Description
Marty aka Madgas has taken over as trailboss. He will be camping up at Big Bear and will meet everyone at the trailhead. Please contact Marty if you have any question. See below for directions from rendevous to trailhead. Please sign up or remove yourself if you are not going so everyone else knows who is going.
This will be a day trip to Dishpan Springs and Holcomb Creek. If we are successful early enough we can try John Bull or some other trail(s) in the area. I have never been on these two trails so it will be an adventure! Both trails are very difficult so we will get an early start and limit the number of vehicles to eight.
Rendevous will be in the parking lot next to the Chevron station at the corner of Waterman Ave(18) and 40th Street in San Bernardino at 0700 after gasing up. You should leave here at 0715. I think it should be okay to leave tow vehicles there. It looks like there is room for trailers but I don't know how business owners feel about it. Flat towing would be better. We will then go up to Lake Arrowhead and the trailhead. I expect to get to the trailhead(N34 16.184 W117 08.267) by 0815 if anyone would prefer to meet there.
We will end up near Fawnskin so to return to the tow vehicles we can come down the 330 and take Highland Ave to Waterman Ave back to the rendevous point (about 7 miles on the surface streets)
From Charles Well's funtreks guide:
Dishpan Springs
Overview: This trail is also called Deep Creek after the creek it crosses at the beginning. It's the first of three short but satisfying hard core trails (Holcomb Creek and John Bull being the other two) that can be run in one day (we'll see!)
Rating: Difficult: Steep rocky climbs with large boulders. Rocks are often covered with fine sand making for poor traction. Hard-core modified vehicles only, which he describes as 33" to 35" tires, at least a 3" lift, heavy skid plates and lockers.
Stats: Almost 5 miles. About 2 hours
Holcomb Creek
Rating: Difficult: No single large obstacle, just two tough boulder fields. Wet tires add to the difficulty as you cross Holcomb Creek several times. Stock vehicles not recommended, but some try going downhill. Winch, lockers and skid plates highly recommended. Best to go with a second vehicle.
Stats: Almost 6 miles. About 1 hour
Location
Rendezvous @ parking lot near Chevron at 40th and Waterman in San Bernardino
91E to 215N to 259N to 210E to CA-18/Waterman Ave
left on Waterman Ave for 1.4 miles
Chevron on left at 40th Street
from rendevous:
Head north on CA-18/N Waterman Ave for 16.8 mi
Turn left onto CA-173 W for 1.6 mi
Turn right to stay on CA-173 W for 1.7 mi
Turn right onto Hook Creek Rd for 0.3 mi
Take the 2nd left to stay on Hook Creek Rd for 1.3 mi
Slight right to stay on Hook Creek Rd to trailhead at 1.6 mi
trailhead is at N34 16.184 W117 08.267