Climbing Alta Peak, Sequoia NP

[lambertiana]

Ever since I moved to Visalia 12 years ago, I have wanted to climb Alta Peak, which is just above Giant Forest. It is a fairly prominent peak, but, since it is not as high as most of the other peaks that are nearby, I have neglected it. I kept thinking that I would get to it eventually. Today I finally remedied that. Instead of taking the trail to the top, I decided that I wanted to go up the north side from Pear Lake. The first part of the hike covered the same ground that was in my thread on Emerald Lake a couple months ago, so I won't include pictures of that section. If you want to see them, they are here:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/969127-Overnight-at-Emerald-Lake-Sequoia-NP

The first noteworthy event was seeing a mother bear and a cub as we drove up. But that wasn't the only bear encounter; as we neared the Watchtower, I came around a truck-sized boulder to come face-to-face with a bear that was in a large cave-like opening in the rocks. Fortunately there was an opening in the back and the bear beat a hasty retreat, then circled down below us; I was then able to get this picture

After leaving Emerald Lake we went on to Pear Lake

That is Alta Peak (highest point) above Pear Lake

We started up the granite slabs on the left in that picture, then traversed across the basin above. We spent a lot of time boulder hopping; rhis is partway up the basin

Looking down on Pear Lake

My friend on the rocks

The only place we could see on the headwall that looked like it offered access to the top of the ridge was the chute in the center here

As we got closer we didn't like the looks of that chute, but there was another to the right of it that looked better

Here is looking up that chute. From this point I had to put my camera away so I could use my hands to go up it

 

[lambertiana]

Once on top of the ridge, we could see that it was an easy traverse to the summit

The summit has outstanding views, here are some pics; first looking east toward the Great Western Divide with the Kaweahs standing tall behind it (the high saddle visible in the middle of the Kaweahs is where I crossed Pyra-Queen col on my nine day trip last month)

Toward the southern part of the Great Western Divide; the peaks above Mineral King are on the right, and Sawtooth is prominent there

Looking down toward the valley where I live

Looking northeast

A few more pics from the descent (we took the trail down)

I really enjoyed this one. It was also one of the hardest dayhikes I have done in a long time, about 15 miles and 4300' vertical, with a significant portion of that vertical off trail on boulders and slabs.

 

[jds1]

What a great hike! Thanks for posting the sweet photos.

Jeff

 

[Stickman]

Awesome photos as usual, it's like leafing thru a calendar, you live in an amazing area!

 

[street soldier]

The timing of this thread is interesting. I just finished reading a book about a park ranger that went missing from Sequoia/ Kings Canyon Park. It's called The Last Season and is about Park Ranger Randy Morgenson. Great read.

Amazing pictures. You are very lucky to live in an area with wilderness like that.

John

 

[Hawkeye5]

Those pictures are way cool. Thanks for posting.

 

[Loosearrow]

Wow! Beautiful.