Day 25: (05/12): to 311.1 :: 17.3 miles

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Tuesday 5/12


Early this morning we begin seeing coulter pines and their impressively huge cones which resemble pineapples! I find myself thinking about collecting them and arranging them in a fun design like a peace sign! There is always ample time to think when doing a long hike and I often find myself cooking up all sorts of crazy schemes! Not long after we stop for breakfast and happen upon a heart shaped arrangement of coulter pine cones! A dream come true!!   


We continue down Holcomb Creek to the main drainage of Deep Creek, where a popular day use trailhead is located. The creek is massive and true to its name, has many deep swimming holes. It is like an oasis in this dry desert mountain-scape with lush vegetation and water loving shade trees like sycamores. The trail crosses the creek on a well constructed bridge and has many nice rest/camp areas below the bridge. Were consider stopping and actually go down under the bridge to scout out a suitable rest place, but are repelled by all the trash and day trippers. We have never seen so much trash on a trail anywhere! Across the creek a huge family has set up several tents right on the river and we can even hear a generator going and can smell the grilled meats! We also see a rat and lots of poo piles and nasty toilet paper, so we press on to a spot further down the creek where it meets another dirt road. On the way we see even more trash, it’s scattered down the steep slopes leading to the creek. It would take a drone or something like it to collect it all! We normally pick up and pack out all the trash we see on the way, but we are overwhelmed and have to leave it. This area is in desperate need of a clean up. There are probably hundreds of drink cups and bottles in the 2 mile stretch! I can never understand who are these people that just throw their bottles when they have finished their beverage?? Or their granola bar wrapper?? I can’t imagine ever doing that!


From our rest area by the creek we watch a Jeep drive down the crazy dirt access road to the creek. By the time we leave they have set up a tepui tent and are building a picnic table! It’s strange to see cars and luxury camp set ups when you feel like you’re in the wilderness and have carried all that you need there on your back. We have crossed many dirt roads in this area and a few that are so narrow and rutted that they’re reserved only for ATVs. It’s a real wonderland for off-roaders! We can’t help but fantasize at each crossing about how neat it would be to be met with food and refreshments! 


The rest of the afternoon is easy walking on a ledge above the river. We spot many nice beaches, rapids, waterfalls and swimming holes, but the trail stays mostly above the water, leaving it inaccessible. Late in the afternoon we reach an area where a hot spring flows into the river near an excellent swimming hole. Rock pools at the edge of the river hold back the hot water in pools creating actual hot tubs. This is a very popular day hiking area that people can reach after just 30 minutes walking from the nearest dirt road trailhead and tons of people come with overnight supplies to camp. In spite of the dense grouping of drug users, weirdos and nudists, we manage to have a nice swim in the river and soak in the hot springs. It is a pretty neat place! There are lots of big tadpoles in the water too! We wonder what would be the least crowded time of the year and think about coming back, maybe hiking in from the trashy area of Deep Creek and cleaning it up a bit!


After about an hour of relaxation, we continue on another few miles on the easy trail down the creek, making it just over 17 miles. Camping at the hot spring would have been nice if it wasn’t full of party animals! I still have lots of fresh food in my luxury bag, but our backpack load has become comfortable today. We have a decadent dinner of peanut butter on corn tortillas with coconut bacon, sweet and spicy pickled jalapeños, avocado and some delicious sauces brought back from Pollo Tropical in Florida. It sounds like a strange combination, but it is really good!! We are camped on a sandy beach right on the river, with excellent swimming. It is never convenient to camp at a good swimming hole through because it’s usually cool in the late evening and early morning and hard to motivate yourself to swim!



Coulter pine cones 

First look at Deep Creek and the people camped right on it. General leave no trace guidelines are to camp at least 100 feet from water.

Beautiful curves in the creek below 

Our first look at a new plant covered in yellow flowers. We never did learn this ones name but continued to see it for weeks.

Jeep and tepui tent at Deep Creek 

Deep Creek Valley 

Deep Creek Hot Springs 

Source of the hot springs 

Pool full of tadpoles in the cooler part of the river 

Looking back up the valley after leaving the hot springs 

Evening light in the valley 

Monkey flowers 

More of Deep Creek Valley 

Really nice bridge over the lower section of Deep Creek that we crossed just before making camp 

River front camping with a lot of washed up trash. Shipping cart grill grate.

Dinner feast: peanut butter, coconut bacon, pickled jalapeños and avocado 

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