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I was planning on doing Passages 16 and 17 this weekend. Starting at the Kelvin bridge and ending at Picketpost TH.

Anyone know if the Gila is flowing and is it OK to filter/treat? There are comments about not consuming it because of heavy metal concentration.

Anyone that has done this section recently, information would be greatly appreciated. Any additional information on these sections would be greatly appreciated as well.

Cheers

Scott

I was over the bridge at Kelvin Saturday. The Gila is flowing and I am told can be consumed with treatment. It's pretty brown right now so take some coffee filters or some other way to handle that. The story is that the mine has not discharged any heavy metal waste, or any water for that matter, for years. The contaminants are supposedly withing prescribed limits. But it is a low-lying river and there are cattle along it, so there is that to contend with. I wouldn't drink it continuously but a day or so shouldn't do you in. Now if you aren't real careful filtering and get sick from whatever the cattle leave . . .

It is possible to drive to where the trail turns north and cache water but it's a high clearance adventure to get there.

Awesome! thank you so much for the information.

I figured it was from mine run off. If I end up with some nervous tick when I return, I will be sure to let everyone know.

Espi wrote:Awesome! thank you so much for the information.

I figured it was from mine run off. If I end up with some nervous tick when I return, I will be sure to let everyone know.

Hey Espi, not to worry. By ADEQ regulations, we are absolutely FORBIDDEN to allow ANY water to run off of mine property. If that happens we get into a LOT of trouble, and ADEQ can shut us down. There has been nothing running into the Gila from the mine in a very long time. Your biggest pollution worries will be from people misusing the river, or cattle runoff. Enjoy your trip.

Chula (Ray Mine employee)

The Gila is always brown to one extent or another in this area. That alone gives me pause, since turbid water can be notoriously hard to sterilize or filter, to say nothing about the ag runoff from cotton farms upstream in the Gila Valley near Safford or pollution from motorized watercraft on the San Carlos Reservoir. I'm a believer in the placebo effect, having consumed gallons of Rio Grande water with similar resignation and no after-effects, but there are better alternatives if you can muster the fortitude. The Walnut Canyon artesian well, for one. Or carrying in a bunch of water from the trailhead. Or camping along the Gila somewhere west of the the Spine and digging a hole in wet sand to fill with sediment-filtered water overnight.

chulavista wrote:Hey Espi, not to worry. By ADEQ regulations, we are absolutely FORBIDDEN to allow ANY water to run off of mine property. If that happens we get into a LOT of trouble, and ADEQ can shut us down. There has been nothing running into the Gila from the mine in a very long time. Your biggest pollution worries will be from people misusing the river, or cattle runoff. Enjoy your trip.

Chula (Ray Mine employee)

I wasn't aware of that. Thank you for the info on the mines.

No problem, Espi! Just FYI for anyone - not only is Ray required to abide by these rules, all mines are to my understanding. It is what is referred to as a 'no discharge' policy. Any water that comes in is not allowed to leave the property. Mineral Creek had to be diverted around, and as a result there is a huge, 6 mile long tunnel on the mine property that the creek runs through. It comes out the bottom end not far from where the creek meets Highway 177, well beyond the mining operations. So really any mining operation is supposed to abide by this, and if not they are in environmental deep doo-doo!

Take pictures!! This section of the trail is on my bucket list... have fun!
Chula

Will do.

My plan is to do the first 15 ish miles on friday and stay close to the Gila. Load up on water if I need it and end up at the US 60 by Sunday afternoon.

Thanks again everyone for the info.

Scott

Meh... shuttle driver backed out last minute. Any one want to go? I should have stuck with my pops but didn't want to wear him out for later shuttles.

I am all packed up and no where to go. May just spend the weekend in the supes.

I thank you all for the information is has been very useful and it is much appreciated. I will surely use it at a later date.

I'll bet you could find some kind soul in Superior on your way out. (Edit: See next paragraph.) Mention you're an AZ Trail hiker and if they'd be interested in earning a few bucks to take you to Kelvin (or if they know of anyone). You might even get a freebie. If yes, caravan back to Picketpost first and stash your vehicle. Regale your driver with tales of the Arizona Trail's many wonders in their backyard. If no (and remember that a conclusion is what is reached only when we decide to stop asking further questions), then you could just base out of Picketpost TH for the weekend, maybe climb to the summit, or even do a big loop of the old and new AZT sections approaching the Gila.

(Edit: Maybe try the RV Park and ask for camp host Jake "Forest Hamster," AT thru-hiker, '79, '95 - if he's still around - or else the Copper Mountain Motel as Shawn suggests.)

The hotel in Superior is very AZT hiker friendly, they may know a kid who wants to make a few $$ for shuttling you down to Kelvin.

Or try the Superior RV Park and ask for camp host Jake "Forest Hamster," AT thru-hiker, '79, '95 - if he's still around.