The Seldom Visited Pine Mountain

Hike track link

eBird list

We wanted to visit someplace new and the backcountry out of Kennedy Meadows is hikable now with the lack of snow.

We picked Pine Mountain because it was named and looked to be a reasonable distance.  Next in our planning process was a bit of internet sleuthing.  Usually we find many trip reports and GPS files to guide us.  Not so for Pine Mountain - there were a couple of trip reports, but no GPS file.  No GPS is weird.  Most named peaks in the Sierra have many routes and many posts with a downloadable GPS file, but not for this Pine Mt.  Oh well, we will have to sort it out on our own. And it turns out it is really rather simple. Just head up a gully through some rather lovely junipers loaded with berries, then up a steep and brushy slope and you are at the top.  No real route finding involved.

Pine Mt isn't  much to look at.  We viewed it from the road and from other distant peaks, and it is really only a named pile of rocks.  No classic peak profile, just a broad mound of rocky terrain.  It also isn't on the 100 peak list of anyone, which keeps the hordes away.  It does though possess a peak register.  Bob and I guessed before looking when the last person before us was on the peak.  I won this time.  I guessed September.  It was August, but August of 2016.  In fact, in the 30 or so years of the existence of this peak register, it is averaging one or so parties on the summit a year.  We know and have hiked with several of the people who are recorded in the register, which we found rather fun.  If you are looking for solitude and a nice view of Bald Mountain, this might be a hike for you.

Pine Mt in all its glory

I should really know the name of this, but can't seem to remember

Bald Mountain

Domeland Wilderness to the south beyond

Bob on the summit rock reading the register

Summit register complete with wintering lady beetles

Hi Jim!