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May 10, 2025
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Splinters Cabin Day Use Area to Polique Canyon Road
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Mile 298.5-278.5 [Southbound]
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7:25 (moving) / 9:58 (total)
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Max 7,875 feet (+4,237 / -1,320)
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May is finally here and at last I finally got a start to my 2025 hiking season! Not only was it my first hike of the year but also the first time back on the PCT since November 2024. This marked my 21st section of the PCT from 278.5 to 298.5 however this time we decided to hike southbound so did the route in reverse. For better or for worse it ended up being completely uphill.
We usually hike northbound or on a few occasions have hiked southbound generally just to avoid a long uphill section so I think it was a little bit of a miss calculation as the ascent was overlooked when we were deciding to do this section in reverse. What's the saying, "the devil you know is better that the devil you don't know?"
On the north end of our section we had to access the PCT from Splinters Cabin Day Use Area. The road had been closed for a couple hiking seasons and we were not exactly sure how far we would have to hike from where the road was closed to where we would actually catch the PCT so had we hiked northbound we wouldn't know exactly how to get to the car or even how far from the PCT to the car. Since we had been to Polique Canyon Road once before we knew the car would be easily accessible at the end of the hike right next to the trail.
May in Big Bear is "prime" PCT thru hiking season so if we traversed 20 miles against the flow of traffic we would have the opportunity run into many more hikers than if we were hiking in the same direction. It wasn't until the day before our hike when I checked the elevation profile that I learned it would be a long uphill slug the entire way. We had already arranged a ride from where we would stage our car at the trail exit so it seemed like it would be too much work to change the plan last minute.
The ball started rolling the first week of April as winter was finally over and most of the snow on the upper peaks would have already be melted. Looking at our calendars I was already jam packed all of April but the first two weekend of May were wide open. Oobrianoo's schedule worked out as well and either weekend would work for him so we choose the later date. As we did in November he would drive up on Friday night from San Diego so we could get an early start on Saturday. This time indeed leaving the house at 4.a.m. to give us ample time to finish our 22 mile hike by sunset.
Our plan was to leave home at 4 am ad drive to Big Bear where will would meet Nick at McDonalds. We arrived a few minutes before they opened and it was quite chili standing outside waiting to get in. Nick would be our taxi from our ending trailhead to our starting trailhead at Polique Canyon Road and drive us to our starting location at Splinters Cabin Day Use area. We had been to Polique Canyon Road, geez nearly 3 years ago and knew exactly where the dirt road crossed the PCT and would leave our car there. We jumped in with Nick and made the drive towards Lake Arrowhead where we would be dropped off at our trailhead at Splinters Cabin Day Use area. I have noticed that the road to this area has been closed for a few years and the best we could figure out we would have about a 2 mile hike to where we picked up the PCT.
Hook Creek Road is paved and dead ends at the gate to Splinters Day Use Area. Upon being dropped off we could see houses all the way to the gate. The last house has a beautiful backyard and you could hear the river running behind their property all the way from the road. After passing thru the gate the road was paved for nearly another and the obvious signs of the actual parking area for Splinters Day Use Cabin and a 2nd locked gate. There were signs posted on the gate which made it fairly obvious the direction to the PCT just beyond the day use area.
We passed two female thru hikers leaving the PCT and heading back the way we came from. Apparently, they didn't know each other, but both had sustained injuries of one sort or another and were heading to town to seek some care. We knew we should see a bunch of thru hikers today but were surprised to see the pair before even reaching the PCT. There were bathrooms for one last final stop before joining the PCT. A young teen had been fishing in the river and had caught a few fish and was also at the picnic area. From the picnic area there were PCT signs so we knew we were getting close. When we intersected with the river we got our bearings straight and saw the bridge we had to cross to continue southbound. The bridge was well built and very long and a great place for a few pictures to mark the start of our long PCT segmet.
As accustomed we would guess how many PCT hikers we would see. Based on my experience a year earlier in a similar location there were dozens of PCT thru hikers at the McDonalds at Cajon Pass so I thought we would see more than usual since it's a popular time for all the spring hikers that should be passing thru at the same time. I think my initial guess was 25 but only a couple hour into our hike we had already blown past that number and before the end of the day would more than double that with at least 50 thru hikers we would pass heading the opposite direction.
My apologies as it's been two months since I finished this PCT segment so the details are a little more blurry in my mind vs had I written this blog soon after the hike. As usual the PCT never disappoints as we climbed nearly 3,000 feet upward, the terrain, vegetation, and scenery constantly changed. There are a few forest roads we intersected with that allowed for vehicle access to a very remote part of the hike. We were pleased to find a couple that were acting as trail angles and had food and drink for all passerby's. We were just day hiking so we had everything we needed for the day but for the hikers that had been on the PCT for nearly 300 miles already their presence would be welcomed for soar eyes. (or should I say soar bodies?!) As we pass more and more thru hikers we told them about the trail angels ahead and you could see their excitement.
Our biggest surprise of the day was a solo female that was doing the PCT with her horse. I'm pretty sure she said she was from the west coast further north, but started at the southern terminus with a goal of Tehachapi Pass (nearly 566 miles). There had been some fallen trees on the trail which added to a little extra work for her to find the trail again after venturing around the obstacles. She did mention her husband was following her trek and offering frequent meeting and reloading of her supplies.
Apparently the PCT is a combination of a bunch of trails that all were linked together. We passed a sign that said PC 2000 which apparently is the name of this section of the trail before it was renamed the PCT. We had one stream crossing at Holcom Creek that we thought we had lost the trail for a bit but we quickly found the trail again. The whole trail there were taller peaks to each side of us. All looked inviting to come back for some peak bagging! The whole day was remote and pretty desolate but for the most part the trail was well trod and easy to follow.
We kept checking our millage and trying to figure out how much further we had to go. One of my big questions for the day was if we would be able to see Big Bear lake from the PCT. There were a couple ridges that I climbed to look over but we were still to far away from the lake or at least there was another ridge blocking the view so it didn't look like we would be able to see the lake. Then all of sudden out of nowhere, well exactly where the lake should have been, there it was! We had beautiful views of the lake below for several minutes. By the time we got to the view it was a sight to behold because the day was dragging on and it gave us encouragement we had to be getting close to the car we had staged early in the morning.
We passed a few more truck trails and noticed a lot of people back country camping with their vehicles they somehow drove in. Eventually we crossed the road were we staged our car. We were both exhausted but the day was well worth it and put us 1 section away from completing Section C. Oobrianoo had a long drive back to San Diego so I drove his car back to my house to give him a rest before his long drive he had after dropping me off.
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