Kaiser Peak

7-Oct-90

By: Pete Yamagata

Steve Thaw and I climbed this peak which lies roughly in the center of Kaiser Wilderness which is located just north of Hun- tington Lake out of Fresno. This was such a nice "giveaway" type of peak that I am suggesting it for consideration for SPS list inclusion.

One takes the north shore drive along Huntington Lake for about one mile from Hwy. 168, past the restaurant/market, to Upper Deer Creek Lane and right to either the pack station or the gate, which is closed in the off-season. The pack station parking lot is about 8 minutes walk from the gate. Asign reads "Kaiser Peak 5" and one simply takes the trail to the top (take the left, upper fork at a junction about one mile up). There is about 3,200' gain, with a few dips in the trail. Steve and I took 3 hours up, and two down. A nice view of two lakes is had about the low point of the last saddle before the peak, and three small lakes are seen NW from the summit. Far views in- dude the Clark range and the Sierra crest down to Goddard with Three Sisters to the south. Unfortunately, the Sierra Summit ski area is visible, as well as Huntington Lake.

Adding this peak to the list would generate usage for a relatively ignored wilderness area. The Forest Service has declared a problem with low-use wilderness areas in trying to justify wilderness status. Let's increase the visitor-days and keep the loggers and/or road builders away!