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| Tinker Knob   | 
| Page Type: Mountain/Rock Location: California, United States, North America Lat/Lon: 39.24500°N / 120.284°W Elevation: 8949 ft / 2728 m | Page By: 1000Pks Created/Edited: Sep 15, 2004 / Sep 28, 2008 Object ID: 153084 Hits: 4820 Loading... Page Score: 88.99% - 14 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
OverviewThis is a good, long, hike from major trailheads along or near the Pacific Crest Trail. Both start from the vicinity of major ski resorts. Hundreds climb this peak each year. The peak is seen from Interstate 80 from about the town of Truckee, CA. It is all class 1 trail, except for maybe 50 feet of class 2, to the summit plateau. A couple cairns are built atop this peak.
Getting ThereThere are two or three ways to approach this mountain. One starts from the PCT trailhead near Old Donner Pass. The other starts from the fire station near the 1960 Winter Olympic ski resort parking lot. Sometimes, the ski lifts may be employed to save some elevation gain and mileage. A fee may be charged for this.
Otherwise, one-way, it's about 8 miles from the north, and 7 miles from the south. The total gain in each of the two ways is roughly 3,000 feet, with some extra gain completing a round trip or one-way shuttle.
You can drive taking Interstate 80 to about Old Donner Pass, reached by exiting at the Soda Springs Exit, for the northern approach. The southern approach is reached from CA 89, the highway dedicated to the 10th Mountain Division.
The trails from both ways are well marked.
There is an approach from the east, along dirt roads, that I have never done, although it is reputed to be much shorter. You can take a dirt road west from about Truckee, CA. High clearance or 4WD may be better for this. There may be some private land to cross.
More exact details for the two PCT routes are available online in the Northern Sierra Peaks Guide, along with directions for some 85 other Northern Sierra peaks, at the PETE'S THOUSAND PEAKS website.
Red TapeNo permits are required for day use. Parking is haphazard, but free on both ends. Do not park, without permission, or payment, in the northern side, paved lot run by the Sugar Bowl Academy! A sign requests vehicles to park along the Old Donner Pass Highway, instead of along the dirt side road accessing the PCT trailhead.
The peak is within the Tahoe National Forest.
In winter, there may be parking fees and other restrictions at the ski resorts. Please obey the parking signs. Snow plows can heavily damage your vehicle if obscured by night or heavy snow.
When To ClimbThe peak can be climbed, or backcountry-skied, in all seasons. By far, most people will hike the trail in the summer or early fall. The Sierra Crest, here, receives much precipitation and gale force winds. Snowfall levels here have been record for California. Backcountry skiers have perished attempting to ski along the Crest ridge.
CampingThere are small campgrounds along Interstate 80 and Highway 89 both ways from the two trailheads. There is no reliable water or good campsites available nearby, enroute, along both routes via the PCT, except for maybe Mountain Meadows Lake, which is private land run by the University of California.
The Sierra Club's Benson Hut, on the north side of Anderson Peak, offers a rudimentary backcountry lodge stay at a fair rate. It appears to sleep maybe 15-20 people. This is about two miles north, from the Knob. A side trail marked by a wooden "PCT" sign, or another side trail about a few hundred yards further west (southbound) of this sign, and up the hill, lead to the hut.
There is also plenty of lodging about Lake Tahoe and Reno, NV.
Mountain ConditionsCheck the local TV station websites for current Sierra weather. kcra.com, fox40.com, and news10.net offer local weather reports. There may be webcams at the ski resorts. The Tahoe National Forest will have conditions, with official avalanche warnings for the resorts and backcountry, in winter.
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