After a hiking partner bailed on me at last minute, I decided on a solo trip to Alta Peak. I started at the normal TH at Wolverton parking lot, hiked ther Lakes Trail to Heather Lake via the Watchtower Route, than on to Aster Lake, Emerald Lake and finally Pear Lake for lunch. From Pear Lake skirted the north (east?) shoreline to the end of the lake. From here, scrambled some Class III and IV sections up to the saddle about halfway between Peak 11,328 and Alta Peak. Hiked the ridgeline and summited Alta Peak. Descended the south face Class I route around Tharps Rock, through Mehrten Meadow, Panther Gap, and then back up to join the Lakes Trail again. Nice 15 mile lollipop route.
Incredible view, the frozen tablelands seemed to glisten
eyeonsky - Oct 23, 2010 12:29 am Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2005
Alta Peak Trail
Sporadic snow past Mehrten Meadow. The final 500 feet had about 1 foot of snow. Fantastic views of the Great Western Divide on a clear day.
Scott Fulton - Sep 19, 2010 7:52 pm Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2010
Alta Peak Trail
Took the standard trail from Wolverton. My friend's GPS registered around 8 miles each way. I loved the scenery at the top. Decided that the roundtrip to "Winter Alta" seemed way longer than we wanted to bother with.
mengbo - Aug 12, 2010 4:41 pm Date Climbed: May 24, 2009
Summit
lots of snow on the last 500 ft to the summit.
mdostby - Aug 9, 2010 8:19 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2010
Pretty mellow
Hiked this on a beautiful day via Panther Gap, Alta Peak Trail. No bugs at all. Saw one deer and a bear.
Ze - Jul 26, 2010 4:54 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2010
nice hike
added in Panther Peak and got to 12' overhang on Tharp's Rock
boyblue - Jun 30, 2010 11:54 pm Date Climbed: Mar 20, 1988
From Woverton
Camped at Mehrton(spelling?) Meadow where my new stove exploded! Awesome view!
JimWallace - Jun 20, 2010 11:15 pm Date Climbed: Jun 4, 2010
First West Peak
We hit this one NewYork style.There was much virgin snow all over so we had to blaze our own path to the summit.After reaching the wrong peak we had to double back and reclimb making our day an 8000ft day with over 18 miles of hiking.According to the logbook,we were the first there in almost a months time.It was a great hike and an exceptional summit
rhyang - Mar 29, 2010 9:49 am Date Climbed: Mar 28, 2010
via Pear Lake
Snowcamped at Pear Lake. Beautiful day, good snow conditions. Short but fun third class scrambling in crampons.
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Also did it in Jan 2007 via Pear Lake, and Dec 2004 via Tharpe Rock gully.
SkyPilot84 - Mar 19, 2010 6:49 pm Date Climbed: Mar 14, 2010
winter alta peak
Summited as part of an overnight backcountry ski/snowboard trip. There's a sweet 3-person snow cave at 36.60315N, 118.66838W. Might last until the next storm.
Kapelmuur - Jan 25, 2010 3:55 pm Date Climbed: Jul 27, 2005
Still the highest, for now.
Fun day and still the highest peak I've climbed, thus I post. Compelled to shatter that record this year, barring unforeseen circumstances!
After our road trip we were on a high (or at least I was), and we decided to up the ante by climbing our first 11,000 ft peak. We were greeted by the usual suspects...those cute, furry, somewhat annoying marmots.
hikinedd - Aug 17, 2009 3:08 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2009
Peak on a Loop
Part of a loop trip to visit Alta Meadow and Peak, Moose and Pear Lakes.
KVHiker - Aug 13, 2009 1:26 pm Date Climbed: Jul 5, 2008
Alta Watchtower Loop
Our trail led us up to through Panther Pass and then around Tharps Rock to the summit. We continued down from Alta Peak to Pear Lake, Aster Lake, Emerald Lake, Heather Lake, the Watchtower, and then down to Wolverton which is where we parked. The trip was between 15-17 miles with an elevation gain between 4000 and 5000 feet, and it took us about 11 hours to complete the loop trip.
mrchad9 - Jul 7, 2009 1:04 pm Date Climbed: Jan 2, 2009
Winter backpack
Great way to start 2009 backpacking and summit the next day. Trail sometimes hard to follow from Panther Gap to camp at Mehrteh Meadow with the snow- and very enjoyable trip.
EnFuego - Jul 3, 2011 7:57 pm Date Climbed: Jul 17, 2009
Solo via Pear LakeAfter a hiking partner bailed on me at last minute, I decided on a solo trip to Alta Peak. I started at the normal TH at Wolverton parking lot, hiked ther Lakes Trail to Heather Lake via the Watchtower Route, than on to Aster Lake, Emerald Lake and finally Pear Lake for lunch. From Pear Lake skirted the north (east?) shoreline to the end of the lake. From here, scrambled some Class III and IV sections up to the saddle about halfway between Peak 11,328 and Alta Peak. Hiked the ridgeline and summited Alta Peak. Descended the south face Class I route around Tharps Rock, through Mehrten Meadow, Panther Gap, and then back up to join the Lakes Trail again. Nice 15 mile lollipop route.
Niels79 - Apr 16, 2011 10:14 pm Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2009
Nice!Nice round-trip to Alta Peak. 14.3 miles
OOG - Jan 27, 2011 11:27 pm
Verterans dayIncredible view, the frozen tablelands seemed to glisten
eyeonsky - Oct 23, 2010 12:29 am Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2005
Alta Peak TrailSporadic snow past Mehrten Meadow. The final 500 feet had about 1 foot of snow. Fantastic views of the Great Western Divide on a clear day.
Scott Fulton - Sep 19, 2010 7:52 pm Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2010
Alta Peak TrailTook the standard trail from Wolverton. My friend's GPS registered around 8 miles each way. I loved the scenery at the top. Decided that the roundtrip to "Winter Alta" seemed way longer than we wanted to bother with.
mengbo - Aug 12, 2010 4:41 pm Date Climbed: May 24, 2009
Summitlots of snow on the last 500 ft to the summit.
mdostby - Aug 9, 2010 8:19 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2010
Pretty mellowHiked this on a beautiful day via Panther Gap, Alta Peak Trail. No bugs at all. Saw one deer and a bear.
cbuelow - Jul 31, 2010 7:23 pm Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2010
Alta Peak TrailKnocked this out as a relatively easy dayhike with Jason and Jon. Great views from the trail and the summit...
biz - Jul 29, 2010 1:54 pm Date Climbed: Apr 7, 2008
2xVery fun and enjoyable winter ascents.
jonhersh - Jul 27, 2010 1:09 pm Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2010
From Wolverton via Panther GapNice dayhike. Incredible views.
Ze - Jul 26, 2010 4:54 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2010
nice hikeadded in Panther Peak and got to 12' overhang on Tharp's Rock
boyblue - Jun 30, 2010 11:54 pm Date Climbed: Mar 20, 1988
From WovertonCamped at Mehrton(spelling?) Meadow where my new stove exploded! Awesome view!
JimWallace - Jun 20, 2010 11:15 pm Date Climbed: Jun 4, 2010
First West PeakWe hit this one NewYork style.There was much virgin snow all over so we had to blaze our own path to the summit.After reaching the wrong peak we had to double back and reclimb making our day an 8000ft day with over 18 miles of hiking.According to the logbook,we were the first there in almost a months time.It was a great hike and an exceptional summit
rhyang - Mar 29, 2010 9:49 am Date Climbed: Mar 28, 2010
via Pear LakeSnowcamped at Pear Lake. Beautiful day, good snow conditions. Short but fun third class scrambling in crampons.
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Also did it in Jan 2007 via Pear Lake, and Dec 2004 via Tharpe Rock gully.
SkyPilot84 - Mar 19, 2010 6:49 pm Date Climbed: Mar 14, 2010
winter alta peakSummited as part of an overnight backcountry ski/snowboard trip. There's a sweet 3-person snow cave at 36.60315N, 118.66838W. Might last until the next storm.
Kapelmuur - Jan 25, 2010 3:55 pm Date Climbed: Jul 27, 2005
Still the highest, for now.Fun day and still the highest peak I've climbed, thus I post. Compelled to shatter that record this year, barring unforeseen circumstances!
missymtngirl - Aug 20, 2009 5:40 am
First 11,000 foot peak!...yeah...yeah....yeahAfter our road trip we were on a high (or at least I was), and we decided to up the ante by climbing our first 11,000 ft peak. We were greeted by the usual suspects...those cute, furry, somewhat annoying marmots.
hikinedd - Aug 17, 2009 3:08 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2009
Peak on a LoopPart of a loop trip to visit Alta Meadow and Peak, Moose and Pear Lakes.
KVHiker - Aug 13, 2009 1:26 pm Date Climbed: Jul 5, 2008
Alta Watchtower LoopOur trail led us up to through Panther Pass and then around Tharps Rock to the summit. We continued down from Alta Peak to Pear Lake, Aster Lake, Emerald Lake, Heather Lake, the Watchtower, and then down to Wolverton which is where we parked. The trip was between 15-17 miles with an elevation gain between 4000 and 5000 feet, and it took us about 11 hours to complete the loop trip.
Photos
mrchad9 - Jul 7, 2009 1:04 pm Date Climbed: Jan 2, 2009
Winter backpackGreat way to start 2009 backpacking and summit the next day. Trail sometimes hard to follow from Panther Gap to camp at Mehrteh Meadow with the snow- and very enjoyable trip.