SKIDOO PIPELINE
EXPLORATORY-May 3-5, 1980
It was a wonderful day as our group met at
Mahogany Flat in anticipation of first climbing Telescope Peak. But from the
looks of the heavily-packed snow on the north face of nearby Rogers Peak, we
could tell we would be in for some trouble upon sighting the first glimpse of
Telescope. The night before two snowshoe hikers had given us reports that
Telescope had too much white on it for comfort. So our group of 21 began the
trek and within the first hundred yards we had cutouts due to one boy
complaining of chest pains. We also had a dog along. In the first fifteen
minutes we encountered snow patches on Rogers' east flank and once around the
bend we were in for a delightful Telescope view which right then and there told
us there would be no climb that day. Arcane Meadows was fully snowed over and
beautiful. But ahead of us in another party which included our DPS's John
Robinson and his daughter leading a Youth Section activity, we found some
resters and they told us the party did attempt the peak so it couldn't have
been all that bad. But with our knapsacks we were ready to get on dry land
again. About a mile from the summit lies Eagle Spring, thought by this leader
to be the source of Skidoo water. But such is not the case, even though small
pipes do apparently lead from Eagle. We could not reach Eagle as it was
completely covered with snow, and lying on Telescope's north face it would be a
long while before the mantle would be lifted. So we descended to lower climes
in Jail Canyon-a mighty one with lots of side canyons leading to its trough.
The let down off the Telescope Trail is strictly cross-country with lots of
shale to traverse and many pinyons to view. Once into Jail Canyon one must
sidestep a bit to the north to find Birch Spring, the true source. Above Birch
is Jail Spring.-not yet visited by our crowd but a four inch line is
intermittently in view to the traveler, making us imagine it contributed to the
welfare of Skidoo. The Birch Spring complex is exciting. There are a number of
birch trees around the area, but debate was on as to whether they are true
birches or not. How many miner's inches of flow is anyone's guess as a novice
but the flow is quite staggering for a desert spring. The old wooden intake
structure still stands in disrepair but quite astounding for its longevity
against the elements. Signs of old camps abound with tin cans, but there is no
concrete of any kind. The 8" line was supposed to have been yanked in WW I days
for scrap but here and for about five miles on, it still remains-evidence of
the hardship in extracting the steel pipe. It was made of spirally-riveted 16
ga. strip and was brought to the site in eight foot lengths-convenient for both
man and beast. Anchors of wire rope are still in place, attached to either
pinyons or junipers. It is a sight to behold and the old maintenance trail is
still discernible and makes for easier hiking. The route from the origin is muy
sinuoso since each flank of Jail's lateral canyons must be traversed. Once over
the Jail ridge the line drops into spectacular Tuber |