74. Snow Mountain

Length:	8 miles round trip
Hiking time:	6 hours or overnight
High point:	7,056 feet
Total elevation gain:	2,150 feet
Difficulty:	moderate
Season:	mid-June to early October
Water:	none; bring your own
Maps:	USGS 7.5' Potato Hill, USGS 7.5' Fouts Springs, USGS 7.5' St. John Mountain, USGS 7.5' Crockett Peak, USFS Snow Mountain Wilderness
Information:	Grindstone Ranger District, Mendocino National Forest

The trip to the twin summits of Snow Mountain offers scenery that includes serene forests of pine and fir, a psychedelic assortment of multihued rocks, and sweeping vistas of mountains and valleys stretching to the far horizons.

Reach the town of Stonyford by exiting I-5 at either Maxwell or Willows. Take Road M-10 (18N01), which is initially called Fouts Springs Road, and follow signs for Snow Mountain and Summit Springs. After 24 miles turn right at a Trailhead 1 sign for the final, steep 1.4 miles to the Summit Springs trailhead parking area.

The path begins in a small forest of Jeffrey pine and white fir and then quickly enters open areas created by a huge 1987 fire. As you climb over the next mile, note the variety of shrubs and other plants that have begun a long process of succession, which should eventually restore much of this area to forest.

Go left at a trail fork at 0.7 mile, then cross two small, seasonal creeks at 1 mile. From here, switchback uphill to a ridge at 1.5 miles. Look to the right for High Rock, about 300 yards east of the trail; it offers expansive westward, southward, and eastward views similar to those of the Snow Mountain summits, lacking only a northward vista.

The path now climbs along the ridge, passing through a forest of Jeffrey pine and red and white fir. Ignore the faint trails that disappear into the trees, and continue to Cedar Camp at 2 miles, which has an excellent campsite beside a small pond and a green meadow but no cedars. Bear right here at a trail fork, taking the path signed for Snow Mountain.

After a steady ascent through the forest, enter the open, glaciated basin below Snow Mountain's summits. Climb steadily 0.7 mile to the saddle between the two summits, then turn left at a three-way trail junction.

After a brief climb, reach the 7,038-foot summit of Snow Mountain West. From here, you have northward views of Mount Linn, Mount Shasta, and the Klamath Mountains; eastward views of Stony Creek Gorge, the Sacramento Valley, Sutter Buttes, the Cascades, and the Sierra Nevada; and southward and westward views of endless chains of Coast Range ridges and peaks. Be sure to look at the odd assortment of green, gray, and purple rocks at your feet.

After you've rested and enjoyed the view, go back to the saddle and take the right-hand trail up to the 7,056-foot summit of Snow Mountain East, which offers views similar to those of its sibling.

If you have the ambition, consider camping on one of the summits. You'll have far-reaching, earthly views during the day and an open universe above at night. Bring all the water you'll need, be prepared for possible high winds, and make sure you don't get caught in a thunderstorm.