Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
PCT 2002 - Day 21 April 28th
Day 21: Sunday 28th April
above Van Dusen Canyon – Holcomb Creek Crossing Trail Camp
The sky cleared overnight and there was a slight frost. The route climbed up
towards Bertha Peak and started giving views across Big Bear Lake towards the San
Gorgonio Mountains and then the first view of the distant San Gabriel Mountains
beyond Deep Creek. The open conifer forest was delightful to walk through. I took a
break at Little Bear Springs Trail Camp, where there was no sign of water. I hadn’t
seen anyone all morning despite walking through beautiful terrain on a Sunday
morning. I found water when I reached Holcomb Creek. This was accessible to
motorbikes and several were being driven around down by the creek. The USFS
provided separate trails for motorised vehicles and tried to keep walkers and horses
away from motorbikes and off-road vehicles.
The PCT dropped down Holcomb Creek Canyon, firstly through shady woodland
then through an area, which had been largely destroyed in a major fire five years ago.
Trees were blackened and just starting to fall down and there was only limited
regeneration of plants in this dry gritty soil. The creek was dammed in many places by
beavers creating nice pools in the stream. The only walkers I met were a couple of
locals out walking with their dog. I was the first thru-hiker they had met this year.
The kick-off party was this weekend so hoards of thru-hikers were just hitting the
trail. I camped at Holcomb Creek Crossing Trail Camp at 3pm. Although it was early I
had already been walking for 7 hours with a minimum of breaks. I didn’t want to stop
for long as it might allow my Achilles tendons to stiffen.
Having put my tent up I had a refreshing wash in the stream and stretched out in
the sun, eating well from the fresh food and Danish pastries I had brought up from
Big Bear City. This was only the fourth night I’d camped by water.
Day 21: 17.8 miles 7.00 hours Camp: Holcomb Creek Crossing Trail Camp
above Van Dusen Canyon – Holcomb Creek Crossing Trail Camp
The sky cleared overnight and there was a slight frost. The route climbed up
towards Bertha Peak and started giving views across Big Bear Lake towards the San
Gorgonio Mountains and then the first view of the distant San Gabriel Mountains
beyond Deep Creek. The open conifer forest was delightful to walk through. I took a
break at Little Bear Springs Trail Camp, where there was no sign of water. I hadn’t
seen anyone all morning despite walking through beautiful terrain on a Sunday
morning. I found water when I reached Holcomb Creek. This was accessible to
motorbikes and several were being driven around down by the creek. The USFS
provided separate trails for motorised vehicles and tried to keep walkers and horses
away from motorbikes and off-road vehicles.
The PCT dropped down Holcomb Creek Canyon, firstly through shady woodland
then through an area, which had been largely destroyed in a major fire five years ago.
Trees were blackened and just starting to fall down and there was only limited
regeneration of plants in this dry gritty soil. The creek was dammed in many places by
beavers creating nice pools in the stream. The only walkers I met were a couple of
locals out walking with their dog. I was the first thru-hiker they had met this year.
The kick-off party was this weekend so hoards of thru-hikers were just hitting the
trail. I camped at Holcomb Creek Crossing Trail Camp at 3pm. Although it was early I
had already been walking for 7 hours with a minimum of breaks. I didn’t want to stop
for long as it might allow my Achilles tendons to stiffen.
Having put my tent up I had a refreshing wash in the stream and stretched out in
the sun, eating well from the fresh food and Danish pastries I had brought up from
Big Bear City. This was only the fourth night I’d camped by water.
Day 21: 17.8 miles 7.00 hours Camp: Holcomb Creek Crossing Trail Camp
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San Gorgonio Mountains
over Big Bear Lake
over Big Bear Lake
Trail above
Holcomb Creek
Holcomb Creek
Holcomb Creek Crossing
Trail Camp
Trail Camp
Ancient Brit at camp