Tinker's Knob by Coldstream Canyon

Lunch at elevation

Seven of us started at Horseshoe Bend behind Donner Lake campground, crossed the train tracks, and headed up the dirt road by Lost Trail Lodge.  After the pre-requisite dog patting, we headed steeply up the rutted, rocky trail made worse by dirt bikes.  The trail ascends a ridge, sometimes even narrow enough to look down both sides.  After a while it breaks into a more open area where you can look over to the PCT and Benson Hut/Anderson Peak.  The dusty trail is left behind when you get to the final ascent to the PCT.  Vegetation at and approaching the crest is quite different that the drier east side of the Sierra.  There are more flowers and wind-blown, one-sided trees. The PCT is intersected between Tinker's Knob and Granite Chief.  If you were to go south on the PCT, there is a big descent into a wide canyon on the west side of the crest before it ascends to the intersection with Granite Chief Trail.  Last year we climbed the Granite Chief trail, joining the PCT for a short time around Granite Chief before we made a crazy decision (driven by the gondola schedule) to descend through talus to Squaw's High Camp. 

One-sided trees

Top of Tinker's

 After lunch we climbed Tinker's Knob using hands and feet over the hot rocks.  After the stiff, but mercifully short climb, we were at the top with it's requisite wind and horizontally layered rocks. 

Ready for the long, steep descent, we headed out only to have a couple of us slide out in the same worn gravelly spot about halfway down.   

We had hiked 11-13 miles, depending on whose GPS you believed.  Tinker's was at almost 9,000 feet high and we had climbed 2800 feet. 

Next week we will meet at 8 AM and plan on the Sterling Lake/Fordyce, Old Man Mountain area.  4 wheel drive vehicles will be needed. 

The Knob part

Looking South