Trough Spring near Picketpost Mountain

imported
#1

Anyone have any beta on this water source? Per the USGS quad, Trough Spring is located on or near the recently (2008) completed AZT singletrack south of Picketpost Mountain, just west of FR 4. This looks like it could be an important water source, or an unreliable bust, as the new AZT route bypasses by a fair distance the Alamo Canyon windmill/trough, potentially leaving hikers with only the artesian well in Walnut Canyon to rely on between the Gila River-Kelvin and US 60-Superior. (“Section 30” spring, SE of Copper Butte, isn’t exactly reliable, in my experience.)

blisterfree

#2

Uh, waiter, there seems to be a smiley in my 2008. (wearing sunglasses, no less)

blisterfree

#3

When do you plan on going through there? I’m thinking of hiking NOBO from Oracle to Picketpost very soon, in the next week or so. I’m getting picked up at Picketpost, so I’m not researching water there, but at least the Arboretum is within walking distance. Also, there was water in Whitford Canyon, about 5 miles north, when I went through there a couple weeks ago. And I saw a water pipe at the RR crossing about a mile N of US 60 with a valve, there may be water access there.

When you type an 8 followed by a ), you get that dude with sunglasses 8).

Garlic

#4

When I went by there in March, there were pools in the drainage by the new singletrack for about a mile or two. Larry Snead had told me that the pools are pretty reliable (in the springtime at least)

Sirena

#5

Garlic - See http://www.simblissity.net/get/water-chart.shtml for current water info between Putnam Wash and Picketpost Mountain.

Trough Spring was the big unknown here. Thanks, Sirena. The other water data on that chart is generally well researched.

The pipeline north of US 60 may not be potable water. I certainly wouldn’t mess with it given the proximity to the Arboretum and Superior for water.

West of Kelvin, beyond the RR grade walk by the Gila, you’ll find new trail for 6 miles, after which you can link via 4WD roads (as described on the AZT website I think) to the artesian well and the de facto AZT route NW toward Picketpost. New, completed trail picks up again at the Trough Spring area and runs all the way out to the trailhead.

blisterfree

#6

By “current water info,” I mean updated for 2008. I haven’t been through that stretch since last spring.

blisterfree

#7

I love all this water info, heading out next week!

Apple Pie