Mugu, Exchange, Big Dome, Pop Top, Sandstone Peak
Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 2:01 pm
Did some Sierra Club lower peak house cleaning on 4/16 in the Malibu area.
I started the morning at the Chumash trail turn out just off the PCH and did the one hour round trip to Mugu Peak. Because of the marine layer, there was no poster worthy sunrise and not much to see.
Malibu Lagoon from Mugu Peak
After finishing Mugu Peak, I drove to the Sandstone Peak trailhead off Yerba Buena road. On my first visit to the Sandstone area last year, I failed to reach Exchange Peak by missing the use trail. I was back to right that wrong and pick up the other peak I missed, Big Dome. I started up the trail and went straight to Exchange, passing three peaks I hit last year. This time, I found the use trail without any difficulty. Nothing beats good satellite prep. The use trail was narrow and wound around to the west side for an easy class 1 ascent. I found a battered benchmark, but no register anywhere on the long peak.
Nearing Exchange Peak
Looking down from Exchange Peak, Tri-Peaks on the left, Big Dome center
Some kind of battered benchmark on Exchange Peak
The Sierra Club route to Big Dome goes around Tri-Peaks, but it looked closer to go cross country from the Mishe Mokwa trail. I looked for a break in the chaparral along the trail to head toward it. Once off trail, I found a dry creek bed and headed up. It was mostly clear of obstructions, through an occasional yucca or strand of poison oak would temporarily divert me out of the creek. Eventually, I reached a clearing where I could climb to the saddle, then the top of Big Dome. I still had time, so I headed toward the unofficial peak Pop Top, just across a ravine. I gave up some elevation, then gained it back on the other side where a well defined use trail took me to Pop Top in about 15 minutes. From that vantage point, a nice looking use trail heading to Tri-Peaks, the one mentioned in the Sierra Club route, was visible and looked more appealing than going back the way I came. I circled around Tri-Peaks and found the trail back, though I passed my junction by a few tenths of a mile. I can't seem to get out of the Sandstone area without making a mistake. With still more time available, I visited Sandstone Peak (my second summit, but first for the day) and signed one of the three registers in the cubby below the monument. I got a few photos from the area high point, then called it a day.
Heading to Big Dome, Pop Top on the left edge
Up the dry creek
Exiting the creek, on the side of Big Dome
Pop Top from Big Dome
Cliffy ridge behind Tri-Peaks
Collection of lower peaks from Sandstone Peak summit
I started the morning at the Chumash trail turn out just off the PCH and did the one hour round trip to Mugu Peak. Because of the marine layer, there was no poster worthy sunrise and not much to see.
Malibu Lagoon from Mugu Peak
After finishing Mugu Peak, I drove to the Sandstone Peak trailhead off Yerba Buena road. On my first visit to the Sandstone area last year, I failed to reach Exchange Peak by missing the use trail. I was back to right that wrong and pick up the other peak I missed, Big Dome. I started up the trail and went straight to Exchange, passing three peaks I hit last year. This time, I found the use trail without any difficulty. Nothing beats good satellite prep. The use trail was narrow and wound around to the west side for an easy class 1 ascent. I found a battered benchmark, but no register anywhere on the long peak.
Nearing Exchange Peak
Looking down from Exchange Peak, Tri-Peaks on the left, Big Dome center
Some kind of battered benchmark on Exchange Peak
The Sierra Club route to Big Dome goes around Tri-Peaks, but it looked closer to go cross country from the Mishe Mokwa trail. I looked for a break in the chaparral along the trail to head toward it. Once off trail, I found a dry creek bed and headed up. It was mostly clear of obstructions, through an occasional yucca or strand of poison oak would temporarily divert me out of the creek. Eventually, I reached a clearing where I could climb to the saddle, then the top of Big Dome. I still had time, so I headed toward the unofficial peak Pop Top, just across a ravine. I gave up some elevation, then gained it back on the other side where a well defined use trail took me to Pop Top in about 15 minutes. From that vantage point, a nice looking use trail heading to Tri-Peaks, the one mentioned in the Sierra Club route, was visible and looked more appealing than going back the way I came. I circled around Tri-Peaks and found the trail back, though I passed my junction by a few tenths of a mile. I can't seem to get out of the Sandstone area without making a mistake. With still more time available, I visited Sandstone Peak (my second summit, but first for the day) and signed one of the three registers in the cubby below the monument. I got a few photos from the area high point, then called it a day.
Heading to Big Dome, Pop Top on the left edge
Up the dry creek
Exiting the creek, on the side of Big Dome
Pop Top from Big Dome
Cliffy ridge behind Tri-Peaks
Collection of lower peaks from Sandstone Peak summit
