Peak 3480 and Peak 3412

Hiked: 11/29/2015
Distance: 1.6 miles round trip on firebreak
Summit Elevation: 3480' and 3412'
Prominence: 400' (Peak 3480)
Elevation Gain: 690'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 0.55
Round trip time: 1 hour
Recommended water: 16 oz.
Parking/Fees: Adventure Pass
Difficulty: Easy

Peak 3480 is a short hike up a firebreak in the Santa Ana Mountains near Los Pinos. The starting point is a turnout about 3 miles west of Ortega Highway on North Main Divide Road. Main Divide is paved along this stretch. The firebreak is easy to follow, but requires some light bushwhacking. In one half mile, you reach the top. At the summit, there is a small benchmark mounted on a pole about 15' to the right of the firebreak and a tall wooden stake. Views are limited at the summit due to tall brush, but you get an interesting angle on Los Pinos. The benchmark is stamped DOM USFS 1961.

I decided to continue over Peak 3480 down to a saddle and up to Peak 3412, only 0.3 miles away. The firebreak continues along the ridge but is more overgrown. I unpacked the machete to help clear the way, especially in places where the brush got intimate TSA-style. The summit of Peak 3412 was a small pile of rocks with no marks I could find. Views were similar to Peak 3480. If nothing else, I cleared out the firebreak a little for the next person.

Start of the firebreak to Peak 3480 from the turnout

Approaching Peak 3480 from the first bump

Benchmark on Peak 3480, placed 1961

Lake Elsinore from Peak 3480

Heading to Peak 3412, a little more brush

Peak 3412 summit

Machete FTW!