Dale Matson
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Taking A Break At The Watchtower
When I hike, I like to hike to a view or hike to water. This
hike combines both and while strenuous, is one of the best day hikes in Sequoia
National Park. The trailhead is two hours from Fresno taking highway 180 east and
the General’s Highway south to Wolverton. Wolverton is just south of Lodgepole.
While the outbound trail sign at Wolverton states that it is 6.2 miles to Pear
Lake, my GPS had the round trip at over 14 miles with over 3,000’ of altitude
gain over the course of the entire hike. The beginning elevation is about
7,275’. This was a long hike of 9.5 hours. This is a civilized grade throughout most of
the hike with the trail in shade until it breaks out into the open at the
“Watchtower” if you take this loop rather than the “Hump” route.
Telephoto Shot Of Tokopah Falls
Telephoto Shot Of Trail To The Falls View
At the
Watchtower, you can see and hear the Tokopah Falls on the Kaweah River far
below. You can see a trail out of the Lodgepole campground (less than 4 miles
round trip) that takes you to a viewing area of the falls. Both the Watchtower and Hump Trails rejoin
before Heather Lake. We took the Watchtower loop both outbound and inbound.
Heather Lake
After the Watchtower, the trail follows a ledge and one must
be careful about walking along this spot. The trail as far a Heather Lake is
popular since it is only 8 miles as an out and back. Water resupply is not an
issue with the lakes along the way. There is no overnight camping at Heather
Lake.
Aster Lake From Trail Above
Emerald Lake
Looking Back At Watchtower
Telephoto Of Ranger Station/Ski Hut
Sharon Standing Next To Evergreen Tree
After Heather Lake, the trail travels between Aster Lake and
Emerald Lakes. While Aster Lake can be seen from the trail, it is less
accessible at over 100’ below the trail, Emerald lake is an easy walk and worth
the view. There are established campgrounds at both Emerald and Pear Lakes with
lavatory facilities also. An overnight wilderness permit is required.
Pear Lake
The trail climbs another 300’ to Pear Lake and the view is
the best of the lakes along the way. The vistas are great along the trail and
become even better as the afternoon clouds begin to roll in with the better
lighting of the sun angle. The Pear Lake Ranger Station is on a separate trail,
considerably north and 300’ below Pear Lake.
There are trail markers in the trees that indicate that this
is also a winter ski trail. The Ranger Station is a ski hut in the winter.
While rare, a man was killed in an avalanche in 2008 near Heather Lake.
There is a YouTube video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWkKpJHsLmQ&list=UU0G3jx2PLv6FOw2NM5Aa6Yw
There is a YouTube video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWkKpJHsLmQ&list=UU0G3jx2PLv6FOw2NM5Aa6Yw
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