I arrived at Bowen Ranch campground after dark on the 29th and then hiked in. The area had just received rain, but the road in from Apple Valley was fine, and the creek level was pretty average.

These keys were left on a large rock on the beach at the base of the Bowen Ranch trail.

Be cautious and avoid any foliage and grass around the springs, as the red spider mites are terrible right now. I got them bad from my waist to my ankles and was in agony for the next 24 hours. Sleep was impossible. The moisture in the air, the wind, and the sub-freezing temperature, made for a bone-chilling cold. It was truly disturbing and appalling how much trash, clothing, and bedding there was around the springs. It felt like a homeless camp. That was the worst part. I've been many times over the last five years, and this place has always felt like a serene and relaxing paradise, but this time, from the moment I reached the springs, I felt gross, unwelcome, and unease. The fresh banana peel and orange peels next to the top pool made it clear there were recent visitors, but when I looked around the area, I couldn't find anyone else down there. However, I never felt certain that I was the only one there. When I was in the lower pool, I thought I briefly heard a muffled voice above me at the top pool, but I know the water can make deceptive noises. What appeared to be a relatively fresh urine puddle in the middle of the trail, which I found as I hiked out the following morning, on the initial climb up to the ridge above the springs, made me wonder if someone really had been down there with me.