Sunday, February 28, 2016

Sawtooth Peak (S)

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I slept in my car in the Alabama Hills then drove up Nine Mile Canyon Road when I woke up. I turned off onto Canebrake Road and drove south, parking 0.2 miles past the Chimney Creek Campground where the road intersects the PCT. From there I hiked 2.8 miles to where the PCT reaches a saddle before turning south. I left the trail and ascended a steep class 2 slope to the north. The steep slope lasted for about 450' before levelling out at a foresty plateau. The remaining route to the summit came into view. I followed the ridgeline proper (along the right-hand skyline of this photo) all the way to the top without too many issues other than some minor bushwhacking. I reached the summit about 1:45 from the trailhead and about 45 minutes from leaving the trail. 

I spent about 45 more minutes on top enjoying the views and finding familiar names in the register. This was the oldest register I have yet seen (1958). Second place belongs to Lamonth Peak (1961) and third to Picket Guard (1963). 

The hike down took me about 1.5 hours.