bigsuit - Jul 14, 2010 12:08 am Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2010
packer lake
short easy hike, incredible views, lassen stood out quite prominently, as did english mtn.
mrchad9 - May 9, 2010 6:00 am Date Climbed: Oct 7, 2006
Like the lookout
Perhaps the coolest fire lookout I've ever seen. Hiked in the afternoon after Elwell on a 3 day weekend covering Lost Lake Ridge, Sugar Pine Peak, Ingalls, Elwell, this, Lola, and Lola North.
Sniffed out the most direct route we could find and climbed it in the snow. Was fun to top out at a steep side and traverse on rock and ice around to the "staircase"
sierramtngoat - Oct 13, 2009 5:16 am Date Climbed: Oct 10, 2009
Packer Saddle Route
Really easy hike with excellent views; hiked it with my wife Anna.
bc44caesar - Aug 13, 2009 7:11 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2009
Packer Lake
Cool peak, nice views.
fedak - Jul 20, 2009 10:14 am Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2009
From Packer Saddle
Did this along with Mt Elwell later in the afternoon.
Pics are here.
I've only done this twice, but a fun trip is to start at Bassets, ski up to Young America Lake via the Sardines, and then veer right and follow the ridge to top out just below the lookout. Then enjoy a couple thousand feet of untracked skiing (because you'll be the only idiots doing this!). Then make your way to a dirt road, walk into Sierra City and hitchhike back to your car. You have to do this early in the season (before April) or else you run out of snow pretty quick.
ckerth - Dec 18, 2008 1:23 am Date Climbed: Dec 6, 2008
From Lower Sardine Lake
Started from Lower Sardine Lake. Followed the 4-WD road to Upper Sardine Lake. Went along the shoreline to the far end of the lake. Climbed fun, solid, class 2/3 rock up past Young America Lake. From there it was an easy walk to the summit. Came back along the Tamarack Connector Trail. In my opinion the view from the Sardine Lakes area provides the most impressive view of the Buttes.
Easy hike up to the old fire lookout tower which offers some really nice views of the surrounding landscape. On a clear day you can see Lassen and Shasta, the Sierra Valley, the taller peaks around Tahoe. Neat spot.
i was in downieville for the weekend for the downieville classic and this seemed the best thing to do while others were racing. it was my first hike since my injury and i was so happy to bag a peak, even if a small one. the stairs and lookout are pretty spooky but fun. lots of smoke in the air from the fires so i could only see the immediately surrounding mountains. very few people on the trail and the wildflowers were going off - overall a nice outing.
littlefrantz - Mar 8, 2008 11:34 pm Date Climbed: Sep 19, 2007
Quick fun hike
The lookout is rad
hikerbryan - Oct 2, 2007 11:54 pm Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2005
Worth the hike
Took the trail from Sardine Lake campground to Tamarack Lakes, then the main trail to the fire lookout. Great view of Sardine Lakes, Young America Lake, and Haskell Peak. One of my favorite areas.
McCannster - Aug 15, 2007 9:56 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2007
WOW2
Very nice view and very nice summit pinnacle! Building the lookout tower must have been quite exhilarating...ho that precarious lookout tower...
Ate lunch in Downieville, then went into the backcountry: the gnarliest town in CA (Alleghany) and did some 4 wheelin' back in there. Fun day.
SpiceMan - Aug 15, 2007 9:54 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2007
WOW
This was one of the coolest mountains I've ever hiked. David and I speedhiked up it and then did some crazy offroading through Forest and Alleghany.
pinch - May 1, 2007 1:13 am Date Climbed: Apr 15, 2007
IRS Special
This is a really cool area! Just the drive on hwy 49 along the N. Yuba River is gorgeous. For April there was very little snow, and there was no postholing.
Don't remember what year or how old I was, probably around 7 or so, but me and my grandpa tried to 4WD up to the summit. Being in a little Rav-4, we didn't make it all the way, but if I remember right, we were pretty close.
Wallylongridge - Feb 18, 2007 5:23 pm Date Climbed: Jul 9, 2001
The Trail
This old fire look-out is in a great place. reminds me of my days reading Kerouac, Snyder & Bukowski
Peak Baguette - Aug 21, 2006 7:27 am Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2006
Via PCT 08.20.06
A very nice "secondi" after doing Castle Peak earlier in the day. Quick hike that leverages a beautiful bit of the PCT.
derbilly - Aug 17, 2006 3:55 pm Date Climbed: Oct 30, 2005
Ice fall
On a relatively warm day after a minor snowfall, the ice encrusted on the pine trees was crashing all around us. I was happy not to get hit in the noggin. An impressive peak for the northern sierra.
96avs01 - Aug 12, 2006 11:04 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2006
4x4 fun n da sun
Took the 4x4 trail off of Butte Rd. out of Sierra City. Started hiking at the closed gate ~1 mi. from the tower. Views were very nice, and the summit was not overcrowded, although it was only a Friday morning.
bigsuit - Jul 14, 2010 12:08 am Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2010
packer lakeshort easy hike, incredible views, lassen stood out quite prominently, as did english mtn.
mrchad9 - May 9, 2010 6:00 am Date Climbed: Oct 7, 2006
Like the lookoutPerhaps the coolest fire lookout I've ever seen. Hiked in the afternoon after Elwell on a 3 day weekend covering Lost Lake Ridge, Sugar Pine Peak, Ingalls, Elwell, this, Lola, and Lola North.
Darren9 - Nov 7, 2009 2:59 am
Central north gully snow routeSniffed out the most direct route we could find and climbed it in the snow. Was fun to top out at a steep side and traverse on rock and ice around to the "staircase"
sierramtngoat - Oct 13, 2009 5:16 am Date Climbed: Oct 10, 2009
Packer Saddle RouteReally easy hike with excellent views; hiked it with my wife Anna.
bc44caesar - Aug 13, 2009 7:11 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2009
Packer LakeCool peak, nice views.
fedak - Jul 20, 2009 10:14 am Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2009
From Packer SaddleDid this along with Mt Elwell later in the afternoon.
Pics are here.
snowflake - Apr 6, 2009 5:10 pm
Ski TraverseI've only done this twice, but a fun trip is to start at Bassets, ski up to Young America Lake via the Sardines, and then veer right and follow the ridge to top out just below the lookout. Then enjoy a couple thousand feet of untracked skiing (because you'll be the only idiots doing this!). Then make your way to a dirt road, walk into Sierra City and hitchhike back to your car. You have to do this early in the season (before April) or else you run out of snow pretty quick.
ckerth - Dec 18, 2008 1:23 am Date Climbed: Dec 6, 2008
From Lower Sardine LakeStarted from Lower Sardine Lake. Followed the 4-WD road to Upper Sardine Lake. Went along the shoreline to the far end of the lake. Climbed fun, solid, class 2/3 rock up past Young America Lake. From there it was an easy walk to the summit. Came back along the Tamarack Connector Trail. In my opinion the view from the Sardine Lakes area provides the most impressive view of the Buttes.
Drewid - Jul 17, 2008 11:52 am
Tower viewEasy hike up to the old fire lookout tower which offers some really nice views of the surrounding landscape. On a clear day you can see Lassen and Shasta, the Sierra Valley, the taller peaks around Tahoe. Neat spot.
emilie - Jul 15, 2008 2:00 pm Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2008
from Packer Saddlei was in downieville for the weekend for the downieville classic and this seemed the best thing to do while others were racing. it was my first hike since my injury and i was so happy to bag a peak, even if a small one. the stairs and lookout are pretty spooky but fun. lots of smoke in the air from the fires so i could only see the immediately surrounding mountains. very few people on the trail and the wildflowers were going off - overall a nice outing.
littlefrantz - Mar 8, 2008 11:34 pm Date Climbed: Sep 19, 2007
Quick fun hikeThe lookout is rad
hikerbryan - Oct 2, 2007 11:54 pm Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2005
Worth the hikeTook the trail from Sardine Lake campground to Tamarack Lakes, then the main trail to the fire lookout. Great view of Sardine Lakes, Young America Lake, and Haskell Peak. One of my favorite areas.
McCannster - Aug 15, 2007 9:56 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2007
WOW2Very nice view and very nice summit pinnacle! Building the lookout tower must have been quite exhilarating...ho that precarious lookout tower...
Ate lunch in Downieville, then went into the backcountry: the gnarliest town in CA (Alleghany) and did some 4 wheelin' back in there. Fun day.
SpiceMan - Aug 15, 2007 9:54 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2007
WOWThis was one of the coolest mountains I've ever hiked. David and I speedhiked up it and then did some crazy offroading through Forest and Alleghany.
pinch - May 1, 2007 1:13 am Date Climbed: Apr 15, 2007
IRS SpecialThis is a really cool area! Just the drive on hwy 49 along the N. Yuba River is gorgeous. For April there was very little snow, and there was no postholing.
McCannster - Mar 27, 2007 12:54 am
Been Close...Don't remember what year or how old I was, probably around 7 or so, but me and my grandpa tried to 4WD up to the summit. Being in a little Rav-4, we didn't make it all the way, but if I remember right, we were pretty close.
Wallylongridge - Feb 18, 2007 5:23 pm Date Climbed: Jul 9, 2001
The TrailThis old fire look-out is in a great place. reminds me of my days reading Kerouac, Snyder & Bukowski
Peak Baguette - Aug 21, 2006 7:27 am Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2006
Via PCT 08.20.06A very nice "secondi" after doing Castle Peak earlier in the day. Quick hike that leverages a beautiful bit of the PCT.
derbilly - Aug 17, 2006 3:55 pm Date Climbed: Oct 30, 2005
Ice fallOn a relatively warm day after a minor snowfall, the ice encrusted on the pine trees was crashing all around us. I was happy not to get hit in the noggin. An impressive peak for the northern sierra.
96avs01 - Aug 12, 2006 11:04 pm Date Climbed: Aug 11, 2006
4x4 fun n da sunTook the 4x4 trail off of Butte Rd. out of Sierra City. Started hiking at the closed gate ~1 mi. from the tower. Views were very nice, and the summit was not overcrowded, although it was only a Friday morning.