Mount Diller, Pilot Pinnacle, Ski Heil Peak & Eagle Peak

Saturday's plan was an off-trail traverse of four summits strung along the ridge above Sulphur Works — the eroded remains of ancient Mount Tehama, the giant stratovolcano that collapsed long before Lassen Peak rose in its place. No maintained trail goes to any of these summits; the route starts on the trail toward Ridge Lakes before breaking off onto loose volcanic scree and class 2-3 scrambling for the rest of the day.

Mount Diller came first at 9,085 feet, followed by Pilot Pinnacle at 8,886 feet, a striking volcanic remnant with a rockier, more exposed summit block than Diller. From there the ridge continued to Ski Heil Peak at 8,940 feet, a rounder, easier summit by comparison, before finishing at Eagle Peak, the high point of the day at 9,222 feet and the tallest of the four remnant peaks on this stretch of ridge.

The views the whole way across were outstanding — Lassen Peak dominating the skyline for most of the traverse, Brokeoff Mountain anchoring the ridge to the south, and long stretches of forested wilderness falling away on both sides between summits. Four solid summits logged in a row, all class 2-3 volcanic rubble without a boot-path to follow between them.

Getting back turned into its own adventure — rather than retracing the ridge, the way down led out to Highway 89, followed by a walk along the road shoulder back to the car at Sulphur Works. Not the easiest way to end a long day of off-trail scrambling, but a fitting final leg for a hike that broke from the trail system for pretty much its entire length.