RR: HR: Sequoias -Needles Lookout

[art23rockpile]

After arriving at Quaking Aspens on Friday afternoon and setting-up camp, a number of us (10) hit Summit Trail for a trail/stunt riding session (hopefully someone will be posting a RR soon). As luck would have it, I crashed hard about halfway through the ride. After a painful HAB/ride back to camp (thanks Dean and Scott for hanging back with me), it was obvious that riding the next day was out.

Dean suggested a hike: Needles Lookout. It's a 2 1/2 mile hike to the lookout... which includes scaling the seemingly precarious stairway up (those who fall victim to vertigo or a fear of heights may want to avoid this last part).

The truly alpine setting and spectacular views made this hike a wonderful experience. When I was a teenager, I did a lot of backpacking in the Boy Scouts and Explorer Post. This was the first 'real' hike i've done in over 25 years, and I discovered something... by MTBing a lot, one can be in top hiking condition!

[dstepper]

Bagging fire-lookouts is one of my hobbies, I knocked off another one this weekend...Jordan Peak. The picture is of Chasidy North, Forest Service employee at Jordan Peak Fire Lookout. It was very refreshing she very knowledgeable of the area.

Lookouts that I have bagged in So-Cal:

Jordan Peak
Butler Peak
Keller Peak
Vetter Peak
Needles
Buck Rock
Bald Mountain

Peaks that the lookout is either burnt down or moved, just the foundation left.

Josephine Peak
Thrope Peak

[Pain Freak]

Is that the lady that bikes out to there everyday?

[Sewellymon]

Needles is some of the best rockclimbing in CA (= the world). Prettiest rock/ colorful lichen.

the trail is a fun ride and shortens your climbing day (5 min to Lookout vs 45 min or hour), tho there usually is 20- 40 min of add'l downhill scrambling to reach the base of whataver route you're gunning for.

[Burner]

Thanks Art.... good pics.

Originally Posted by dstepper

Bagging fire-lookouts' ladies is one of my hobbies, I knocked off another one this weekend...

fix it for ya Dean, ya big pimp.

[jfsh]

Originally Posted by Burner

Thanks Art.... good pics.



fix it for ya Dean, ya big pimp.

Matt, that is awesome!!!

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

Is that the lady that bikes out to there everyday?

The three look-outs around Camp Nelson are all maned by females. You are thinking about Needles and yes she drives to the trailhead and rides her bike out to the lookout...she is a volunteer.

Mule Peak and Jordan Peak are maned by Forest Service Employees. The newest lookout person Sabrina lives in Camp Nelson and rides her MTB bike out to Mule Peak. That has got to be major climb.

Dean

[crashergs]

thats is amazing, definately awe inspiring