Mount Pinos + Sawmill Mountain

My friend and fellow Six Packer, completed our first peak of the 2025 Challenge. With Mount Wilson closed due to Eaton Fire we choose to do one on the alternate list. It’s actually a two-peak hike. We started at 9am. First we bagged Mount Pinos at 8,847 ft. then on to Sawmill Mountain at 8,818 ft. Located in the Chumash Wilderness, a beautiful kinda woodsy, kinda exposed at times area, and new for both of us.  The wind picked up  to 20+mph with a temp around 25 degrees it was brisk refreshing mountain air. We skipped continuing to Grouse because reviews mentioned it was unremarkable and underwhelming.

It was a good day, fairly easy hike not too hard–not sure why this hike is rated “hard” by AllTrails.

Worth mentioning, the hike begins at 8339 ft. so it was cold to start and felt the elevation on first incline. We brought trekking poles but never needed them enough to pull out.