Mid Sierra Musings: Twin Lakes And Potter Pass 2020 Kaiser Wilderness

Dale Matson

For additional information see here: https://midsierramusing.blogspot.com/2013/08/potter-pass.html

Hike Route

This was a dryer year and my son Ben and I did the hike sooner that past years. There were quite a few cars parked at Badger Flat on Kaiser Pass Road. This hike is popular not just with day hikers but also with backpackers. Most backpackers camp at Upper Twin or George Lake. The outbound view at Potter Pass was hazy but better when we returned inbound. There was also a breeze which kept the mosquitoes at bay. Typically, folks don’t go as far as George Lake unless they are staying the night. It is a tough day hike if you include George Lake.

The trail had been cleared of winter deadfalls and the trail was in fine shape. There was some snow on the sides of the trail before the “creek crossing”. If you have a means to purify or filter water, there is plenty to be found right now. As the season progresses, the only water will be in the lakes. Ben and I had a hike time of about four hours.

This is a relatively high hike with Potter Pass about 9,000’. The hike up from the parking lot when you are fresh is civilized but the return hike from the lakes is a bit of a grind from the creek crossing back up to Potter Pass.

We had no swimmers with us this year to swim out to the island at Upper Twin Lake. It was a cool start and a warm but not hot finish. This year I used my Sony A7R4 and two prime lenses. I used the Sony 85mm 1.8 and the 24mm 1.4.

This is the first of my annual trifecta of hikes to prepare me for backpacking on the east side of the Sierra. The next hike is Nellie lake and the third hike is Kaiser Peak (10,300’). Each is gradually more difficult and longer and all are in the Kaiser Wilderness.