Mt Pinos Star Gazing

Open to anybody that wants to come..

Here are the dates for 2012
  • March 24  (maybe)
  • April 21
  • May 19
  • June 16 or 23
  • July 14 or 21
  • Aug 18
  • Sept 15
  • Oct 13

Note: Even if I don't make these dates because of work or some other reason, if the night is clear there will be a group of friendly people up there that will be glad to let you look through their scopes.  Just be friendly and polite and ask them.  There are only one or two unfriendly people.

Click Here for Moon Phase Calendar
Here is the deal.. Bring snacks and LOTS of warm cloths.. better to have too many than not enough.. Mt Pinos is a little above 8000 ft and it does get cold at night.  Sometimes real cold!  So if you don't bring plenty of warm cloths then it's your fault because you have been told.  Try to be mindful of the weather conditions for the day you plan on coming up!  If it's cloudy or rainy, I won't be there and probably nobody else will be there either.   Also, I am always up there on the dates I've posted, unless it's cloudy, raining or I have to work.  But if I have to work and can't make it, there are always plenty of others up there that are very friendly and very willing to let you have a look through their scope.. Just Ask!

If you have a tent and want to spend the night, there is a free camp sight with fire pits and only about 500 to 1000 feet away.  Oh and remember that you need to have an Adventure Pass to park up in the parking lot.  Only $5 for a one day pass and $30 for an annual.  CLICK HERE to find a location close to you to get one or you can buy one online.

Bring snacks and something to drink.. even hot chocolate.. I usually have my camping stove for heating water.  There is a nice hiking trail so if you come up early enough you can do a nice hike.  Bring some water also.  A lawn chair would be good.  Plan to stay up late but for those that must leave, try to make it till at least 10 or 11 PM. 

Bring a RED flashlight.. white lights mess up your night vision.  I usually have a couple of extras to loan out but it's better to bring one for yourself.  There are lots of cool things to see and usually a bunch of friendly people with telescopes that will let you look.. just ask them.

Here is how to get there.. very simple and about 1 hour north of Valencia.  Take the 5 north about 35 minutes till you get to the Frasier Park exit (Past Gorman about 4 or 5 miles).  At the bottom of the exit turn left under the freeway and just stay straight on that road all the way up to the top till you get to the big parking lot. You're there!  Try to get there before sunset and earlier if you want to hike or just relax.  Oh, did I mention BRING LOTS OF WARM CLOTHS!!!!   When you leave in the dark, try to leave the parking lot with your parking lights then turn on your lights as you head down the hill.  It helps the other stargazers maintain their night vision and also there are some people doing photography.  Questions?  Call me at 661-252-4432.

 

just a quick tips list..

Star Gazing on Mt. Pinos Summit

Mount Pinos is considered to be one of the best star gazing locations in California due to its dark skies, extremely low light pollution, and frequent clear skies. It is a favorite place for amateur astronomers. The usual viewing area is in the large parking area (Chula Vista) surrounded by tall pines located about 1.4 miles east of the actual Mt. Pinos peak.

Tips for New Mt. Pinos Star Gazers

  1. Check the sunset time for the day you plan to visit and allow enough time to arrive before nightfall. If you want a nice viewing location, arrive between 2:00pm or 3:00pm.
  2. Temperatures drop in the early evening even in summer, so take plenty of warm clothing and blankets if you plan on spending any length of time outside your vehicle.
  3. Pack snacks and beverages or purchase them in Frazier Park or Lake of the Woods on the way to the summit. Sometimes portable restrooms are located in the parking area, but there are outhouse type bathrooms down the trail to the campsite area about 100 yards.  Good idea to bring along your own roll of toilet paper and sanitary wipes.
  4. An Adventure Pass is required. CLICK HERE
  5. Back your car into its parking space. Reverse backup lights are extremely bright when the eyes of your fellow star gazers are adapted to the dark. Turn the courtesy light in your car to the OFF position.
  6. Use Red-Filtered flashlights outside. Keeping the ground light in the parking area to a minimum is the goal.
  7. When leaving the parking lot, many people use only their parking lights. If they drive a GM car with daytime headlights, they will pull their emergency brake up one click to shut them off until they are out of the parking lot. The decision to use or not use your headlights in the parking area is up to you – consider your safety and the safety of others first.
  8. Arriving early has its rewards. You’ll find a better parking spot for star gazing, meet fellow amateur astronomers, and learn about astronomy equipment. You can also hike up to the peak of Mount Pinos. It's about 1.4 miles. On a clear day, you can see the entire San Joaquin Valley and the surrounding mountain ranges.
  9. See “Driving Directions Above to Mt. Pinos” and Map Below.

Hope to see you there!!