Hell Hole Reservoir Backpack Trip 2008

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By: Mr. Kirk
On May 17 at 7:00 a.m., four Scouts and six adults gathered at Elks Lodge #6 to start their much anticipated trip to Hell Hole Reservoir. The four Scouts were Eagle Scout Anthony Fong, Senior Patrol Leader Andrew Fong, Mark Matney and Kameron Miura. Adults included Scoutmaster/Trip Coordinator Todd Thompson, Assistant Scoutmaster Ike Krieg, Assistant Scoutmaster Mickey Fong, Committee Chair Bill Kirk, Advancement Coordinator Craig Fong and Treasurer Ken Miura. The Scouts and three of the adults used this trip as conditioning for the Double H Ranch at Philmont in July.
It took our three-vehicle caravan about 3-1/2 hours to reach Hell Hole Reservoir which is located approximately 51 miles east of Georgetown. The expression on the Park Ranger’s face in Georgetown gave us a clue about what was ahead of us when we told her we were hiking in to the Upper Hell Hole campsite.  “It’s about three miles,” she said at first, but then corrected herself, “or maybe it’s more like six. Oh, and there’s lots of poison oak.” Troop 259 was the first group to hike the trail this year, possibly due to the snow which had kept the access road to the reservoir closed until late April.  As a result, there wasn't much of a clear trail along several stretches of the route.  Not even the Park Service had hiked the trail to Upper Hell Hole campsite yet this year. 
The group began hiking across the reservoir dam at 11:00 a.m. and we were met on the opposite side by a steep climb over rocks and boulders, ascending a trail that would become increasingly challenging with every mile. After an hour, we were ready for a break so we ate our lunches on the trail. Little did we know there were still 4-1/2 hours ahead of us. Whoever named this reservoir must have done so after hiking the trail we were on.  Six miles through thick forest and brush challenged the group with lots of steep up-hills and down-hills, a dozen small streams and water hazards to cross and hundreds of fallen trees and boulders in our path. 
Just as the Ranger had mentioned, there was poison oak everywhere, especially near the stream crossings. In addition, although we weren’t totally surprised to hear them, the rattles of rattlesnakes we encountered along the way quickly got our attention. And did I mention the poison oak?  
By the time we reached the Upper Hell Hole campsite, 5-1/2 hours had come and gone and we were more than ready to stop. All of us needed to replenish our water stocks. However, although there was a tempting and very inviting stream running through our campsite, we used water filters and purifiers for about an hour to fully refill our water bottles and ourselves.  An eclectic dinner of a variety of dehydrated foods (burritos, chicken, spaghetti, chili mac, went down nicely. It helped replace our lost electrolytes and expended calories. After turning in early, by morning we were reenergized and ready by 9:00 a.m. to begin our return hike back to our vehicles, which turned out to only take us four hours. It definitely helps to know what is in the trail ahead of you and how far you must go.
Following a tradition of food stops en route home, we snagged burgers and pizza at Terry’s Pizzaria in Georgetown. We arrived at the Elks Lodge at 4:30 p.m., each of us with an ample supply of stories from the trail. Up next: Yosemite.

TROOP 259—TOP OF THE LINE!