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See the Retired Peak Guides in the Archives for Microsoft Word and other versions of this peak guide.

01G

Pilot Knob

6200'+

Location: Kern County, about 2.5 miles north-northeast of the town of Onyx, 155 miles from Los Angeles

Maps

Auto Club: Kern County
Forest Service: Sequoia National Forest
USGS Topo: Onyx 7½
HPS: Route(s), waypoints and explanation of usage

Printable version of this route

ROUTE 1

Distance: 6 miles round trip cross-country
Gain: 3400'
Time: 8-10 hours round trip
Rating: Class 2, very strenuous
Navigation: Moderate
Leader Rating: "I", normal conditions

Original: Charlie Knapke, October 1988

DRIVING ROUTE 1

  • From Mojave go north on SR 14 to the intersection with SR 178 (Walker Pass Road). Turn left.
  • Go west on SR 178 for about 23 miles to Bloomfield Ranch Road (paved, on right side). At this spot SR 178 makes a giant turn south. Go 0.8 mile further to a dirt road on the right. Turn right.
  • Note your odometer and go as follows:
  • At 0.3 and 0.35 mile, forks. Go straight.
  • At 0.4 mile, several buildings with a bridge. Park on the right near the trailers before the bridge. This is private property.
  • Alternatively, park on the highway and hike the 0.4 mile.

HIKING ROUTE 1

  • From the parking area (2800'), cross the bridge on the south fork of the Kern River.
  • Continue north up the road about 50 yards and find a cattle trail heading to the left. In another 100 yards a large canyon opens up to the left (west). This canyon is an alternative route, but is typically very brushy.
  • Leave the road and hike up the cattle trail, then over a minor rise on the right, then down into the canyon. Note this location for your return.
  • Staying generally on the slopes north of the main canyon, ascend steeply to a saddle (5520'+) just south of the peak. The rocks in the canyon bottom are polished and very slippery. The route to the north of the canyon bottom can look difficult, but usually turns out to be easily passable.
  • Turn right and follow a well-ducked trail up to the summit.
  • Keep to the right of the rock outcroppings near the top. The register is on the west summit block.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

Permission is required to park and hike on private land. Contact information for the landowner is:

    Frank and Josephine Stone
    White Blanket Ranch
    PO Box 376
    Onyx, CA 93255-0376

Enclose a self-addressed stamped post card. There is no known formal fee schedule, but in the past about $5 per hiker or $20 per carload seems to have been appropriate.

This peak lies within the Dome Lands Wilderness. A permit is not required for day hikes.


History of Summit Signature

Climbing Archives

Please report any corrections or changes to the Mountain Records Chair.


Hundred Peaks Section, Angeles Chapter, Sierra Club
Published 31-December-2005
© 1998-2005 - All Rights Reserved