Given the encroaching fire on Observation Peak and Sister Rocks this will probably be the last documentation of what these hikes looked like pre-burn.
This was two hikes, June 22nd to Observation Pe3ak and a return on Aug. 23rd to visit Sister Rocks. We had planned to visit both on the first hike but the mosquitoes were so bad we bailed on Sister Rocks.
We started both hikes from the TH on road 6406 on the north side of the peaks but missed a turn and did some unintentional exploring prior to getting back on track. This is an easy junction to miss: Take the left fork on the unsigned road 6406 from road 64 here: Likely to look a bit different next time
Map:
Same area as above showing fire as of 091720:
This is/was a beautiful hike through a mixed old growth/second growth forest and the trail was in excellent shape. Only one tree down on 8/23 - but that has surely changed. We hope at least the old growth survive.
Once on the short spur to Sister Rocks, you are in the bear grass zone.
This is a five mountain view hike: Here's a couple views to the north. Didn't have a wide enough angle lens to get all three peaks in one shot:
And to the south:
Close up:
Kel on Sister Rock summit:
The view west from the summit: From the fire map, this little forested bump in the foreground survived but it's burned downhill to the right of the road cut visible as the dark line.
A nice viewpoint at the junction where the Sister Rocks spur trail starts:
Observation Peak from Sister Rocks:
The summit of Sister Rocks is two distinct outcrops. Here's the west one viewed from the east one:
DN
, great views. We really enjoyed the tread of the trails and the character of the forest. I did make note of all the baby trees in the understory through a good stretch on the way to Observation Peak... will be interested to see that they fared/fueled this fire.