Andesite Peak (Nevada County, California)

I had to travel to Reno yesterday for work and since I'm going to be here, I decided to arrange my schedule to allow me to enjoy a few extra days with friends and seeking adventure. This morning, I'll combine the two. Joining my long-time friend, Nick, we head across the border into California with Andesite Peak in our sites. I've hiked many other trails and peaks in and around this mountain, but never summited the peak itself. Today, we'll be attempting to do just that. It's late in the year and there is snow on some of the taller mountains, but hopefully, that won't be a problem.

Parking my rental at the end of the pavement on Castle Peak Road on other side of Interstate 80 from Boreal Ski Resort and then finding a 'facili-tree' to relieve myself before the hike, we prepare to start the hike. I'm taken by the fresh air and smell of pine up here on Donner Pass. I really miss this environment. I like hike in my new home near Atlanta, but it's just not the same. 

We make quick work of the dirt road and soon take a left turn onto the single track to begin heading up to the peak. Passing through the forest, we spot a few piles of black bear scat on the trail, but they appear to be a day or two old. The lazy creatures they are, bears will almost always follow human trails as they are the path of least resistance through the forest. We do pass a couple of patches of shallow snow, but there isn't much here. In the distance, we get a few great views of the nearby Castle Peak and the valleys to the north and south.

Following the switchbacks, we are soon above the tree line. The trail here becomes loose scree and the travel becomes much more precarious. There are a couple of sketchy areas, but eventually, we reach the summit. Andesite Peak rises 8,219 feet above sea level and offers some magnificent views of the Sierra Nevada Range, which surrounds us. The views really are breathtaking and I catch myself thinking about how much I truly miss living near this area. The mountains of Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina just aren't the same.

After spending a few minutes on the summit, we carefully make our way back down the way we came and returning to the car. We hiked about 5.1 miles today and it was a really nice hike. It was also nice to be able to hike with my friend, who I normally only see a couple of times a year. Hopefully, I'll be able to get more trails in during my visit.