Dale Matson
(Click on pictures to enlarge)
My spring warm up hikes are local and increase in degree of
difficulty in anticipation of the summer backpacking season. Even these day
hikes involve climbing at altitude. Commercial airlines have a cabin pressure
of 8,000’. Folks in an airplane are not climbing however and it seems to me
that over 8,000’ is when I begin to notice the elevation when climbing. Hiking
on the flat at 10,000’ does not seem that bad but the minute the trail begins
to ascend it is a different matter. I have also noticed that there is an
inverse relationship between the amount of people on a trail and the altitude (Half
Dome and Mt. Whitney excepted).
The most direct route to Kaiser Peak is from a trailhead out
of the Village of Lakeshore CA (Huntington Lake) about one and one half hours from
Fresno CA. The hike is twelve miles round trip with about 3,400’ of altitude
gain overall. It is a long day hike with the total time out about seven hours.
Even early in the season there are not many opportunities to resupply water. By
mid summer, there is no water access
and two liters of water is a minimum. I would also recommend starting before
7am to avoid climbing in the heat. Even though the valley heat doesn't reach
that elevation, the sun is much more intense.
Afternoon thunderstorms are a
possibility and packing a hooded rain shell is prudent. Bring a map and compass
and remember, if all fails head south toward Huntington Lake. I use trekking
poles and they really help with the steepest sections up and down.
I did not expect much snow on the trail this year, which was
the case. It is early yet and the horse stable sign was not erected at the
intersection of Huntington Lake Road and Upper Dear Creek Ln yet. There is a
small parking area at the end of the road across from the horse stable. The
trailhead is on the north side of the stables.
Snow Plant
Huntington Lake At Resting Place Below College Rock (Panorama)
China Peak Ski Area Above Huntington Lake
China Peak Ski Area Above Huntington Lake
The first 3 miles of the outbound hike is the most climb.
There is a nice view of Huntington Lake and China Peak before you get to
College Rock with places to rest a bit. At three miles you will be at College
Rock and have climbed about 2,000’. At this point you will have to leave the
trail to your right (outbound) to see the view. The mountains are just
beginning to peek over the ridge. The next three miles has less climbing
overall but the altitude makes what climbing you do have, more difficult. The
summit is a “walk up” and a nice place for lunch. The whole central Sierras are
laid before you to the east.
College Rock
False Summit Number II
Last Snow On The Trail
Central Sierra Nevada Mountains
Edison Lake Barely Visible To Right Of Center
Huntington Lake From Kaiser Peak
Zoom Shot
All but one of these photographs was taken with a Sony A7
with a 35mm prime lens. The zoom shot on top of Kaiser Peak was taken with a
pocket Sony. Don't forget a camera. I don't know if you can get out with a cell
phone since I don't carry one. Life is all about perspective.
There are additional photographs on YouTube here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5gOeSZT4vg
There are additional photographs on YouTube here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5gOeSZT4vg
Here is an update with a hike in Spring 2015.
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Here is 2016
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