventure, but yeh, that section isn't great.