Hawkins and Pickett Peak - There's still some snow left in California's Sierra

On my hike to Pyramid Peak (my first Sierra hike after moving to California last October) I noticed an interesting looking mountain in direction southeast which looked like a volcanic peak. I asked the person who was on the summit of Pyramid Peak together with me what the name of that mountain was, but he could not tell me. After seeing it many more times on different Sierra hikes after that, I finally figured out that it was Hawkins Peak. After doing some research about this peak I figured I would better climb it before May and after October, because in the summer the state access road (#31019) makes the climb far too easy for everybody and I would have had to face all sorts of visitors up there otherwise. In deep winter one also has to expect a few snowmobiles on the mountain, but since this was a very poor winter with only little snow, I didn't think that there was too much snowmobile traffic up there at this point. In fact I ended up not even seeing a single soul all day long.

My (rather naive) goal to approach Mount Hawkins is from the winter access parking lot at the Hope Valley Sno Park and from there head east to the mountain. Since I am the "proud owner" of a California sno-park season pass it is the logical choice for me. I know beforehand that I have to cross the West Fork Carson River for this approach, but I don't expect this to be a problem. However, when I get to the river I have to realize that due to the little snow and the early spring, this "little" river can only be crossed by boat at this time, or me getting wet up to my hips. So I turn around get back to the car and drive to the intersection 89/88, the beginning of the access road on the other side of the river.

The gate to the access road is closed, but there are plenty of parking possibilities before the gate. I then walk along this gravel road which is mostly snow free at the beginning. Since I had planned to look at the remains of the old Cal Pine Mine, I follow this access road for about 5 miles before I take a left. In the meantime I had to put on my snowshoes, since there is still plenty of snow above 8000ft which is too soft to carry my weight. I try to follow the 4WD road to the Cal Pine Mine, but have to realize that with the amount of snow there still is, it is quite hard to do so, because I can't really see the road. At the site where the old mine should be according to my map, I don't see anything but a whole lot of snow and I have to realize that I'm probably a little too early in the season to actually look at it, everything seems to still be underneath the snow here.

From the Cal-Pine Mine I then walk northeast towards the very interesting looking south ridge of Hawkins Peak. About half way there I take off my snowshoes, because from there on everything is snow free. When I get to the S ridge it turns out to be a little too much of an adventure for me. Even though the climbing degree is probably not more than a II, the rock is extremely unpleasant, because nothing really holds. Even refrigerator size blocks move when testing them for stability. Therefore I decide to not take the south ridge to the top but find my way up there in the SW flank through a field of rocks and small boulders (T3+). Hawkin's summit is "decorated" with quite a few antennas, not enough to block the views, but certainly enough to be somewhat unattractive. However, there is a little 30 feet metal tower on top of the summit which - to my surprise - has no "keep off" sign and a very stable ladder leading up to the top and of course I have to check out the view from up there too...

After a short break I then head to my next goal Pickett Peak. In order to get there I first walk down the rubble in direction W slowly turning NW. At around 8800 ft there is a little drop which turns out to be the most difficult part of my hike today (T4+/I). However, if one wants to bypass this drop it could easily be done on the right hand side in a little valley. After this drop I head NW and walk to the base of the Pickett East ridge and scramble up to the top along this ridge which is way easier than it actually looks from far away (T4/I).

After a rather long break I then head back to my car. The first few hundred yards I follow the rather annoying boulder ridge and then decide to slide down the N face of Pickett. Since the snow is rather wet and soft I put my snowshoes on again for this part an with those the 600 ft of altimeter loss is actually a rather enjoyable ride. At around 8200 feet I switch to the snow free south side again, take my snowshoes of and walk westwards down the forest back to the gravel access road I came up and follow it back to my car.