Window Peak Lake

This epic 2014 trip started at the Lewis Creek Trailhead in Kings Canyon National Park. We followed the trail past Frypan Meadow to Kennedy Pass, then picked our way cross-country to lovely Volcanic Lakes Basin and then crossed the Copper Creek trail near Granite Pass. From there we followed Roper's Sierra High Route past Horseshoe Lakes and over the triple threat of Grey Pass, White Pass, and Red Pass before ultimately dropping down the steep chute to intensely blue Marion Lake in Lake Basin, along the same route that John Muir and his Sierra Club party used 100 years ago. We left Roper's high route in Lake Basin and headed over Cartridge Pass (the original JMT route prior to construction of the current-day trail over Mather Pass), dropping down to the South Fork of the Kings River. We picked up the current-day John Muir Trail where it crosses this mighty river, then continued on the JMT a short distance to the Bench Lake lateral. From Bench Lake we went cross-country over Explorer Pass to finally reach our trip's main destination, Window Peak Lake. We had been dreaming of this spot for several years, and our plans to visit on a previous trip had been foiled by foul weather and waning stamina. Though difficult to reach, it is indeed a magical spot and easily lived up to our high expectations. From there we dropped down along the lake's drainage, more or less, to rejoin the trail along Woods Creek and followed that well-used path through Paradise Valley and to the Road's End trailhead.

“There’s nothing a season in the backcountry can’t cure”

— SeKi ranger Randy Morgenson (Eric Blehm, The Last Season)

Lewis+Creek+Window+Peak+Lk+2014+Tracks+CalTopo.jpg

LOCATION

Kings Canyon National Park, CA, USA

MILEAGE

28 miles on-trail, 35 miles off-trail

TOTAL CLIMB (& Descent): ~24,980'

DAYS: 10 SEASON: Mid-July

Year: 2014

STARTING & ENDING TRAILHEADS

Lewis Creek / Road's End

Saddle between Volcanic Lakes Basin and the Granite Pass trail, Kings Canyon National Park

Domes on Woods Creek Trail Kings Canyon National Park

Map: Tom Harrison Kings Canyon High Country Trail Map

GuideBooks: The High Sierra: Peaks, Passes, Trails by RJ Secor & Sierra High Route by Steve Roper

Our Inspiration: The Last Season by Eric Blehm

Also Consider: Amy Lauterbach's Big SeKi Loop

LOCATION

MILEAGE

TOTAL CLIMB (& Descent): ~24,980'

DAYS: 10 SEASON: Mid-July

Year: 2014

STARTING & ENDING TRAILHEADS

Day 1 Lewis Creek Trailhead 4670' (5.7 mi Trail, 3656' climb, 511' descent)

Day 2 Frypan Meadow 7815' (4.5 mi trail + 2.8 Mi off-trail, 5128' Climb, 2543' Descent)

Day 3 Volcanic Lakes Basin 10,400' (6.8 Mi off-trail, 2542' Climb, 2399' Descent)

Day 4 Middle Glacier Lake 10,543' (2.5 Mi trail + 6.6 Mi off-trail, 2718' Climb, 2400' descent)

Day 5 Roper's Wild Cirque 10,861' (3 Mi off-trail, 1224' Climb, 1671' Descent)

Day 6 Marion Lake 10,414' (3 MI off-trail, 1031' Climb, 260' Descent)

Day 7 Upper Lake Basin / Cartridge Pass Approach 11,185' (5.4 Mi off-trail + 3.1 Mi trail, 2539' Climb, 3070' Descent)

Day 8 Bench Lake 10,654' (6.3 Mi Off-trail, 2776' climb, 2706' Descent)

Day 9 Window Peak Lake 10,724' (1.5 mi Off-trail + 9.5 Mi trail, 1403' Climb, 5471' descent)

Day 10 Lower Paradise Valley 6656' (5.8 mi trail, 962' Climb, 2528' Descent)