Mount Pinos
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| Mount Pinos | |
|---|---|
 Summit of Mount Pinos; view from the east-southeast |
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| Elevation | 8,831 ft (2,692 m) |
| Location | California, USA |
| Range | San Emigdio Mountains |
| Prominence | 4,800 ft (1,463 m) |
| Coordinates | |
| Topo map | USGS Sawmill Mountain |
| Easiest route | road hike |
Mount Pinos is a mountain peak located in the Los Padres National Forest, on the boundary between the California counties of Ventura and Kern. It is the highest point in Ventura county at 8,831 ft (2,692 m). Its latitude and longitude are 34.8128°N and 119.1444°W.
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[edit] Geography
Mount Pinos is grouped with and the tallest mountain within the San Emigdio Mountains. On a larger scale, Mount Pinos is part of the Transverse Ranges, a portion of the California Coast Ranges. Sometimes it is mistakenly grouped with the Tehachapi Mountains.
The small community of Pine Mountain Club lies due north of Mount Pinos. Lake of the Woods and Frazier Park are about 10 miles to the east.
The view from the summit of Mount Pinos encompasses the southern Central Valley, the southernmost Sierra Nevada, much of northern Ventura county, much of the Santa Barbara County mountains, and the Caliente Range and Carrizo Plain. The trace of the San Andreas Fault is clearly visible to the northwest, cutting between Pinos and the mountains immediately to the north, and extending all the way to Soda Lake in the Carrizo Plain along the Elkhorn Scarp. Bakersfield and surrounding towns are visible on a clear evening to the north and northeast. The summit of the mountain itself is relatively flat and open, with several subsidiary summits alongside; open stands of conifers separated by brushy areas predominate.
[edit] Climate
Mount Pinos experiences harsh winters for being in Southern California. With most of the precipitation falling as snow in the winter, the area experiences several feet (~ 1 - 2 m) of snow each year, with snowfields lasting till early June on the north facing slopes. In heavy snowfall years, snowfields can last till late July or later. Temperatures only get up to near freezing most days in the coldest months (~ 32° F or 0° C), with lows dropping into the teens (~ 14° F or -10° C)
The summer is usually quiet in weather terms, with high temperatures around 70°-75° F (21°-24° C). On occasion, the area can experience a violent thunderstorm with rain easily falling down in excess of an inch (2.5 cm) per hour.
[edit] Significance to Chumash Indians
Mount Pinos, "Iwihinmu" in the Chumash language, was considered by the Chumash Indians to be the center of the world ("Liyikshup"), the point where everything was in balance. It was not only the highest summit within the region occupied by that Native American group, but was near the center of their historic home.
[edit] Hiking
The summit of Pinos can be reached by an easy 2-mile (3-km) hike along a dirt road from a parking area at the end of Los Padres National Forest Road S349S. Continuing on this trail, one enters into the Chumash Wilderness to the west. This trail terminates at Mount Abel (Cerro Noroeste), a distance of about six miles (10 km). Almost all of this trail is above 8,000 feet (2,500 m).
[edit] Snow Sports
The consistent snow conditions at Mount Pinos allow for many types of winter recreation. This includes cross country and telemark skiing, snowboarding, sledding, and snow camping.
The network of ski trails on Mount Pinos is documented on a map distributed (for a suggested donation) by the Mount Pinos Nordic Ski Patrol ([1]). Their Nordic Base facility is located at the top of Mount Pinos Road at the Chula Vista parking lot. The ski trails are part of a dispersed recreation area administered in partnership by the United States Forest Service, Los Padres National Forest, and the Mount Pinos Nordic Ski Patrol.
From the Chula Vista parking lot, the trail network spreads both uphill, towards Condor Point, and downhill, reaching as far down as McGill Campground. Popular destinations include Condor Point, 1st and 2nd Meadows, and Inspiration Point. The Overlook trail accesses the North Ridge area, which formerly hosted an alpine ski area during the 1960’s. The lifts were rope tows situated on the three fingers of the drainage just north of Overlook trail. The facility was run by Bakersfield Parks & Recreation and the Getty Oil Trust.
More ambitious back country skiing can include trips to nearby Sheep Camp on Sawmill Mountain, Mount Abel (Cerro Noroeste), and if snow conditions allow, a descent all the way down to Pine Mountain Club.
During and immediately after heavy snow storms, it may not be possible to drive to the top of Mount Pinos Road due to delayed snow plow availability. In those cases it is common for the Forest Service to close a snow gate lower on the mountain. It is still possible to ski from the vicinity of the snow gate and enjoy the lower slopes of Mount Pinos. Snow at lower elevations also facilitates cross country skiing to Iris Point, which provides great views of Lockwood Valley.
It is important to note that some of these ski trails do not exist unless there is snow. They are not declared hiking trails in the summer, and consequently a separate hiking map is available from the Forest Service for trail hiking in the warmer seasons.
[edit] Astronomy
Mount Pinos is considered to be one of the best viewing sites in Southern California, due to its low light pollution, dry air and frequently clear skies, and is therefore one of the favorite gathering places for amateur astronomers in the region ([2]). The usual viewing area is not the summit of the mountain, but the large tree-surrounded parking area about two miles east of the peak.
[edit] Sources and references
- United States Forest Service interpretive plaque near the summit of Mount Pinos
