irrationalist - Jan 31, 2014 12:01 pm Date Climbed: Nov 22, 2013
Where's the peak?
A huge snowstorm was rolling in as we started our hike at Bird Spring Pass. The snow continued all day, and as we'd know later, night as well. The 4 inches of snow on the summit made it a much more interesting trip than we'd expected. Never found the register! We ended up climbing all three highpoints near where the geo marker was to make sure we had climbed it
cab - Jan 18, 2011 11:09 am Date Climbed: Jan 16, 2011
Bird Spring Pass
Went up the PCT and down the sandy slope back to the car. Perfect weather and a nice hike. Climbed Pinyon Peak afterwards.
KVHiker - Aug 13, 2009 6:23 pm Date Climbed: Jan 17, 2009
Straight up the side
The trailhead for Skinner Peak (7120’) is 5.6 miles up road SC120 which leads to Bird Spring Pass, and then onward. There is a nice trailhead there where the PCT intersects the road. This hike can be completed by taking the PCT most of the way, but I decided to make a loop trip out of it. I followed a use trail up the ridgeline for the first 1000 feet or so. After that I ran into some advanced class 2 and some class 3 as the ridgeline became rocky. I navigated a route up as best I could, and located the summit after a total elevation gain of 1765’. I was able to locate the geologic survey marker, but I did not find the register.
After hanging out at the peak for a while enjoying the breeze and the view I headed back East toward the PCT which I located and then followed back down. The PCT in this section is on a very steep mountain, but there are plenty of switchbacks to ease the grade. The view of the desert was amazing, and at the bottom I saw a large cache (water supply) placed there from ‘trail angels’ for the hikers that will come through for the yearly PCT hike from Mexico to Canada. My total mileage for this one was about 7 miles and it was getting late, so it was fortunate for me that the trailhead for Wyley’s Knob was just across road SC120 where the PCT extends southwards.
Matthew Holliman - Jul 10, 2007 10:38 pm Date Climbed: Feb 27, 2005
From Birdspring Pass
A pleasant weekend in the Southern Sierra with Bob and Mike. Nothing too exciting or particularly memorable, but enjoyable all the same.
Bob Burd - Apr 29, 2007 8:17 pm Date Climbed: Feb 27, 2005
From Birdspring Pass
And enjoyable outing tagging Skinner in the morning, then Pinyon in the afternoon. There was a good deal of snow in the summit area, and three separate rock outcroppings made finding the actual summit a bit of a challenge. Too much snow covering the rocks to find a register anywhere. Climbed with Matthew H. and Mike L. Trip Report
Steve Larson - Apr 29, 2007 12:08 pm Date Climbed: Apr 22, 2007
Ouch
Hiked this in poor weather--the summit area was socked in all day, the wind was strong enough to make me stagger at times, and it snowed on and off. Since I couldn't see the mountain, and the Sierra Club's description said the PCT was not as shown on the map, I decided to leave the trail earlier than I should have. So, while bushwhacking along the east ridge I slipped on a slabby bit of rock, and landed straight-legged. Something in my left knee didn't like that. Not at all. I hobbled along, still not sure exactly where I was on the mountain, all the while thinking about just giving up. Going uphill was less painful than going down, so I kept going up. I got lucky and actually found the summit.
irrationalist - Jan 31, 2014 12:01 pm Date Climbed: Nov 22, 2013
Where's the peak?A huge snowstorm was rolling in as we started our hike at Bird Spring Pass. The snow continued all day, and as we'd know later, night as well. The 4 inches of snow on the summit made it a much more interesting trip than we'd expected. Never found the register! We ended up climbing all three highpoints near where the geo marker was to make sure we had climbed it
cab - Jan 18, 2011 11:09 am Date Climbed: Jan 16, 2011
Bird Spring PassWent up the PCT and down the sandy slope back to the car. Perfect weather and a nice hike. Climbed Pinyon Peak afterwards.
KVHiker - Aug 13, 2009 6:23 pm Date Climbed: Jan 17, 2009
Straight up the sideThe trailhead for Skinner Peak (7120’) is 5.6 miles up road SC120 which leads to Bird Spring Pass, and then onward. There is a nice trailhead there where the PCT intersects the road. This hike can be completed by taking the PCT most of the way, but I decided to make a loop trip out of it. I followed a use trail up the ridgeline for the first 1000 feet or so. After that I ran into some advanced class 2 and some class 3 as the ridgeline became rocky. I navigated a route up as best I could, and located the summit after a total elevation gain of 1765’. I was able to locate the geologic survey marker, but I did not find the register.
After hanging out at the peak for a while enjoying the breeze and the view I headed back East toward the PCT which I located and then followed back down. The PCT in this section is on a very steep mountain, but there are plenty of switchbacks to ease the grade. The view of the desert was amazing, and at the bottom I saw a large cache (water supply) placed there from ‘trail angels’ for the hikers that will come through for the yearly PCT hike from Mexico to Canada. My total mileage for this one was about 7 miles and it was getting late, so it was fortunate for me that the trailhead for Wyley’s Knob was just across road SC120 where the PCT extends southwards.
Photos
Matthew Holliman - Jul 10, 2007 10:38 pm Date Climbed: Feb 27, 2005
From Birdspring PassA pleasant weekend in the Southern Sierra with Bob and Mike. Nothing too exciting or particularly memorable, but enjoyable all the same.
Bob Burd - Apr 29, 2007 8:17 pm Date Climbed: Feb 27, 2005
From Birdspring PassAnd enjoyable outing tagging Skinner in the morning, then Pinyon in the afternoon. There was a good deal of snow in the summit area, and three separate rock outcroppings made finding the actual summit a bit of a challenge. Too much snow covering the rocks to find a register anywhere. Climbed with Matthew H. and Mike L. Trip Report
Steve Larson - Apr 29, 2007 12:08 pm Date Climbed: Apr 22, 2007
OuchHiked this in poor weather--the summit area was socked in all day, the wind was strong enough to make me stagger at times, and it snowed on and off. Since I couldn't see the mountain, and the Sierra Club's description said the PCT was not as shown on the map, I decided to leave the trail earlier than I should have. So, while bushwhacking along the east ridge I slipped on a slabby bit of rock, and landed straight-legged. Something in my left knee didn't like that. Not at all. I hobbled along, still not sure exactly where I was on the mountain, all the while thinking about just giving up. Going uphill was less painful than going down, so I kept going up. I got lucky and actually found the summit.