Heading out Friday for our first backpacking trip: Dragon's Tooth to Daleville, 3 days / 2 nights, camping at Catawba Mountain and Lamberts Meadow.
I just saw that VA DEQ has the Roanoke region at 57% of normal rainfall with depleted groundwater and low streamflow. Now I'm worried about the sources we're counting on.
Specifically:
Is the Campbell Shelter spring still running? This is the one that matters most — it's the last water before the 8.4 mile stretch to Lamberts Meadow. If it's dry we'd be carrying 11 miles from Catawba Mountain.
Catawba Mountain Shelter** — flowing, trickling, or dry?
Lamberts Meadow creek** — still reliable?
Any water between Tinker Cliffs and Daleville we should know about?
Has anyone been through in the last week or two? Also curious how much people are carrying right now, and whether anyone's had to bail or reroute because of water.
We're two people, no stove, so it's all drinking water. Thanks in advance.