Devils Peak and Snow Mountain - a short-lived item on my Sierra Nevada to-do list

Last week I added a mountain to my Sierra to-do list. Looking west from the top of Donner Peak, Devils Peak caught my attention. This week I can report that this  to-do is already completed. After searching the net about Devils Peak, I found out on Bob Burd's site and on summitpost.org, that climbing this mountain was "advertized" as class 3-4 scramble and in combination with the close-by Snow Mountain would make a fine outing. Knowing about the meager amounts of snow in this area and learning from my mistakes last week, I left my snow shoes at home, but took my crampons and ice axe along today.

I park my car at the beginning of Troy Road, south of I-80 and start walking up the hill. After a few hundred yards I see the first no trespassing sign (top left here), one of very many today. I knew about the fact that I would have to walk through private property, but didn't expect the warning signs to be as persistent, alarming and numerous as I encountered them. So, in case you repeat this: notice if you follow my route, you might have to face the consequence of fines and/or imprisonment. However, the chances to get caught on a weekday in late march are probably very slim and in addition, according to the summitpost article, there might be a chance that hikers are actually tolerated. It's not private property of a person who lives there which I'm trespassing, but the Louisiana/Pacific Railroad, a timber company and the Royal Gorge ski area. Anyway, all the no trespassing signs I have to ignore somehow give me a weird feeling in my stomach...

In order to get to the base of Devils Peak I follow the main road past the railroad line, after 2.3 miles I turn left unto a dirt road. Shortly after getting onto this dirt road, I leave it again and walk south to the snow field north of the peak. I put on my crampons and walk up the steep slope. About half way up, there is a snow filled couloir (slightly right) which takes me up to the main ridge. The steepest parts are probably slightly more than 45° and even though the snow isn't all that hard and icy any more, I'm glad to wear my crampons. From this point on the ridge is mostly snow free and I continue without crampons. Strictly following the ridge to the highest point will give you plenty of exposure, if you don't feel like so much "air", walk west of the ridge. I bypass the last vertical drop up to the highest point slightly west of the ridge. On a good day I would have probably also mastered the direct route which seemed like a class 4, some exposed climbing in the third degree (UIAA).

When I get to the top, I am surprised to not find any summit register or mark of the US geological survey bench mark here, because I am obviously at the highpoint of this mountain. After following the sharp ridge to the southern foresummit I know why: it's because this lower point is marked as the summit of Devils Peak. Anyway, the view from up here (actually the whole ridge) is phenomenal, especially looking east, because the drop there is almost vertical.

After enjoying this view and the sunshine , I continue south along the ridge and find a way down to the base of Devils Peak mostly following the ridge. At the very end I have to bypass a vertical drop slightly west of the ridge. From the southern base I walk along the connecting ridge (or slightly right of it) all the way to Snow Mountain. It's a continuous slight up and down up until shortly before the summit. The last part of the hike up there is still covered in snow. Even though I make a few "postholes", snow shoes are not really needed (any more). Once on the summit plateau I actually have to walk around quite a bit in order to find the highest point with the benchmark, because it's not obvious which of the little hills there is the highpoint. After a long break I walk down the way I came up and later follow the path and street back to my car.