In checking with the Forest Service regarding pick-up roads for the third day, I learned that Crab Flats Road was open. This was ideal because it would give us a 14 mile day. But, the lady happened to mention in passing that the Holcomb Valley Road would be closed for graveling the next morning. Oh, no, this was where we'd finished the prior hike, and it was where we had to start again. I asked when they started work (8:00 AM). She thought we'd be OK if we were there and gone before then. So, we were, for an early start in clear and very, very cold conditions:
The trail continued mostly on the north side of the ridge and stayed very cold for the first 6 miles (low 20s, Fahrenheit). Things gradually started to warm after that. We also started into areas of badly burned forest. Quickly we arrived at Little Bear Spring Campground, 7.5 miles from the start. This area was badly burned out, but it had a new picnic table, where we stopped for water and snacks:
It was in this area that I started thinking that 14 miles might be a waste of perfectly good daylight. The hiking was easy; nice trail tread and slowly downhill. Why not continue to Deep Creek, a full 20 miles? We continued through burned areas, finally getting our first view of Mount Baldy, way to the west across Interstate 15:
We stopped a few times for food and water. The girls found "Foot Rock," a match to "Turtle Rock" which we found on the trail over San Jacinto:
This part of the trail generally followed Holcomb creek. The guidebook told of beaver ponds along the creek, but in Southern California? Yep:
After 14 miles we reached Crab Flats Road where we had agreed to meet Vicki (she went back to the cabin after dropping us off, then did a recon of a lower pick-up point at Deep Creek, then drove out to meet us on a road that, apparently, had some truly hideous sections). The wait for her at Holcomb Creek was a nice break:
After Vic showed up, we hung out and I told her we were going to continue.
Before leaving we let Charlotte have her first taste of playing in the water:
Then off we continued into the sunset:
Conditions stayed cold. Late afternoon ice:
By the last few miles we were getting pooped (although all three of us agreed, not as pooped as on the 19 miles uphill, in heat in June). Finally we reached The bridge over Deep Creek. The name is appropriate, Deep Creek had a lot of water; the pools under the bridge were 6 feet deep (in November):
The Splinter Cabin trailhead was 1/4 mile from the bridge and we quickly found the Expedition. But no Vicki and no Charlotte. Turns out they'd gone down to the PCT to meet us, but gone down it instead of up it. I grabbed some headlamps and went out to rescue my beloved. Just a few hundred yards out, I ran into her; she'd realized her error and turned around. From here it was a long, very winding road past Arrowhead Lake and back to the cabin for one more night.
