Brush Mountain

Hiked: 6/27/2025
Distance: 3.7 miles round trip cross country
Summit Elevation: 7048'
Elevation Gain: 1000'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 0.8
Round trip time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Recommended water: 32 oz.
Parking/Fees: Free on San Emigdio Road
Difficulty: Easy

On the way back from San Emigdio, I parked at the intersection of 9N34 and 22W12 Blue Ridge OHV. I considered driving to Brush Mountain (HPS #115) in the Tacoma, but thought it had done more than enough work already. It took a couple of tries to park and an angle that left both roads open. About a mile down the road, I ran into some rough sections that made me glad I didn't try to drive it. The road rolled up and down, eventually leading to the remote Marian Campground. There was no one there. Not knowing any better, I started a cross country trek toward Brush Mountain. It was mostly open country, but I found the road again near the summit. The road on the right was the one to take when leaving Marian Campground. Brush at least had a good view of Pinos, Sawmill, and Grouse. I followed the road partially on the way back and got a nice angle on Eagle Rest Peak. I completed six HPS peaks on this trip:

1. Frazier Mountain
2. Tecuya Peak
3. Cerro Noroestre
4. Grouse Mountain
5. San Emigdio Mountain
6. Brush Mountain

My total stats for the day: 11.5 miles, 3385' gain.
Tacoma total stats for the day: 327 miles, 13726' gain.

Parked at the OHV split

Road didn't look bad at start, but got rougher

Unnecessary, but easy cross country

Pinos, Sawmill, and Grouse

Eagle Rest Peak

San Emigdio Mountain

Hiked: 6/27/2025
Distance: 0.3 miles round trip cross country
Summit Elevation: 7492'
Elevation Gain: 60'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 0
Round trip time: 20 minutes
Recommended water: 0 oz.
Parking/Fees: Free on San Emigdio Road
Difficulty: Easy

To reach San Emigdio (HPS #97), I drove up Forest Road 9N34. The dirt road was in pretty good shape, but had a few deep ruts. I parked just below the summit of San Emigdio. I passed one truck on the road that was loaded with short logs. The driver was hard at work on some downed trees with a chainsaw. He looked like a private citizen not working in an official capacity. The hike was on a faint use trail to a rather plain flat summit. I'm not sure why I bothered taking my pack but I did. There was a pair of red register cans, but no marks found. Another summit with limited views due to trees. Peak five was done for the day. On to Brush Mountain.

Cerro Noroestre and Grouse Mountain

Hiked: 6/27/2025
Distance: 5 miles round trip on trail
Summit Elevation: 8291' (Noroestre), 8593' (Grouse)
Elevation Gain: 1650'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 1.3
Round trip time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Recommended water: 32 oz.
Parking/Fees: Free on Cerro Noroestre Road
Difficulty: Easy

Continuing east on Cuddy Valley Road, I took the paved Cerro Noroestre (HPS #61) Road and parked just outside the Campo Alto campground. Then, it was a about a 300' walk to a small rise in the forest that was the high point. No register or marks. I dropped down the south slope to catch the single track Mount Pinos trail to Grouse Mountain (HPS #45). The trail was in great shape and descended about 600' to a saddle between Cerro Noroestre and Grouse. I couldn't see the summit of Grouse along the trail since it wasn't on the visible part of the ridge. It was a pleasant walk up through pine forests before intersecting the trail running to Sawmill. A side trail continued up to the Grouse summit, which was just the highest point on the trail as far as I could tell. A couple of small boulder piles made up the summit. No register or marks that I could find. This was another summit with no open views due to large surrounding trees. I took a longer break on Grouse after completing the fourth peak of the day. It was about 11 AM and I had time to press on before facing the soul crusing traffic back through LA. Next up was San Emigdio.

Parking for Cerro Noroestre

Cerro Noroestre high point

This young bird was upside down in distress, but righted itself without assistance.

Grouse Mountain

Grouse summit

Tecuya Mountain

Hiked: 6/27/2025
Distance: 2.5 miles round trip on dirt road
Summit Elevation: 7160'
Prominence: 1240'
Elevation Gain: 675'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 0.5
Round trip time: 1 hour
Recommended water: 16 oz.
Parking/Fees: Free on Forest Road 9N21
Difficulty: Easy

After coming down from Frazier, I drove east on Cuddy Valley Road to Forest Road 9N21, Scott Russell Road. Another dirt road with minor ruts and rocks. I drove up to a clearing on the ridge adjacent to Tecuya Mountain (HPS #110). I hiked the road to a saddle between the ridges, startling a couple of deer. At this point, the road turned into a difficult and steep OHV road. There was a turnout there and it should be safe driving that far. I don't think I could have driven the last part of the road. Tecuya was at the end of the ridge. The high point seemed to be in the middle of an open area. It had the best views of the day with a clear 270 degree arc. I returned the same way. Two peaks down for the day. On deck, Cerro Noroestre.

Doe, a deer, a female deer

Tecuya from the saddle

Frazier Mountain from the summit

The adjacent ridge where I parked

Frazier Mountain

Hiked: 6/27/2025
Distance: Drive up
Summit Elevation: 8013'
Prominence: 2466'
Elevation Gain: 0'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 0
Round trip time: N/A
Recommended water: 0 oz.
Parking/Fees: Free on Frazier Mountain Road
Difficulty: Easy

My goal was to nab as many HPS summits as I could in a single day around Frazier Mountain (HPS #70). The Tacoma and I were going to tag team it. Since all gates on Frazier Mountain Road were open, I drove to the top. Part of the road was crumbling asphalt and the last 4.5 miles was bumpy dirt road. While a sedan could probably make it, I wouldn't risk it, mainly out of concern for getting a flat on the rocks. The fire lookout was in bad repair. The stairs were missing and much of the floor. The tower would be necessary to see over the tallest surrounding trees. There were good views north, including Tecuya Mountain which was next at bat.

Tecuya Mountain across the way

Bear Butte

Hiked: 6/21/2025
Distance: 0.8 miles round trip cross country
Summit Elevation: 8603'
Elevation Gain: 495'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 0.4
Round trip time: 1 hour
Recommended water: 16 oz.
Parking/Fees: Free on Bear Butte Road
Difficulty: Easy

We got back from Givens around 3 PM. I couldn't talk Leisa into making a run for Bear Butte, a short cross country romp from the nearly dirt road. In addition to tagging the peak, I wanted to fly an air mission with a view to Huntington Lake. This one would be solo. It was a short drive to Bear Butte Road, the same road that leads to the trailhead for Rancheria Falls. I drove past the trailhead up two more switchbacks, then started looking for a place to park. I found a small turnout on the opposite side of the road north of the peak. From my parking spot, I started cross country over fallen trees and knee high shrubs. I went over a boulder field, more shrubs, and a second boulder field. Both fields were class 2 with a little route finding. The summit had no marks and no register. It did have three massive hooks in the rocks no longer in use. Someone had scratched out "KIEL 07" on one of the boulders. A single 6' pine tree was growing near the summit. I suspect someone planted it, but I guess a mysterious wind could have dropped a seed there. Really nice view of Huntington Lake and Kaiser Peak. I made a couple of passes with the drone, then packed up and descended the same way. I got back to the cabin well before dinner.

Small turnout

First boulder field

Second boulder field and summit

Huntington Lake

Kaiser Peak and College Rock

Mount Givens

Lonely summit pine

Hooks no longer in use