[pct-l 56] Apr 22, Section D from Three Points TH to Sulphur Spring TH

[David Hough reading PCT-L]

I'd been advised that this section had been cleared, and it was.
But a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

I did not read the map (or GPS) carefully, saw the PCNST sign from the
Three Points Trailhead, marked left for Mt Williamson and points east,
marked right for the Silver Moccasin Trail west.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Moccasin_Trail

I knew that these trails coincided for some distance, so I headed west.    The
trail is old and has drainage problems aggravated by recent rainy winters,
but its tangled branch fallen trees appeared to be recently cleared.
But after a while I took another look at the map, and scrambled up to the
paved road, and got back to Three Points in half time time, on the way
seeing the PCT west sign across the street that I had missed despite driving
by twice.     But perhaps this part of the Silver Moccasin was part of the
temporary PCT.   I'll consult my 1974 first edition WP when I get home to
find out.

Once on the actual current PCT, things went smoothly down into the vicinity
of Sulphur Spring CG.     It's a very green and moist canyon at this time
of year.     But there's some confusing signage - there are two trail
junctions where you can choose your route - the one marked "hiker" or
the one marked "horse".    I took hiker of course the first time, years
ago, and wondered what happened to the campground.      This time I took
"horse" and found the campsite, picnic tables, and outhouses that one might
expect at an official Forest Service campground, which is now walk in or
ride in from the trailhead (where I'd parked the previous day).

These signs should be marked "PCT TO CAMPGROUND" and "CAMPGROUND BYPASS -
HIKER ONLY" and the situation would be clearer.    There's more water in
the stream at the campground than what you find at the end of the bypass.
The bypass is hikers only because it cuts steep soft loose slopes that
would be even harder to maintain for equestrians.

Unlike the previous two days I was happy to take the trail back to my
car at Three Points, using the Horse route westbound and Hiker eastbound.     
Thanks to the gorillas who keep section D passable
for hikers less motivated than John Muir -

https://vault.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/writings/steep_trails/chapter_11.aspx

If I get another chance later this year, I'll try rehiking from Three Points
to the frog closure.

But though I thought I'd hiked the PCT in bits and pieces in 2001-2013,
and corrected an oversight in Vasquez Rocks a couple of days ago, 
I remembered then that I had never taken the Horse trail at Sulphur Springs the
first time, although I had made a point of taking both the official horse
and unofficial hikers routes at Crator Lake and Columbia Gorge.    So now
I think I've completed the PCT.    

Except the frog closure, which the
Forest Service has never said was permanently closed, but has neither planned 
nor built a good alternate route.   I remember hiking up the Burkhart trail
last time, with a big fallen boulder in the middle of it,
but I don't remember what I did to continue eastbound when I got to Hwy 2.