High Adventure Team Patch
GLAAC-HAT
Awards - Mini-Peak Bagger Awards

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Extracted from Hike Aid 16, dated January 2016
Note: In the event of a conflict between this web page and the Hike Aid, the Hike Aid takes precedence.


Table of Contents


Introduction

Mini Peak Bagger PatchesThe Mini-Peak Bagger Program is offered by the Greater Los Angeles Area Council to acquaint Units with backcountry experiences that include elements of backpacking, peak climbing, and conservation work. The Unit Leadership is encouraged to use these outings as an opportunity for developing outdoor skills and working on related merit badges. As most of these peaks are within easy reach for one-day outings, Units that are unable to take overnight backpacking trips can participate in this challenging program. It is hoped that these peak climbing experiences will prepare and lead each hiker into the broadest participation in the High Adventure Program of the GLAAC-HAT.

There are three Mini-Peak Bagger awards, which are earned when a total of 8, 16, and 24 different peaks from the Approved Peaks list are climbed and all other requirements are satisfied. There is no time limit for earning these awards. Therefore, it is essential that an accurate record be maintained to ensure that each participant receives proper credit. The Mini-Peak Bagger Award Record is suggested for this purpose. It is also to be used in applying for an award.

A Unit may request to climb a peak that is not on the approved list, or to use an alternate trailhead for climbing an approved peak. Such a request must be made in writing, at least four weeks prior to the peak climb. The GLAAC-HAT will consider the request at its next scheduled meeting and respond in writing. To be eligible for award credit, the summit of a peak must be line-of-sight from an established trail or the trailhead, have an elevation between 5,000 and 10,000 feet, and have an elevation gain of 800 or more feet from the trailhead. A request is to contain the peak name, elevation, topographical map coverage, trailhead or approach to be taken, and any other pertinent information. However, any peak or trailhead that have conditions that require the use of ropes and/or technical hardware or, otherwise, fall under the BSA- National Council policy stated in Climb On Safely will not be approved.

Information about many of these peaks may be found in Trails of the Angeles and San Bernardino Mountain Trails by John Robinson, On Foot in Joshua Tree National Park by Patty Furbush, and the Sierra Club Los Angeles Chapter's "100 Peak Section Peak Bagger Guide". Your GLAAC-HAT District Representative is also an information source.



Specific Requirements

  1. Select a peak from the approved list.
  2. A maximum of three peaks may be climbed for credit on a single outing, but only two may be climbed on a single day.
  3. Be equipped with the Ten Essentials-Plus and other clothing and equipment as appropriate to the nature and conditions of the outing.
  4. Climb the peak and sign the register in the summit box.
  5. Each hiker is to pick up and pack out all trash along the trail (in addition to his/her own).
  6. Awards are earned as follows:
    1. 8-Mini-Peak Bagger - Climb eight mini-peaks.
    2. 16-Mini-Peak Bagger - Climb eight additional mini-peaks for a total of 16.
    3. 24-Mini-Peak Bagger - Climb eight additional mini-peaks for a total of 24.
    No peak may be climbed more than once for credit.
  7. Prior to applying for each award, each applicant must complete an GLAAC-HAT approved conservation project of not less than 6 hours effort in the Angeles National Forest. A Unit outside the Los Angeles area may make arrangements to do a project in the National Forest nearest its community. A separate six-hour project is to be done for each award - 8, 16, and 24 peaks - to be earned. This project, which will be tailored to the size, interests, and abilities of the Unit, is to be arranged through the Forest/Trail Conservation Committee of the GLAAC-HAT (or the Unit's Council HAT). The Hike Aid 7, "Forest and Trail Conservation", is your guide to its conservation programs. A project may be done at any time, and independent of the peak climbs.
  8. Upon completion of the requirements, submit the Award Record to the GLAAC Scout Shop to purchase them. The Award Record is to be approved by a member of the GLAAC-HAT before purchase.
  9. Once the 24-Mini-Peak Bagger Award is earned, the process may be repeated to earn an additional set of awards.


Difficulty Scale

These ratings are provided to assist the Unit Leadership in selecting peak climbs and participating in the Mini-Peak Bagger Program. They are, by nature, subjective, and actual experience will vary from Unit to Unit. The plan which you prepare for the outing will give you the actual hiking distance and elevation gains for each peak. Start with some easy ones and build your program to progressively include peaks of greater difficulty.

E - Easy: Has a trail from the trailhead to the summit, or a minimum (less than 1/4 mile) of scrambling from the trail to the summit. Usually there is a combination of shorter hiking distance, less elevation gain, and lower elevation.

M - Moderate: May involve more cross-country hiking, i.e., no trail; and scrambling to the summit. Greater distance, elevation gain, and higher summits.

S - Strenuous: Usually no trail for some distance to the summit. Generally requires a full day of hiking, because of distance, elevation gain, height of peak, and lack of trail.

Note: The lack of a trail can easily double your normal hiking time for the distance.



Approved Mini-Peaks

Name Elevation Topographic Map Trailhead/Approach Difficulty

Angeles National Forest
Mt. Hillyer 6162 Chilao Flat Horse Flats Campground E
Iron Mountain No. 3 5040 Chilao Flat Monte Cristo Campground E - M
Strawberry Peak No. 1 6164 Chilao Flat Red Box M
Iron Mountain No. 2 5635 Condor Peak Trail Canyon (Sunland Quad) M
Josephine Peak 5558 Condor Peak Clear Creek Information Station E - M
Mt. Lukens 5074 Condor Peak Stone Canyon M - S
Mt. Baden-Powell 9399 Crystal Lake Vincent Gap or Dawson Saddle M
Mt. Hawkins 8850 Crystal Lake Crystal Lake M
Mt. Islip 8250 Crystal Lake Islip Saddle E
Smith Mountain 5111 Crystal Lake Highway 39 M
Throop Peak 9138 Crystal Lake Crystal Lake or Dawson Saddle M
Mt. Williamson 8248 Crystal Lake Islip Saddle E - M
Bighorn Peak 8441 Cucamonga Peak Icehouse Canyon M
Cucamonga Peak 8859 Cucamonga Peak (optional) M - S
Ontario Peak 8693 Cucamonga Peak Icehouse Canyon M
Timber Peak 8303 Cucamonga Peak Icehouse Canyon E - M
Mt. San Antonio 10064 Mt. San Antonio Baldy Notch* M - S
Wright Mountain 8505 Mt. San Antonio Acorn Canyon E - M
Mt. Lowe 5603 Mt. Wilson (optional) E - M
Mt. Markham 5742 Mt. Wilson Eaton Gap E - M
Mt. Emma 5273 Pacifico Mountain Kentucky Springs Canyon E - M
Telegraph Peak 8985 Telegraph Peak Mt. Baldy Notch* M
Thunder Mountain 8587 Telegraph Peak Mt. Baldy Notch*; Icehouse Cyn M
Twin Peaks 7761 Waterman Mountain Angeles Crest Highway S
Waterman Mountain 8038 Waterman Mountain Angeles Crest Highway M
* Ski lift may be taken to Baldy Notch, as an option to hiking the road from the parking lots.

San Bernardino National Forest
Bertha Peak 8201 Fawnskin Big Bear Ranger Station E - M
Allen Peak 5795 Forest Falls Wilson Creek E - M
Birch Mountain 7826 Forest Falls Oak Glen Ranger Station M
Little San Gorgonio 9133 Forest Falls Little San Gorgonio Trail S
Wilshire Peak 8707 Forest Falls Wilshire Peak Trail M
Apache Peak 7567 Idyllwild Morris Ranch Road M - S
Slide Peak 7841 Keller Peak Lookout Road E
Mineral Mountain 7230 Onyx Peak Round Valley Campground E
Suicide Rock 7528 San Jacinto Peak Deer Spring Trail E

Los Padres National Forest
McDonald Peak 6870 Alamo Mountain Snowy Creek or Alder Creek E - M
Snowy Peak 6559 Alamo Mountain Snowy Creek or Buck Creek M
Black Mountain No. 2 6216 Black Mountain Buck Creek M
White Mountain No. 2 6253 Black Mountain Buck Creek M
Frazier Mountain 8013 Frazier Mountain Chuchupate Campground E - M
Antimony Peak 6848 Pleito Hills Road End E - M
Grouse Mountain 8650 Sawmill Mountain (optional) E
Sawmill Mountain No. 1 8750 Sawmill Mountain (optional) E

Joshua Tree National Park
Quail Mountain 5814 Indian Cove Juniper Flat M
Eureka Peak 5516 Joshua Tree South Black Rock Canyon C. G. E - M
Inspiration Mountain 5575 Keys View Keys View Road E
Ryan Mountain 5457 Keys View Sheep Pass E - M
Lost Horse Mountain 5188 Keys View Keys View Road E
Queen Mountain 5687 Queen Mountain Queen Valley M
Bernard Peak 5360 Rockhouse Canyon Pleasant Valley M

Other Southern California Locations
Cuyamaca Peak 6510 Cuyamaca Peak (optional) E - M
Little Stonewall Peak 5250 Cuyamaca Peak Los Cabellos Campground E
Stonewall Peak 5730 Cuyamaca Peak Paso Picacho Campground E

Philmont Scout Ranch**
Burn Peak 9938
Hart Peak 7978
** There are also peaks that may be climbed for Peak Bagger credit. However, only two peak climbs on a single trek may be used toward earning a GLAAC-sponsored award: both may be Mini-Peak Bagger or Peak Bagger, or one for each award. Crew leaders must advise Philmont - Logistics, before beginning the trek, of any peak climb to be taken that is not on the route of its approved itinerary.