[pct-l 46] Re: Road to Yellow Jacket springs near PCT mile 639?

[David Hough reading PCT-L]

It's nice to call a visitor center and actually find it open for business!

Yellow Jacket Spring(s) are in the Kiavah Wilderness, a rather small one,
with a cutout to allow motorized travel on the Horse Canyon Road up to the
PCT near the Yellow Jacket Springs - there's an upper and lower down
on closed jeep roads.   I think I hiked down to the lower one (which is closer)
once and wasn't too impressed.   I think there might have been a
water cache there when I visited but that was several years ago.

Looks like the road is maintained past the PCT up to a microwave tower,
and then formerly continued to the cabin at McIvers Spring, both of which
were nice 15 years ago but are probably much worse for wear.

So I've never driven the road either, but it should be passable if the 
visitor center says so.

The Sembs do not use Horse Canyon Road, but instead break the day hike
at Bird Spring Pass, 20.6 miles from Walker Pass.    To get to Bird Spring
Pass, take Kelso Valley Road, and turn east on "narrow, sometimes steep,
dirt road and go 5.6 miles to Bird Spring Pass.   I think I drove up
there once about 20 years ago and dropped off some water.    Definitely
get current advice from the visitor center if you do that.    As I recall,
my engine overheated and wouldn't start on the return, but I put it in
neutral and got it coasting downhill enough to cool the engine enough
to start and get home.