Big Bear Trip Report.
Trip Date: Saturday October 24th, 2015
Most of the group met at the Porter Ranch Park and Ride at 06:30, Bob, Gary, Joe Sweely and friend Steve Lasley, Jerome and Dwayne Wilson. Jason Saunders let us know he was going to join us enroute. John Cary and family were to meet us at the Cedar Glen Inn in Lake Arrowhead. We departed the P&R at 06:40 for the Cedar Glen Inn for breakfast.
We stopped just at the base of the mountain after getting off the 210 freeway to allow us to top up our fuel tanks and drain our personal liquid storage tanks. Jason pulled in shortly after we arrived at the gas station.
Shortly after that , we departed for the run up the mountain to Lake Arrowhead. We arrived at the Cedar Glen Inn at 09:00 and in just a few minutes the Cary Clan arrived, John, Wendy, John’s brother Dave and his Daughter Joanna, with John’s rig in tow behind his pickup. We had a really nice breakfast at the Cedar Glen inn. The seating is not conducive to larger groups so we had to split up. Most sat out doors, but it was not an issue because the weather was already wonderful with the temps moving above 60. By 10:30 we were done and mounting up for the trail head. Wendy Cary took their truck and departed for a day exploring Big Bear, the rest of the clan was with us.
It was just a short drive to the Dishpan Spring Trailhead. A few minutes to air down and we were off with John as our leader.
Before long we arrived at the toughest obstacle on the trail called the Wall, Devils Slide or Ball Buster, it has several names. You can see some good video of this obstacle by Larry Mcrae of Poison Spyder on his Crawl The Line Series on YouTube .
As we rounded the corner there was a really pretty 4 door JK Rubicon sideways in the middle of the obstacle and kind of stuck.
We walked up and we Met Kevin Whiteley and his wife Debbie, guide book in hand and out for a nice Saturday of wheeling in the Forrest. We assessed Kevin’s situation and determined that he was actually in fine shape and just needed a bit of spotting. We backed him up and got him going up an alternate line and up the obstacle easy as pie.
As usual John took an aggressive line and made it look easy. Most of the rest of the crew took the left line and I followed up last. After a bit of prodding by John I tried a line up the middle. It was going really well till just near the end. I got my left side up on a very large rock and was actually just using my slider. I got a bit tippy a few times but the gang gave me some excellent spotting and we pulled a winch line for safety. A couple of feet of winch and a bit of luck and I was up and over.
Some of our newer members and guests showed some real skill and drove their rigs like pros up this tricky obstacle. It was fun for all.
We finished Dishpan at the Crab Flats Campground and stopped for a lunch break. At this time Kevin and Debbie decided to join us for lunch and our next trail.
After Lunch and a short transition road we got to the TH of Holcomb creek trail. This is a really nice trail and it starts off with a nice boulder field that will quickly let you know if you are choosing a bad line with a solid bang of a rock crashing into your differential.
There is a bunch on fun smaller obstacles that are spaced far enough apart along the trail to keep you from getting bored.
As we were getting near the end of Holcomb Creek trail I noticed a side trail with a sign that announced that it was a “Most Difficult Trail”. Now that sounds like something we should try. After checking my map it was found to be the called Lower Larga Flat Trail (2N06X).
Our plan after Holcomb Creek was to go over to try and run John Bull Trail, time permitting. But it was getting late and the sun was getting low on the horizon.
We came off Holcomb Creek just below the Hanna Flat Campground and assessed our remaining sunlight. I suggested that we not go to JB, but circle back to the other end of Lower Larga Flat trail, run that back to Holcomb Creek trail and exit via Hanna Flat.
Gary, Jason, John and Kevin decided that they had to end their day. That left Me, Joe, Dwayne and Jerome to explore the new trail.
We went left and headed north up Coxey Road (3N14) to the intersection of Crab Flats Road (3N16). We made a left on Crab Flat Road heading south east for about 1 mile to the trailhead for Lower Larga Flat.
After a few hundred yards on the trail we came to a sign post and a sign in log for the trail indicating that it is maintained by the SoCal FJCruisers Club.
The first right turn after the sign the trail took us up a nice little rock field, but nothing too hard. After that it was just a gentle cruise over the hill back the intersection with Holcomb Creek Trail, certainly not deserving of its “Most Difficult” designation. We were back on HC Trail and to the end of the trail with sunlight to spare.
From here we drove up the mountain south on Coxey Road (3N14) to the Hanna Flats Campground to air up our tires.
As the sun set we made it into Big Bear and all drivers indicated that they could use some food. We drove along Route 18 and just before Running Springs we came to Blondie’s Grill. We stopped in and enjoyed some really nice Burgers.
After Blondie’s it was the final leg for the day. A short stop at the bottom of the mountain for fuel and we made the run down to the 210 to home.
All in all a great day with great friends new and old, no mechanical's at all.
There are lots of great trails in the Big Bear Area. Try to make it next time; I am sure you will enjoy yourself.
Happy trail and best regards,
Bob Boltner