Two students have completed the Challenge. Who will be the third?
The Basics.
When hiking any distance from your vehicle there are some basic necessities that should be in your pack, on your body and in your head. Click here to learn more.
The List.
Ranked by difficulty and/or length.
Click on the peak's name for more information about the peak. It is always prudent to research each peak thoroughly via the internet or guide book.
Key:
Name of peak (click on name of peak for information)
Round trip distance
Comments
Year Mr. Johnson reached summit
Notes from Mr. Johnson's hiking log.
3.5 miles
3,651
Good starting hike. Great views of the
Mojave Desert.
1998 and Oct 2005
Hiked in from the paved road to the
east across small sand dunes and on up the rocky ridge. There was a
group of Boy Scouts on the summit so I napped on the ridge about 100
yards away until they departed the summit.
Hiked from camping area to summit.
Sandy trail on lower sections. About 1 1/2 miles to summit.
2. Mount Lewis
1
8,396
This short steep hike begins next to a Cal-trans building.
2003, Dec 13
No summit canister, nice place to camp
at summit, cold at the start of the hike.
We sat on a downed tree and enjoyed the
sunshine at summit.
3. Reyes Peak
2
7,510
The ocean is visible from the summit.
2004, Sept 5
Hiked from end of road to the summit.
The sun was close to setting when we
began and was late into the sunset as we arrived at the summit.
We found the canister after scrambling
to the top of the summit block.
4. Mount Pinos
3
8,821
If the gate is open you can drive to
the summit. Nice place to go play in the snow during the winter.
1986
Walked to the summit after driving to
the parking lot near the summit.
Passed over the top of Pinos while
hiking to Sawmill and Grouse.12/28/2004
8+
4,631
Park car, ride bike up road, stash bike, hike up trail. Don’t hike this trail on a hot day.
2006
Parked at Frenchman’s Flat. Road my bike to the trailhead and then hiked up the trail to summit.
The lookout did not come into view until very late in hike.
No one at lookout.
4.4
7,960
Relaxed on the summit amid the pines
after several steep sections.
2004,
May 2
It was very hot in the low lands. Over
100º's, so we decided to hike at a higher elevation.
I met a man named Bob hiking the peak
for his fifth time. Still a few patches of snow near the summit.
3
8,214
Wind up the switch backs to fantastic
views of the western Mojave.
2000
Hiked to the summit because Jan wanted
to visit her namesake. She received an Adventure Pass ticket.
8. Mount Islip
7
8,250
Hike through the forest to this rocky
summit.
2001, Oct 22
Parked below Little Jimmy Trail Camp.
Hiked through the camp and on to the summit.
The remains of an old cabin close to
summit and foundations on summit.
An army helicopter buzzed us while we
were on the peak.
8
6,920
The drive to the trailhead is an
adventure.
Information about the lookout.
2002, Apr 20
Spent some time exploring the lookout.
Pleasant hike.
7
5,960-6,161-5,603
Three peaks in one day.
Eighty years ago you could have
traveled on the Mount Lowe Railway to these peaks.
2004, Feb 1
Super Bowl Sunday. A
metal bench at the summit of San Gabriel We hiked out on the old road
which passes through the Mueller Tunnel.
13. Frazier Mountain
0
8,013
No hiking to this summit. It is an
interesting summit to viist. Twenty years ago the tower was manned
and you could visit wtih the lookout.
1987
Drove to the summit while exploring
back roads in the area.
14,15. Mount Baden-Powell, and MountBurnham
8
9,399 and 8,997
Hike from Dawson Saddle to BP and you
can summit Burnham as well.
1998
Hiked to the top of these peaks while
getting in shape to visit Telescope Peak.
7
10,064
Take the ski lift to the ski chalet and
then hike from there. Great warm weather hike.
2002, May 12
Rode the ski lift to the chalet and
hiked from there. Photos of James Arness skiing the slopes in the
60's. Still a bit on snow near the summit.
While eating lunch on the summit
watched a whirlwind form right in front of us. It started as a
miniature tornado about six inches high and grew to about 30 feet
high. It ripped the hat off of my head and sent it spinning out over
the edge of the mountain about 50 feet away but it continued to
circle around and landed ten feet from me.
17. Red Mountain
4
5,261
This peak is a good one to hike when
the winter snows have limited access to the higher peaks in the
mountains.
2001, March 28
Many old steel canisters near the top
of the mountain.
The boulders on the summit were marked
with some names and dates from visitors from the previous century.
18. Owens Peak
7
8,453
About five miles round trip but the
vertical gain will test you. Some Class 2+.
2001
We hiked in with packs and sleeping
bags about a mile from the summit. We dropped packs just before the
hard class two sections and completed the climb. Still some snow on
the north slope.
Summited the next year with parents and
students on an Explorers trek.
19. San Jacinto Peak
10
10,804
Enjoy the ride on the tram and then
hike to the summit. Two adventures in one day.
2004/12/30
Attempted to summit in December of 2003
but was stopped by icy conditions on the trail. Forgot crampons.
Second attempt was uneventful.
20. Telescope Peak
14
11,049
Long 14 mile round trip hike but the
views into Death Valley on the east, Panamint Valley on the west and
the distant Sierra Nevada are unforgettable. Summer hike.
1998
Spent the night camping at Mahogany
Flat and then hiked to the summit the next day. Just a little snow
but very windy near the summit.
