
Subject:
[cohp] Digest Number 5155
From:
cohp@yahoogroups.com
Date:
9/22/2015 1:47 AM
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County High Pointing in all 50 states
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Digest #5155
1
CA wildfires map by "Dave Covill" dave_covill

Message
1
CA wildfires map
Mon Sep 21, 2015 10:37 am (PDT) . Posted by:
"Dave Covill" dave_covill
Amazing, and so sad. Here is a link to CA wildfires map. Click to an
individual fire to gain access to more info.

http://www.fire.ca.gov/general/firemaps.php

James Graham & I hiked over the prior weekend to the HPs of Glenn &
Mendocino, Lake & Colusa, Butte, and Brokeoff/Lassen Pk. We were unable
to make it to other CA cohps due to distance, terrain for James' dog, or
smoke & fire. Some days were terrible, with smoke limiting views to under a
half mile, and some days were better, up to several miles. The smell was
never terrible, but at the end of a day of hiking we had a funny taste in
the backs of our throats.

We hooked up with Coby King and Joe Krovoza for Lassen and Brokeoff in a
day. I made it up Lassen in 1:08; not exactly Dave Dunham-esque.... but
not bad for normal standards. Three pillars vie for highest, we didn't have
a level but the S one seemed a foot higher.

There hasn't been but a single TR for these cohps since 2007. Some quick
thoughts:

Shasta CA - Lassen Pk
September 12, 2015
Trail is now fully open since renovation closed it for several years, and
has been for a few years now. Very nice to within 300' and 30' vertical of
the summit, then just a use path. A bit rugged on top to get to the highest
of the several pillars that extend up 15'+. If you intend to visit the
nearby wilderness HP, allow the better part of 45 minutes, pretty rugged
terrain. Allow about 1.5 hours up, 1 down for a relatively strong party. No
shade on trail at all.

Tehama CA - Brokeoff Mtn
September 12, 2015
Excellent trail the whole way, nice TH parking area for 10+ cars. Allow
about 2-2.5 up, and 1.5-2 hours down for a relatively strong party.

Butte CA - Liner off of PCT
September 13, 2015
Truly a cool area. Lots of bright green moss on tall widely dispersed tree
trunks. Lots of biodiversification, many species of pine, fir, spruce,
etc. We came in from the East by Lake Almanor. Follow directions in
previous TR's, keep to the right at a sign that says Humboldt Summit 9 to
the right and 10 to the left. Better surface to the right, still do-able
by Subaru or better to the left. We exited to the West as most have come,
nice road. Great lunch spot in Butte Meadows called The Outpost, excellent
burger. Football was on TV screens.

Good sign as to where to leave PCT, follow up slightly to a knoll, then
down, trail ends at metal sign announcing Butte CA cohp, with ammo box
register. We met a PCT thru-hiker, skinny as a rail, and he wanted to know
where water was available. I was thinking "not a good year to be hiking the
PCT through CA, in a drought, amidst nasty wildfires..." Allow maybe 1-1.5
hours each way for a relatively strong party, perhaps a bit less.

Glenn CA - Black Butte
September 13, 2015
We followed directions, long drive in but excellent road, anything better
than a Corvette can do it. Sign indicates to turn left (W). We drove
further than where Suttle said to stop, but not a lot. No need to 4WD up
higher than obvious road end, as it stops completely within 100' vertical.
Nice hike on path to outcrop at top. Suttle indicates it is volcanic in
origin, and hence the name. I disagree, seemed to be metamorphosed schist
everywhere. Rocks at top were weathered darker than below, with lichens
creating a black patina instead of green lower down. Someone else have an
opinion on this? Allow about a half hour up, less down. Register in a
plastic PVC pipe.

Mendocino CA - Anthony Peak
September 13, 2015
We followed directions, long drive in but excellent road, anything better
than a Corvette can do it. Suttle says to hike from turnoff. Hah! We
drove to summit, easily. No gates anywhere, road can not be closed off. Two
pointer benchmarks pointed to summit building, must be a true BM underneath
it? No register.

Lake & Colusa CA - Snow Mtn East
September 14, 2015
We followed directions, very long drive in but excellent road, anything
better than a Corvette can do it. Last two miles after pass and turnoff to
the right are steeper, require a Subaru or better. We used Summit Springs
TH, S of the peak. Nice trail to near peak, good use trail last 1/2 mile
from a saddle. Trail is not obvious in a couple of spots as it wanders
through open forest with pine cones and needles covering the ground, just
stay the course til it becomes obvious again. Burned area in final valley
just SE of the peak. Snow Mtn West is easily done from the saddle, and does
appear to be 10-30' lower. Did not bring hand level.... Sigh....

Snow Mtn E is presumed to be a two-fer, but in reality it probably lies a
short distance to one side or the other of the Lake/Colusa county line. We
searched for a half hour for any other cairns, registers, etc, and found
nothing. We looked in all directions, down slope to the N, everywhere.
There is a small cairn on an outcrop NE of the main one. There is a pitiful
register of sorts in a metal box, which has broken apart and needs to be
replaced. Just scraps of paper in it.

Allow about 2-2.5 up and 1.5-2 hours down for a relatively strong party.
Add a half hour to bag West peak, or 10-15 minutes if you continue over it
and bushwhack back down to the trail at the saddle to the NE of it. Minor
prickly brush in burned valley, not bad. The road in is very long, paved
for the first third of it. We came in from the NE from Willows to Elk Creek
to Stonyford, and exited to the SE via Lodoga and Grapevine Pass to Maxwell
on I-5. There is a USFS office in Stonyford, and we chatted up a ranger
there, and there is a very nice map available in a slot outside the door
for anyone who wishes one. It shows all the approach roads and offshoots,
but not the peak itself which lies in a wilderness on a separate map. Stop
and score one. Bring a topo for the hike. Main road is labelled "M-10" and
is obvious at all points to stay the course on it and not turn off. Watch
for ATVs and Dirt Bikes which are everywhere, although almost none on our
day.

-- 

Dave

303-517-0355-cell
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