I completed the 2021 #sixpackofpeaks Challenge with Sawmill Mountain as my sixth peak!! I also had another goal, to finally bag Cerro Noroeste. I planned on about 14.3 miles round trip, but wound up with 16.3 miles. After a mile on the trail, I realized I forgot my hat in the car. So I went back, grabbed it, and started over. The hike up to the 8,831 foot summit of Mount Pinos is a relatively easy 2 mile hike. The hike over to Sawmill Mountain (8,818 feet) is also 2 miles and relatively easy as well. After Sawmill, each peak is a little lower. From Sawmill Mountain, it’s a quick .30 miles to the not visited often Sawmill Mountain West Peak (8,749 feet). From here, it’s 1.2 miles to Grouse Mountain (8,582 feet). After Grouse, it is 2.4 miles to Cerro Noreste. You will cross Puerta Del Suelo, the lowest point of the hike at 7,628 feet. From here it’s a quick 1.1 miles to the 8,280 foot summit of Cerro Noroeste. The Views from Cerro Noroeste as well as from Grouse Mountain are for the most part obscured. But the mountains are beautiful no matter what the view! The hike back to Nordic Base was awesome! I was glowing with such a sense of accomplishment and pride. Not only did I complete the 2021 Six Pack of Peaks Challenge, but I also completed my own version of the 3-2-1 Challenge. I decide to call mine the 5-4-3-2-1 Challenge. Bag Pinos, Sawmill, Sawmill West, Grouse, and Cerro Noroeste. At the end of the day I clocked 16.3 miles with 3,976 feet of elevation gain. Happy Trails fellow hikers!
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