Trip: Eagle Scout Peak - Hamilton Lakes/Kaweah Gap

Date: 9/25/2011

Trip Report:
An adventure run to Eagle Scout Peak via Kaweah Gap in 9:38 roundtrip from Crescent Meadows. Eagle Scout Peak is located just south of Kaweah Gap along the Great Western Divide in a remote region of Sequoia National Park. The climb of the 12,000 ft peak entails over 45 miles roundtrip and 8,000+ ft of elevation gain. While it's a long way just to Kaweah Gap along the High Sierra Trail (21 miles from Crescent Meadow), the scenery is phenomenal and well worth the effort. The sapphire blue of Hamilton Lakes and the towering granite walls of Angel Wings and the Valhallas are truly magnificent.

Last year on the same weekend I pursued a speed objective on the Rae Lakes Loop, and having already experienced the spectacular scenery of the High Sierra Trail to Kaweah Gap on a climb of Mount Stewart in July 2010, I figured this would be a great one to do for time this year.

I was hoping to go around 11 hours roundtrip and started at 4:20 a.m. from Crescent Meadows with Joel, whose objective was Kaweah Gap. The High Sierra Trail is an excellent trail for running all the way to the crossing of Lone Pine Creek (~13 miles in). It was perfect weather for a night run with temperatures in the mid 40s. I felt good reaching Kaweah Gap in just over 4 hours. It took nearly 2 hours to complete the roundtrip from Kaweah Gap to the summit of Eagle Scout Peak. The climb itself is straightforward with a nice perspective on the Hamilton Lakes area and Precipice Lake directly below. The run down to Hamilton Lakes from the Gap was gorgeous and at that point I knew sub 10 hours would be possible. The anomalously cool weather on Sunday helped on the return trip along the trail (which is typically hot on the exposed south slopes) and I was able to complete the adventure run in 9:38 finishing up just before 2 pm.

Time details for those who are interested:

Location: Real Time / Elapsed Time / Split
Start Crescent Meadow: 4:20 / 0 / 0
Junction with Seven Mile Hill Trail (6 miles): 5:19 / 58:33 / 58:33
Bearpaw Meadows (11.3 miles): 6:15 / 1:55:05 / 56:32
Big Hamilton Lake (16.5 miles): 7:09 / 2:49:28 / 54:23
Kaweah Gap (21 miles): 8:23 / 4:03:28 / 1:14:00
Arrive summit of Eagle Scout Peak: 9:17 / 4:56:44 / 53:16
Depart summit of Eagle Scout Peak: 9:32 / 5:11:43 / 14:59
Kaweah Gap (24 miles): 10:19 / 5:58:37 / 46:54
Big Hamilton Lake (28.5 miles): 11:10 / 6:50:14 / 51:37
Bearpaw Meadows (33.7 miles): 12:00 / 7:40:08 / 49:54
Junction with Seven Mile Hill Trail (39 mile): 12:56 / 8:36:09 / 56:01
Finish Crescent Meadow (45 miles): 13:58 / 9:38:35 / 1:02:25

All photos below are by Joel Lanz:



















































Gear Notes:
La Sportiva Fireblade, First Endurance EFS drink mix, First Endurance Ultragen, Ultimate Direction Wasp Pack

Approach Notes:
High Sierra Trail from Crescent Meadows to the east side of Kaweah Gap (21 miles). Cross country travel over boulders to the east slope of the mountain.

good lord, do you ever stop to actually climb any of these magnificent peaks you go blazing by?

That is Angel Wings, an 1,800+ foot granite wall at the entrance to the Valhalla Cirque, which has impressive granite domes and faces everywhere. Galen Rowell called Angel Wings an "an alpine El Capitan" and the sheer south face pictured above is the biggest rock wall in Sequoia National Park. There are several routes on the face with lots of potential for new routes, but it's 16 miles from the trailhead so it sees few ascents.

RAD, you seem to be getting after it quite a bit in SEKI this year- I'm jealous! Next I want to see a TR climbing Black Kaweah, dipping in Kern hotsprings, and still out by happy hour!