Frazier Mountain

Hiked: 6/27/2025
Distance: Drive up
Summit Elevation: 8013'
Prominence: 2466'
Elevation Gain: 0'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 0
Round trip time: N/A
Recommended water: 0 oz.
Parking/Fees: Free on Frazier Mountain Road
Difficulty: Easy

My goal was to nab as many HPS summits as I could in a single day around Frazier Mountain (HPS #70). The Tacoma and I were going to tag team it. Since all gates on Frazier Mountain Road were open, I drove to the top. Part of the road was crumbling asphalt and the last 4.5 miles was bumpy dirt road. While a sedan could probably make it, I wouldn't risk it, mainly out of concern for getting a flat on the rocks. The fire lookout was in bad repair. The stairs were missing and much of the floor. The tower would be necessary to see over the tallest surrounding trees. There were good views north, including Tecuya Mountain which was next at bat.

Tecuya Mountain across the way

Bear Butte

Hiked: 6/21/2025
Distance: 0.8 miles round trip cross country
Summit Elevation: 8603'
Elevation Gain: 495'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 0.4
Round trip time: 1 hour
Recommended water: 16 oz.
Parking/Fees: Free on Bear Butte Road
Difficulty: Easy

We got back from Givens around 3 PM. I couldn't talk Leisa into making a run for Bear Butte, a short cross country romp from the nearly dirt road. In addition to tagging the peak, I wanted to fly an air mission with a view to Huntington Lake. This one would be solo. It was a short drive to Bear Butte Road, the same road that leads to the trailhead for Rancheria Falls. I drove past the trailhead up two more switchbacks, then started looking for a place to park. I found a small turnout on the opposite side of the road north of the peak. From my parking spot, I started cross country over fallen trees and knee high shrubs. I went over a boulder field, more shrubs, and a second boulder field. Both fields were class 2 with a little route finding. The summit had no marks and no register. It did have three massive hooks in the rocks no longer in use. Someone had scratched out "KIEL 07" on one of the boulders. A single 6' pine tree was growing near the summit. I suspect someone planted it, but I guess a mysterious wind could have dropped a seed there. Really nice view of Huntington Lake and Kaiser Peak. I made a couple of passes with the drone, then packed up and descended the same way. I got back to the cabin well before dinner.

Small turnout

First boulder field

Second boulder field and summit

Huntington Lake

Kaiser Peak and College Rock

Mount Givens

Lonely summit pine

Hooks no longer in use

Mount Givens

Hiked: 6/21/2025
Distance: 6 miles round trip on trail and cross country
Summit Elevation: 10655'
Elevation Gain: 1646'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 1.3
Round trip time: 4 hours
Recommended water: 64 oz.
Parking/Fees: Free at White Bark Vista Point
Difficulty: Moderate

On our second day in the Sierra National Forest, Leisa and I drove to White Bark Vista to hike to Mount Givens. The drive took us through Kaiser Pass which was the turn around point for the 155 mile Clovis to Kaiser bike race going on that day. The last mile to White Bark Vista was a rough dirt road. High clearance recommended. We were the only ones at the Vista, but there was plenty of parking available. The vertical west face of Givens was visible from the start. Most of the hike was on an OHV road only open to vehicles August to November. Once we went past the locked gate, the road became outrageously undriveable. Four and five foot boulders blocked the way, though tire tracks testified that at least some highly capable vehicles (and drivers) were able to manage it. We broke through a forested area and saw the long ridge line we needed to take. We left the road and started cross country, staying below the ridge line where boulders and brush were unforgiving. Our path was mostly open, with no serious brush, and wide gaps between the boulders. It was only 0.7 miles up the ridge, but we moved slowly, feeling the lingering burn from our efforts on Kaiser the day before. The last 100' feet was a jumble of broken boulders, class 2, reminiscent of the summit of Mitchell Peak. At the top was a solar panel and a sighting tube for gazing at other mountains. The Sierra National Forest is between Sequoia National Park and Yosemite. Givens was 300' higher than Kaiser, and the views included not only what was visible from Kaiser, but clear views of many famous peaks in the Eastern Sierra. Mt. Humphries stood out, Whitney, and other notables. This may be the single best 360 view anywhere in the Sierra. I am hard pressed to think of any other summit as eye popping. When you consider the payoff to effort ratio, it's even more compelling. If you only have one day to spend here, make Givens your top priority. The photos don't do it justice. It's astonishing!

Mount Givens from White Bark Vista

Kaiser Peak on the way back

Kaiser Peak and College Rock

Hiked: 6/20/2025
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.

College Rock, high point in the center

Crux on College Rock

Huntington Lake from College Rock

Kaiser Peak in view

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.

Looking north to Yosemite

Leisa on the summit

Zoom to Balloon Dome

On the way down

See also:
Kaiser Peak first attempt 2023