| Bear Creek is one of my favorite spots in San | | | | the Sierras. I was greatly surprised to see how |
| Gabriel Canyon. There are two trails, Lower Bear | | | | much more water there was in the creek since |
| Creek Trail and Upper Bear Creek Trail. As of the | | | | the last time, about 10 days earlier. I hadn't done |
| fall of 2006, the Upper Bear Creek Trail was still | | | | much river crossing before, and was totally |
| closed for major reconstruction. | | | | unprepared for the force of the water. It was no |
| I hiked this trail twice in the spring of 2006, and | | | | longer just a little creek! |
| once in the fall. On the first hike, the creek was | | | | I found that it was almost impossible to plant my |
| higher than normal but I was able to make the | | | | trekking poles where I wanted to. The current |
| many crossings (more than 20) without any | | | | would carry them downstream a couple of feet |
| problem. There is a fairly good trail up to the | | | | from where I tried to put them. On the fourth |
| second wilderness campsite. From there on the | | | | crossing, I reached a point about four feet from |
| trail has been washed out, there are bits and | | | | the far bank, and the force of the water was too |
| pieces of use trail, and a lot of hunting for the trail | | | | great to continue. There was a sturdy looking |
| in between. There is also a lot of poison oak, so | | | | root along the bank so I made a lunge for that |
| be careful. Most of the time the trail follows close | | | | and made it across. I was hiking alone, so I soon |
| to the creek, but at one point it goes up above | | | | realized that it wasn't a smart idea to continue if it |
| the bank on the right side, to get around narrow | | | | got any more difficult. The next crossing wasn't |
| passages in the canyon. | | | | quite as bad, but number six was much worse, |
| There is a large boulder on the right side of the | | | | and I wisely decided that it was time to call it |
| creek (no trail at this point), where the Upper | | | | quits and turn around. I did find a little better place |
| Bear Creek Trail starts. The trail starts behind the | | | | to cross number four, and made it back across all |
| boulder and is not visible from the creek. I have | | | | of them safely. |
| been there many times, but this time I walked | | | | In October, after finishing the PCT, I returned to |
| right by it without even seeing it. When I reached | | | | do the hike for the third time, this time as an |
| a point in the creek where it was impossible to | | | | overnight backpacking trip. The water had gone |
| continue, without going through waist deep ponds | | | | down and I was able to make all the crossings as |
| in a narrow canyon, I was finally realized for sure | | | | normal, without getting my feet wet. However, I |
| that I had missed the turn off. It had been a few | | | | still missed the boulder for the junction to the |
| years since I had been on the trail, and high water | | | | upper trail, and went too far. The top of the |
| had washed out many of the previous landmarks, | | | | boulder is fairly flat, so I filled in some of the dips |
| including my favorite camping spot near the | | | | with sand and camped on top of the boulder. I |
| junction. | | | | also did another hike up to Smith Saddle, again |
| After backtracking and finding the boulder, I | | | | arriving just after sunset, and then heading back |
| started hiking up the Upper Bear Creek Trail. This | | | | down the same way. In the morning, I slept in, |
| trail was rebuilt just a few years ago, but due to | | | | and waited for the sun to shine on me before |
| a fire, it has been closed for most of that time. | | | | getting up. That was a luxury that we didn't have |
| However, it was still in fairly good shape and the | | | | on the PCT. |
| dead trees from the fire have been cleared from | | | | I have seen a bear on two different hikes along |
| the trail. I think it is about 5 ½ miles from | | | | the lower trail, but no sign of one on any of these |
| the creek up to the trailhead on Highway 39, with | | | | three hikes. Hopefully it wasn't the same bear |
| Smith Saddle being about half way. It is a good | | | | that was causing problems a few years ago up at |
| climb up to there, and then all downhill to the | | | | Little Jimmy Campground, which isn't too far |
| highway. I reached the saddle just after sunset, | | | | away. That one had to be killed. |
| and after a quick break, started down the other | | | | To reach the trailheads, take Highway 39 from |
| side. The trail crew had been working there, and | | | | Azusa, through San Gabriel Canyon, going past |
| their equipment was still on the trail, including their | | | | the bridge to the East Fork, and continue on past |
| little tracked trail building machine. | | | | the ORV parking area. Shortly after this you will |
| It was dark by the time I reached the trailhead, | | | | come to a bridge, where the road turns north. |
| but I had my headlight so was able to read the | | | | There is a small parking lot on your left, just |
| "Trail Closed" sign! I started walking down the | | | | before the bridge, and a larger one on the left, |
| highway to my car, which was about six miles | | | | after the bridge. The road is closed a few miles |
| away. I was surprised to meet a few cars | | | | above this point, so you can't drive to the Upper |
| coming up the road; evidently some people have | | | | Bear Creek Trailhead (as of October 2006, |
| a key for the gate. There were no cars going | | | | hopefully it will open soon). |
| down though, so I had to walk all the way back | | | | The route to the Lower Bear Creek Trail follows |
| to my car at the bridge. | | | | the paved road (closed to private vehicles) on the |
| The second trip was a "river crossing" training trip | | | | left of the San Gabriel River, before the bridge. In |
| for my upcoming Pacific Crest Trail hike (PCT). It | | | | about a mile, there is another bridge. Cross the |
| had been raining quite a lot and I expected the | | | | bridge and go left and down to the river. The trail |
| creek to give me some good, but easy, fording | | | | starts here and goes under the bridge, following |
| practice. I had my full pack and trekking poles, | | | | on the left side of the river. Almost immediately, |
| and was planning on crossing the creek wearing | | | | the San Gabriel River turns to the right, and Bear |
| my lightweight hiking shoes, as I would be doing in | | | | Creek continues straight ahead. |