Find Nearby Peaks

This peak is not in the book. Published November 2019

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Black Mountain is an unimpressive, forested hump that is dominated by Mountain View Peak to the east. It is an unranked summit with an unclear “high point.” Having wandered around for a while to find a clear high point, I think you can ascertain my opinion of this summit. Not a very good one. USGS Pike Mountain 

Southwest Face, Class 2

Access

From the junction of Rock Creek Road/FSR-515 and FSR-500 (signed at the Magic Mountain Ski Area), drive north then west on FSR-500 for 5.2 miles to a signed junction with FST-232, an ATV trail. Park at the base of FST-232 (6,635 feet).

The Climb

Hike up FST-232 for just over ½-mile to reach the southwest side of Black Mountain. The summit is located on the first forested hump past the SECOND saddle that FST-232 crosses. Find a decent 2-track jeep road (not shown on maps) heading diagonally northeast directly at the summit area in the forest. Hike up this old road into the forest to the ridge crest, which is a forested, flat area with no clear high point.

The first potential high point is located just to the left/west of the small forest in an open area of scrub. Based on the USGS map, this is probably the high point of Black Mountain. The second potential high point is located to the south of the point where the old road reaches the ridge crest. Bushwhack through a short section of pine forest to reach another open area at the south end of the summit area. The south summit measures five feet higher than the west summit according to my altimeter readings. But that’s a close call.

I found no other point in the thick pine forest itself that qualified as a higher point and I wandered around for a while looking for a cairn or any other sign of previous ascent but found none. From wherever your wanderings conclude, return to either the old 2-track jeep road or descend west or southwest to FST-232 and return back to its origin at FSR-500 and your parked vehicle.