The Challenge



The Challenge

The Challenge is to reach the summits of the 20 peaks listed below.
There is an bonus component which is to climb Mount Johnson (click here for more information) in the Sierra Nevada.: No one has completed the primary component of the Challenge.
Who will be the first?
The Basics
When hiking any distance from your vehicle there are some basic necessities that should be in
your dayback, on your body and in your head.
Click here to learn more.

The Log
A photo journal of all summits since November 2007.

The List.
Ranked by difficulty and/or length.
Click on the peak's name for more information about the peak.: It is always prudent to research each peak thoroughly via the internet or guide book.
Photo Name Click on the peak's name for more information. Distance Roundtrip miles Elevation Comments Year Mr. Johnson Summited Notes from Mr. Johnson's hiking log. 1. Saddleback Butte Map to butte 3.5 3,651 Good starting hike. Great views of the Mojave Desert. 1998 and Oct 2005 Hiked in from the paved road to the east across small sand dunes and on up the rocky ridge. There was a group of Boy Scouts on the summit so I napped on the ridge about 100 yards away until they departed the summit. Hiked from camping area to summit. Sandy trail on lower sections. About 1 1/2 miles to summit. 2. Mount Lewis 1 8,396 This short steep hike begins next to a Caltrans building. 2003, Dec 13 No summit canister, nice place to camp at summit, cold at the start of the hike. We sat on a downed tree and enjoyed the sunshine at summit. 3. Reyes Peak 2 7,510 The ocean is visible from the summit. 2004, Sept 5 Hiked from end of road to the summit. The sun was close to setting when we began and was late into the sunset as we arrived at the summit. We found the canister after scrambling to the top of the summit block. 4. Antimony Peak 5 6,848 Hike up an old narrow jeep road to the summit. 2001 Hike in on an old jeep road to a flat spot near the summit. The last portion of the road switch backs up a steep climb west of a sheer cliff. Found the oldest register ever read by us. 5. Tehachapi Mountain 4.4 7,960 Relax on the summit amid the pines after several steep sections. 2004, May 2 It was very hot in the low lands. Over 100º's, so we decided to hike at a higher elevation. I met a man named Bob hiking the peak for his fifth time. Still a few patches of snow near the summit. 6. Mount Williamson 3 8,214 Wind up the switch backs to fantastic views of the western Mojave. 2000 Hiked to the summit because Jan wanted to visit her namesake. She received an Adventure Pass ticket. 7. Waterman Mountain 8 8,038 Hike through the forest to this rocky summit. 2002, April 27 It was a chilly hike to the summit. Many on the trees were covered in hoar frost which occasionally fell. About 300 yards from the summit is the ski lift machinery. 8. Thorn Point (Lookout ) 8 6,920 The drive to the trailhead is an adventure. I nformation about the lookout. 2002, Apr 20 Spent some time exploring the lookout. Pleasant hike. 9. Mount Disappointment, San Gabriel Peak, Mount Markham, Mount Lowe. 7 5,960-6,161- 5,742-5,603 Four peaks in one day. Eighty years ago you could have traveled on the Mount Lowe Railway to these peaks. 2004, Feb 1 Super Bowl Sunday. Markham is the toughest of the four peaks. Reminded me of a short Iron Mountain. A metal bench at the summit of San Gabriel We hiked out on the old road which passes through the Mueller Tunnel. 10. Strawberry Peak 6 6,164 Take the Colby Canyon trailhead and experience a little Class 3 climbing. Some may want a rope. 2000, Oct Hiked and then climbed the two Class 3 sections to the summit. It was very foggy near the top so we could not see the cliffs on either side of the last climb. 11. Five Fingers 2 5,174 More Class 3 and the views are awesome. Some may want a rope. 2000 Nelson scampered up a steep class four chute while the rest of us climbed the class three route. Amanda dropped the register pen into the rocks. Luckily there was another. 12. Mount Baden-Powell, and Mount Burnham 8 9,399 and 8,997 Hike from Dawson Saddle to BP and you can summit Burnham as well. 1998 Hiked to the top of this peak while getting in shape to visit Telescope Peak. 13. Mount San Antonio (Mount Baldy) 7 10,064 Take the ski lift to the ski chalet and then hike from there. Great warm weather hike. 2002, May 12 Rode the ski lift to the chalet and hiked from there. Photos of James Arness skiing the slopes in the 60's. Still a bit on snow near the summit. While eating lunch on the summit watched a whirlwind form right in front of us. It started as a miniature tornado about six inches high and grew to about 30 feet high. It ripped the hat off of my head and sent it spinning out over the edge of the mountain about 50 feet away but it continued to circle around and landed ten feet from me. 14. Split Mountain 8 6,835 This is a long hike with a short section of Class 2+ at the summit. Take plenty of water if it is hot. 2003, May 31 Hot. Rocky section near summit. Encountered arrogant Sierra Club members while we were resting near summit. They chose to take the long way back and we gave some of them a lift in our truck to their vehicles. 15. Owens Peak 7 8,453 About five miles round trip but the vertical gain will test you. Some Class 2+. 2001 We hiked in with packs and sleeping bags about a mile from the summit. We dropped packs just before the hard class two sections and completed the climb. Still some snow on the north slope. Summited the next year with parents and students on an Explorers trek. 16. Telescope Peak 14 11,049 Long 14 mile round trip hike but the views into Death Valley on the east, Panamint Valley on the west and the distant Sierra Nevada are unforgettable. Summer hike. 1998 Spent the night camping at Mahogany Flat and then hiked to the summit the next day. Just a little snow but very windy near the summit.

Note: A visitor to this site asked if this was Mr. Johnson's peak list.
No. He has reached the summits of more than 290 individual peaks.: (Of which, 57 are higher than Telescope Peak.)
Remember, the bonus component of the challenge is to climb the peak in the photo.

It is the peak just left of center.
View movie of Mount Johnson in the Sierra Nevada.

Photo	Name Click on the peak's name for more information.	Distance Roundtrip miles	Elevation	Comments	Year Mr. Johnson Summited	Notes from Mr. Johnson's hiking log.
	1. Saddleback Butte Map to butte	3.5	3,651	Good starting hike. Great views of the Mojave Desert.	1998 and Oct 2005	Hiked in from the paved road to the east across small sand dunes and on up the rocky ridge. There was a group of Boy Scouts on the summit so I napped on the ridge about 100 yards away until they departed the summit. Hiked from camping area to summit. Sandy trail on lower sections. About 1 1/2 miles to summit.
	2. Mount Lewis	1	8,396	This short steep hike begins next to a Caltrans building.	2003, Dec 13	No summit canister, nice place to camp at summit, cold at the start of the hike. We sat on a downed tree and enjoyed the sunshine at summit.
	3. Reyes Peak	2	7,510	The ocean is visible from the summit.	2004, Sept 5	Hiked from end of road to the summit. The sun was close to setting when we began and was late into the sunset as we arrived at the summit. We found the canister after scrambling to the top of the summit block.
	4. Antimony Peak	5	6,848	Hike up an old narrow jeep road to the summit.	2001	Hike in on an old jeep road to a flat spot near the summit. The last portion of the road switch backs up a steep climb west of a sheer cliff. Found the oldest register ever read by us.
	5. Tehachapi Mountain	4.4	7,960	Relax on the summit amid the pines after several steep sections.	2004, May 2	It was very hot in the low lands. Over 100º's, so we decided to hike at a higher elevation. I met a man named Bob hiking the peak for his fifth time. Still a few patches of snow near the summit.
	6. Mount Williamson	3	8,214	Wind up the switch backs to fantastic views of the western Mojave.	2000	Hiked to the summit because Jan wanted to visit her namesake. She received an Adventure Pass ticket.
	7. Waterman Mountain	8	8,038	Hike through the forest to this rocky summit.	2002, April 27	It was a chilly hike to the summit. Many on the trees were covered in hoar frost which occasionally fell. About 300 yards from the summit is the ski lift machinery.
	8. Thorn Point (Lookout )	8	6,920	The drive to the trailhead is an adventure. I nformation about the lookout.	2002, Apr 20	Spent some time exploring the lookout. Pleasant hike.
	9. Mount Disappointment, San Gabriel Peak, Mount Markham, Mount Lowe.	7	5,960-6,161- 5,742-5,603	Four peaks in one day. Eighty years ago you could have traveled on the Mount Lowe Railway to these peaks.	2004, Feb 1	Super Bowl Sunday. Markham is the toughest of the four peaks. Reminded me of a short Iron Mountain. A metal bench at the summit of San Gabriel We hiked out on the old road which passes through the Mueller Tunnel.
	10. Strawberry Peak	6	6,164	Take the Colby Canyon trailhead and experience a little Class 3 climbing. Some may want a rope.	2000, Oct	Hiked and then climbed the two Class 3 sections to the summit. It was very foggy near the top so we could not see the cliffs on either side of the last climb.
	11. Five Fingers	2	5,174	More Class 3 and the views are awesome. Some may want a rope.	2000	Nelson scampered up a steep class four chute while the rest of us climbed the class three route. Amanda dropped the register pen into the rocks. Luckily there was another.
	12. Mount Baden-Powell, and Mount Burnham	8	9,399 and 8,997	Hike from Dawson Saddle to BP and you can summit Burnham as well.	1998	Hiked to the top of this peak while getting in shape to visit Telescope Peak.
	13. Mount San Antonio (Mount Baldy)	7	10,064	Take the ski lift to the ski chalet and then hike from there. Great warm weather hike.	2002, May 12	Rode the ski lift to the chalet and hiked from there. Photos of James Arness skiing the slopes in the 60's. Still a bit on snow near the summit. While eating lunch on the summit watched a whirlwind form right in front of us. It started as a miniature tornado about six inches high and grew to about 30 feet high. It ripped the hat off of my head and sent it spinning out over the edge of the mountain about 50 feet away but it continued to circle around and landed ten feet from me.
	14. Split Mountain	8	6,835	This is a long hike with a short section of Class 2+ at the summit. Take plenty of water if it is hot.	2003, May 31	Hot. Rocky section near summit. Encountered arrogant Sierra Club members while we were resting near summit. They chose to take the long way back and we gave some of them a lift in our truck to their vehicles.
	15. Owens Peak	7	8,453	About five miles round trip but the vertical gain will test you. Some Class 2+.	2001	We hiked in with packs and sleeping bags about a mile from the summit. We dropped packs just before the hard class two sections and completed the climb. Still some snow on the north slope. Summited the next year with parents and students on an Explorers trek.
	16. Telescope Peak	14	11,049	Long 14 mile round trip hike but the views into Death Valley on the east, Panamint Valley on the west and the distant Sierra Nevada are unforgettable. Summer hike.	1998	Spent the night camping at Mahogany Flat and then hiked to the summit the next day. Just a little snow but very windy near the summit.