This excursion is intended for anyone interested in a LA / SB area day drive.[/size]
I am planning on rompin a trail located off Highway 38 (Mill Creek Road) just outside of Mentone and Yukaipa. Its a rutted out fire road with spectacular views of LA, SB, and the back of 7 Oaks Dam. There are steep inclines with rocks and small rainwater runoff streams at the lower section of the trail.
I am very familiar with the trail and have done it numerous times. When dry, it is 2wd accessible but I DO NOT recommend it. I drove the trail 3 weeks ago on a solo night excursion with my girlfriend and had a blast looking at the stars. There might be snow on the ground at higher elevations so 4x4 is a must. A California Adventure Pass is required for the trail ($30 annual, $5 a day) but there is no gate or check point. I have never been stopped and checked for a pass.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sanbernardino/ap/ When: December 7th at 9:00 am.
Meeting Spot: The Forest Service Station at the intersection of Mill Creek Road (Highway 38) and Bryant Street (34 04' 45" N, 117 02' 50" W) at 9:00 am. Passes can be purchased at the station, but please check the hours of operation.
Trip: Head up Highway 38 for about 4 miles on pavement and then hit the dirt (34 06' 06" N, 117 01' 25" W) at Warm Spring Truck Road. We will follow Warm Springs up the hill past Morton Ridge Trail (gate always closed) and continue straight through the clearing onto Thomas Hunting Ground Trail.
At the "T" (34 07' 24" N, 117 02' 04" W) we will turn left onto Crystal Creek Heliport Access Road and have lunch at the end. This is where you can see the back of 7 Oaks Dam, LA, SB, and even the Pacific on a clear day.
After lunch, we will turn around on Crystal Creek and follow Angelus Oaks Line until it dumps out on Highway 38 at the Country Store (34 09' N, 116 58' 50" W.
The entire trail should take about 4 hours of driving.
What to Bring: Water, Food, plenty of blankets and warm clothes, chains (if you have them), air compressor (if you are going to air down), tools, spare tire, and radio. As always, we will use the Channel of the month (12 for Dec) and subchannel 24.
Notes: Heavy snow/rain will extend the drive or even cancel it. I will check weather conditions and if there are any closed trails. The beginning and end of the drive will be through burnt areas of the Big Bear Mountains. Heavy moisture may cause landslides resulting from a lack of vegitation and the weight of a vehicle.
If anyone is skeptical, we can drive Holcomb Valley but that is at a higher elevation and requires a much longer drive to get there. Let me know if you are interested.
Google Maps is the easiest way to reference the trails.
