Ascent of Pinyon Peak on 2011-05-13| Others in Party: | Dan--Santa Lucia Preserve security patrol
----Only Party on Mountain | | Date: | Friday, May 13, 2011 | | Ascent Type: | Successful Summit Attained | | Motorized Transport to Summit: | 4x4 Vehicle | | Peak: | Pinyon Peak | | Location: | USA-California | | Elevation: | 2249 ft / 685 m |
Ascent Trip ReportAccess to Pinyon Peak is limited, and permission to visit the well fenced, regularly patrolled area must be obtained from the Santa Lucia Preserve. An informal trail links Garland Ranch Regional Park (700 W. Carmel Valley Rd) to Pinyon Peak, and no doubt people use it without approval.
After making arrangements through the Preserve's office, I drove to the electric gate at the start of the "Penon Trail" on Robinson Canyon Rd, 7.8 miles from Carmel Calley Rd (G16). Here I was met by Dan of the Preserve's security patrol, and I followed him 3.7 miles to Pinyon Peak and the Sid Ormsbee L.O. The first 1.8 miles are paved and the final 1.9-mile stretch is dirt, rough and rutted enough in a few places to warrant use of my 4WD. A commemorative plaque next to the L.O. reads: "Sidney Chase Ormsbee-Forester and Soldier--1916-1943--Around that Bay and Among these Hills-His Home, His Play, and His Work." The L.O. was originally leased by Calfire on land that was known as Rancho San Carlos and that is now part of the 20,000-acre Santa Lucia Preserve. It reverted to the Preserve when the lease expired. The Preserve has retained the L.O., but little appears to have been done to improve it. It is a 4-level, completely enclosed wood structure. Good views from the open summit of the Carmel Valley and Santa Lucia Range. |
| Summary Total Data | | Grade/Class: | Drive-up | | Quality: | 1 (on a subjective 1-10 scale) | | Weather: | Pleasant, Breezy, Clear
Good | | Ascent Statistics | | Route: | Drive-up | | Descent Statistics |
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