Thanks for the advice on the Grass Valley Road. I suspect that the suggestion might have been prompted by a conversation I had with Chuck on Friday down at DCHS. I tried to get to DCHS via 173 from Arrowhead, couldn't get through and ended up going all the way round to Bowen Ranch. A Prius is good for some things.
It only took me 3.25 hours from home to get to the trail head at Bowen.

Chuck mentioned Grass Valley as an alternative to get past the snow. I guess some other people knew about it as three campers arrived from that route late on Friday when I was leaving.

Well, you always learn something when you have to improvise. I ended up taking 138 to 173 and then took Arrowhead Lake Road to Hesperia and then down along Rock Springs Road to Round Up and Bowen Ranch Road. I like that way. Gives me a much better frame of mind than Bear Valley Road.

Friday was a very quiet day at DCHS. No more than 6 people at any one time.