It was a frosty January morning and just 33º when we started out at the Redbud Trailhead to climb to the top of Brushy Sky High, the highest peak in Cache Creek Wilderness, Lake County. There is a trail the whole way, sort of, but we had to cut our way through some fairly thick brush for a good portion of the route. This lone oak stood sentinel as we set off, and for the whole 14 miles we never saw a soul, only broad vistas over Blue Ridge and Clear Lake. At the top was a small register with only a half dozen names. Not so many hikers make it up that far.