Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
PCT 2002 - Prologue April 6th
Prologue: Saturday 6th April Deep Creek Hot Springs
Having finished delivering my supply drops, I had a couple of days spare before
starting my hike. I had done no training for the hike so I decided it would be a good idea
to do a short overnight hike to stretch the legs and to make a final equipment check.
Since I was near to Deep Creek Hot Springs, one of the highlights of Southern
California, it seemed natural to go and investigate it.
I left the dry Mojave River Forks Reservoir in the afternoon for the 6-mile walk
along the PCT up Deep Creek to the Springs. I met 70 year-old Don Valentine, one of
the local “Trail Angels” jogging down the trail. He gave me his telephone number and
asked me to ring him if I needed anything when I was passing through the area.
I arrived at the Hot Springs, an oasis in the desert, just as the sun was setting below
the hills. I had been concerned about an injury to my right knee, which I was still
carrying from the winter. It hurt a bit when I scrambled around on the rocks around the
pools, but seemed to be coping with the walking. There were four large hot pools and a
smaller one, the “Crab Cooker” which was very hot. There was also a large swimming
hole in the creek, which was refreshingly cool at this time of year. The Hot Springs are
popular at weekends, despite the nearest road access being a steep mile away on the
hilltops overlooking the creek, and there were still about 20 people present when I
arrived.
These springs are a well known as skinny-dipping site and most of those present
were completely naked. It used to be frequented by hippies and was regularly used by
the cult leader, Charles Manson, but now camping was officially banned and the US
Forest Service (USFS) discouraged misuse of the area. Fortunately the USFS turn a
blind eye to small groups staying overnight. More people arrived as I was setting up my
tent. As it was getting dark I stripped off and joined the locals in the hot pools. These
pools, along with others I have visited in California, tend to be popular with the locals in
the cool of the evening. It is very relaxing soaking in the hot water under the clear
starlit desert sky. There was a reminder of the hippie days, as a number of the users
were smoking pot. Most of the late night visitors returned up the rough path to their
cars in the dark, but a few stayed overnight.
Having finished delivering my supply drops, I had a couple of days spare before
starting my hike. I had done no training for the hike so I decided it would be a good idea
to do a short overnight hike to stretch the legs and to make a final equipment check.
Since I was near to Deep Creek Hot Springs, one of the highlights of Southern
California, it seemed natural to go and investigate it.
I left the dry Mojave River Forks Reservoir in the afternoon for the 6-mile walk
along the PCT up Deep Creek to the Springs. I met 70 year-old Don Valentine, one of
the local “Trail Angels” jogging down the trail. He gave me his telephone number and
asked me to ring him if I needed anything when I was passing through the area.
I arrived at the Hot Springs, an oasis in the desert, just as the sun was setting below
the hills. I had been concerned about an injury to my right knee, which I was still
carrying from the winter. It hurt a bit when I scrambled around on the rocks around the
pools, but seemed to be coping with the walking. There were four large hot pools and a
smaller one, the “Crab Cooker” which was very hot. There was also a large swimming
hole in the creek, which was refreshingly cool at this time of year. The Hot Springs are
popular at weekends, despite the nearest road access being a steep mile away on the
hilltops overlooking the creek, and there were still about 20 people present when I
arrived.
These springs are a well known as skinny-dipping site and most of those present
were completely naked. It used to be frequented by hippies and was regularly used by
the cult leader, Charles Manson, but now camping was officially banned and the US
Forest Service (USFS) discouraged misuse of the area. Fortunately the USFS turn a
blind eye to small groups staying overnight. More people arrived as I was setting up my
tent. As it was getting dark I stripped off and joined the locals in the hot pools. These
pools, along with others I have visited in California, tend to be popular with the locals in
the cool of the evening. It is very relaxing soaking in the hot water under the clear
starlit desert sky. There was a reminder of the hippie days, as a number of the users
were smoking pot. Most of the late night visitors returned up the rough path to their
cars in the dark, but a few stayed overnight.
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Ancient Brit at Deep
Creek Hot Springs
Creek Hot Springs
Ancient Brit at Deep
Creek Hot Springs
Creek Hot Springs
Deep Creek Hot Springs