On my 48th day on the PCT, I slackpacked fifteen miles of trail from the Mojave Forks Dam to Silverwood Lake, with the help of my eBike, which got me from my parked car at the far end to the trailhead at Deep Creek.
From PCT mile 314.3 to 328.8 Total: 14.5 miles 12/10
I hate to admit it, but over a month went by since Vicki picked me up at the Deep Creek Trailhead after quitting my attempt at finishing the PCT Desert Section this year. One day in early December, I was in my garage when I looked down at my old eBike. It was beckoning to me, for some reason. I remembered how I had used it back in 2021 in the High Sierra to shuttle myself between my car and a not-too-distant trailhead, thus making a loop possible without using two cars or paying for an expensive shuttle service. It worked great, and the eBike easily climbed 2000 feet of highway en route. It was strong. Suddenly, my cranial lightbulb lit. I had the idea I needed! I could use the eBike to deliver me to the trailhead on those missing pieces of trail in Section C! I fired up my computer and checked out the distances and elevations of the highway sections on CalTopo. It would work! I could use the eBike twice, once on each fifteen mile piece I was missing, and camp in the car during the night in between. I would carry only water, food, and the ten essentials. It was becoming a plan.
My mind jumped forward. If I could do these pieces myself, Vicki might help me with the final seventy mile stretch of Section B in the San Jacinto Area. I ran it by her and she agreed to help. Yes! Now to start some serious planning. It was December, so weather would be a factor, but I could work around that with a bit of luck. Still, the first step was to finish Section C with the eBike. I would worry about Section B later on.
And that’s how I arrived at Silverwood Lake one fine Saturday morning in early December, with my eBike on a rack behind my car. I was ready to get this done!
Even though it was sunny, it was quite cold that morning, as you might expect in December. The weather was forecast to reach sixty degrees by noon, but that morning it was cold. I put on my goose down jacket and gloves, donned my big daypack, and headed off on the bike. The first part was a downhill glide into Summit Valley on Highway 138. Then it was time to kick in the battery power for the run down Highway 173. This 450 watt eBike goes about twenty miles per hour, even uphill, without even pedaling!. However, I did the “pedal assist” mode as I wanted to conserve power for tomorrow’s ride, which had a much bigger hill to climb. It was about a ten mile ride altogether, and it flew by fast. My hands were cold and my nose was red in the icy air, but I knew some brisk hiking would take care of that. Then I found a spot to stash the eBike a short ways down the PCT. I would come back to get it in the car later on.
After hiding the bike I stuffed my down jacket in the pack and started hiking. The trail was very cruisey in this section, with a smooth bed and easy grades. It followed along the side of the hills, high above Summit Valley and the Mojave Reservoir (dry). I was making good time, which was important because the days are short in December.
The trail descended into Grass Valley Creek. This was a spot where I planned to refill my water supply a month ago. I didn’t need any now, of course. It was good to see it still flowing this late in the season. Vicki and I came through here in April 2021 and it was lovely then, but all the trees were green with Spring growth rather than the pretty yellows of Autumn,
The trail climbed back up and continued along the side of the hills to the south. It wiggled back and forth as it passed by various side canyons along the way. It may have been a ten mile bike ride but it was going to be a 15 mile hike! Very wiggly, indeed. At least it didn’t change elevation very much, so I still made good time.
The PCT dropped down to highway level once again as it approached the Cedar Springs Dam. This dam is what created Silverwood Lake. Originally, the West Fork Mojave River flowed through that gap. Now there was a big lake. The water in the lake was only there thanks to the California Aqueduct project. The lake is used to store water for use in nearby areas. Its level could change depending on inflows from the aqueduct and subsequent electricity generation as it leaves below the dam. Quite a project. The town of Cedar Springs now lies flooded beneath the lake.
The trail rose once again, as it climbed above the level of the lake. As I climbed, I got one final view out over Summit Valley, and then I had no choice but to take plenty of photos of the lake. It’s what I do.
Silverwood Lake allowed motorboats, and there were fishing opportunities. I read that there was a No Drinking order for the water at the current time due to Blue-Green Algae growth. This was sad to hear, as an ever-thirsty PCT hiker. They also didn’t let PCT hikers camp at the park unless they walked extra miles and paid money for an official campsite. Heh. PCT hikers don’t find that sort of thing amusing, so they’ve figured out how to camp just beyond the park’s boundaries to the west. For free, of course.
As I hiked, the trail climbed up high again, and followed around a promontory above the lake. I stopped for a rest with a lovely view. This was the good life.
After that, the trail dropped steeply down to lake level, and followed along a dirt road toward the Highway 138 underpass. The West Fork Mojave River flowed through a culvert there. This is another place where I would have gotten water, but I didn’t need to today, as my hike was almost over.
All I had to do after that was climb back up the exit ramp to reach my car, which was parked in a pullout along the Highway. Being a PCT hiker, I also had no desire to pay the park a Day-Use Fee. I parked for free!
I drove back to the Deep Creek Trailhead, then parked the car. I walked down the trail and found my eBike, and walked it back. Of course I didn’t ride my bike on the PCT. It isn’t allowed, after all.
It was still early enough in the afternoon that I decided to drive north over the dam to the town of Hesperia, where I bought some fast food. Then I drove all the way back. I knew that I could stealth-camp at the trailhead by driving up the road toward the locked gate. My parking spot was just around the corner and out of sight. By this time it was getting dark, so I crawled into the back of my “camperized” Rav4 and lay down on an air mattress. Very comfy. Tomorrow would be the true test of the eBike’s battery, and with a bit of luck I would finish off the remaining part of PCT Section C. My plan was truly coming together!
For a topographic map of the hike see my CalTopo Page
For LOTS more photos of the trek see my Flickr Page
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