For our 4th peak we wanted to do Sawmill Mountain- the highest peak in Kern County (8,818 ft). While hiking to Sawmill, you pass another peak, Mount Pinos, which is the highest peak in Ventura County (8,848 ft). THEN there is a third peak, Grouse Mountain (8,583 ft). Doing these three peaks means we are not only crossing off our 4th peak, but that we completed the 3-2-1 Challenge- 3 peaks, 2 counties, 1 day. We haven't hiked at this elevation and learned quickly that we needed to just take more breaks to catch our breath.

We got to trail at about 8:45am. There was plenty of parking and toilets. The clouds came and went and came again with a high of 41* and wind so we stayed bundled up the whole time. The trail was very easy to identify to Mount Pinos. We did take the turn off that's to the right before going up to the summit, but you could follow the wider trail and just back track a little if you want to cut out a tiny bit of distance. Again, the trail heading to Sawmill Mountain was clear. You again have to make sure to take a right to go up to the summit. It's marked pretty well with rocks and sticks though. The trail to Grouse Mountain is a different story. It doesn't look like it's as traveled as much and while most of the time we were okay, at the very end (up at the false peak) there wasn't a defined trail at all. I highly recommend using a trail map. I also use poles and despite going over several snow patches, my microspikes were not needed.