Drive Time: 5.5 hours

Distance: 570 miles RT

Wilderness Permit: Self-issue at Lodge Pole Visitor Center

Base Campground: Lodgepole

Fees: $10 Sequoia/Kings N.P. entrance

http://www.nps.gov/seki/            TELEPHONE: (559) 565-3341

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, 47050 Generals Highway, Three Rivers, CA 93271-9651

Driving Route:

            Tricky intersections:

Make sure to take 152 EAST from 101.

            Winter closures:

General's Hwy through the park may be closed.  If so take 198 into the park rather than 180.

            Dinner suggestions:

If you go through the middle of Fresno on your return via 180, there is a decent Mexican restaurant on the right.  Look for a small square parking lot bordered by buildings.  The restaurant is on the side of the parking lot away from the road.  (There are also many sketchy places).

Hiking Route:

            Side trips and variations:

·        Wolverton to Pear Lake

·        3 day backcountry loop: Alta Peak via Pear & Moose lakes

1/2 day:

Wolverton to Panther Gap: Travel through forest.  A couple feet of snow pack will erase the hiking trail.  Yellow blazes mark the winter route

Long day:

Wolverton to Alta S Ridge via Panther Gap: At Panther Gap the forest opens over the steep Kaweah river drainage.  The next mile or so offers panoramas of the Great Western divide as you travel high on the N side of the drainage.  The Route eventually turns back into the trees.  You will come across some huge boulders before you reach Alta's flank.  The route remains forested until midway up Alta's flank.  Triple Divide, Table, Midway, and Milestone mountains of the Whitney horseshoe span the horizon if you follow the long switchbacks up Alta's SE face (as marked on the map).  Variation: take Alta's SE face directly to the saddle between Alta & a secondary peak on the S face.  Scramble up to Alta's summit via the S ridge as the sun rises over Triple Divide.

Few hours:

Walk or ski among the giant forest.  Take a close look at the Sequoias' needles and bark.