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Friday, June 23, 2017

Kaiser Pass Area June 23, 2017 And The Kaiser Pass Road


Dale Matson

OK, so the “Climb to Kaiser” bicycle ride (“it’s not a race”) is tomorrow and I thought I would see what the area looks like since the pass was just plowed open last week. I completed the sufferfest bicycle ride three times and the 155 miles with 13,000’ of gain is one of the top ten toughest one-day rides. When the cyclists reach Kaiser Pass, they turn around and head back to Clovis CA. Tomorrow they will be finishing in 104-degree heat. Here is a short video clip of the ride: https://www.facebook.com/climbtokaiser/videos/10153654695076541/
The Kaiser Pass road comes off Highway 168 at Huntington Lake and climbs to 9,150’ before dropping down to a junction that will take you to Edison Lake if you head north 7 miles from the junction. If you head south for 7 miles you will end up at Florence Lake. Both of these lakes are a part of the massive Big Creek Hydroelectric Project and are connected underground by the Ward Tunnel. There is no electrical or phone service to either lake. There is evidence along the road that there were utilities at one time. Edison Lake was created by placing a dam on Mono Creek (1954) and Florence Lake was completed in 1926 by placing a dam on the south fork of the San Joaquin River.  The last 7 miles takes about an hour and is only a tad more civilized than the Dusy Ershim OHV Trail that begins one mile from Kaiser Pass, travels through the Dinkey Lakes Wilderness and winds up at Courtright Reservoir after 31 punishing miles. I hiked a portion of this trail and struggled less than those who drove on it. Here is a video clip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt-5BHgM7CA
The Last 7 miles of the Kaiser Pass road really requires a high clearance vehicle. My wife put a hole in her oil pan driving her dad to Edison Lake for fishing. Thankfully there was a mechanic at Edison Lake who made a temporary repair that got her back to Fresno. Mono Hot Springs Resort is also along the road to Edison Lake.
Both Lakes are staring points to join up with the John Muir Trail (JMT) but Edison Lake is also a good starting point for a trans-Sierra Hike up Mono Creek over Mono Pass to the East Side of the Sierra Nevada. That trail joins the Rock Creek Trail.
I went about 5 miles past Kaiser Pass to get some photographs of the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the West. It is a one lane “road” with occasional pullouts to let oncoming traffic pass by. The road is not for the faint of heart.

My photographs were taken with my Sony A7R2, 24-70 2.8 GM lens and an adapted Canon 400 f4. The air is bad right now and the long shots were a bit hazy. 

Click On Photographs To Enlarge
 China Peak Crop 400mm

 China Peak 


 Road To Whitebark Vista Maybe In A Month!









 Portal Forebay
















 Rancheria Falls From Kaiser Pass Road 400mm

  

2 comments:

  1. This was another high snow year. Kaiser Pass remains closed. We'll see if the pass will be cleared in time for this years Climb to Kaiser. Fingers crossed. I see cyclists practicing along 168 but they can't climb above it yet.

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  2. I was told by phone from the high Sierra Ranger station in Auberry, that Kaiser Pass is now open beyond the elephant gate.

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