Snowy hike to Sawmill
| Peak Summited | 2021 Sawmill Mountain |
|---|---|
| Type of Hike | Day hike |
| Trailhead | Mount Pinos Nordic Center |
| Hiking Companions | Hiked with a dog, Hiked with a partner |
| Road Conditions | Road suitable for all vehicles |
| Bug Status | No bugs |
| Snow Conditions | Snowfields to cross - could be difficult |
| Trail Conditions | Trail difficult/impossible to navigate |
The road to the nordic center was in good condition with a couple patches of black ice, but I do have a 4WD vehicle. If you are heading up, you should check road conditions here: https://kernpublicworks.com/transportation/road-status-closures/. Look for “Mt. Pinos Highway”, “Cuddy Valley Rd” or “the Y”. The trail was completely covered in snow. We pretty much snowshoed the entire way to Sawmill although we did see a couple of backpackers with only microspikes and poles (microspikes only needed probably in the very beginning of the hike). Snowshoes are not really necessary, but it made the hike much easier especially since there are a lot of open areas where the snow wasn't compacted yet.
It was a beautiful day with minimal wind until on our way back in the mid afternoon.
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