Distance: 11.5 miles round trip on trail
Summit Elevation: 9055' (College Rock), 10313' (Kaiser)
Elevation Gain: 3294'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 2.6
Round trip time: 6 hours 30 minutes
Recommended water: 112 oz.
Parking/Fees: Free at Deer Creek Pack Station
Difficulty: Strenuous
Leisa and I spent a couple of days exploring the Sierra National Forest around Huntington Lake. We had visited the area in July, 2023 and attempted to climb Kaiser Peak then. We got turned back a mile from the summit, being unprepared for the deep snow we found. That was year with late winter storms. This time, we were prepared, and of course, found only a few small snow fields clinging to life off trail. The trail starts at the Deer Creek Pack Station north of Huntington Lake. The trail is shared with horses, but we didn't meet any. There were two other vehicles at the trailhead and enough parking for about ten. The first three miles wind through tall cedars and pines, with overly long switchbacks. Views opened up on the lake below. We took a break at College Rock, and I took the opportunity to clamber up. A single, somewhat awkward class 3 move got me to the top. The high point was in the middle of the formation and had no marks or register. It did have an unobstructed view of Huntington Lake. We continued up through a flat area that was a frozen swamp on our last visit, recognizing the point where we turned around. The trail went up a gully to a break in the cliff wall. Beyond the cliff, the nature of the hike changed completely. Views south were replaced with Kaiser Peak and the expansive wilderness to the north.
We dropped a short distance to a saddle, then up to the summit. Two other parties were already on top. I found the main benchmark and one reference mark, but no register. The views in all directions were great. We could see all the local peaks south and all the way to Yosemite to the north. Prominent mountains we recognized were Ritter, Lyell, and Balloon Dome, but there were dozens we couldn't identify. We took a long break on top and had the summit to ourselves as the other parties turned into ants on the trail as they made their way down. The wind was steady and the kept us wrapped in our layers. Eventually, we descended, becoming ants ourselves. The trail condition was immaculate: soft sand and dirt. My only complaint, a minor one, was that switchbacks were unnecessarily long up to College Rock. Too much horizontal, not enough vertical. Maybe they were built that way to accommodate horses, but it probably adds a mile each way to the hike. It's a beautiful trail and fun hike.
See also:
Kaiser Peak first attempt 2023
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