Joel Lanz and I climbed Mount Stewart via the High Sierra Trail, Hamilton Lakes, and Kaweah Gap. The 12,205 ft mountain is located on the rugged Great Western Divide and the region is one of the most remote in the High Sierra requiring 46 miles roundtrip to reach the summit (42 miles were on the High Sierra Trail to Kaweah Gap from the Crescent Meadows trailhead). We started at 4:40 am and finished at 6:50 pm for a 14 hour and 10 minute day. The 21 miles along the High Sierra Trail to Kaweach Gap from the trailhead at Crescent Meadows took about 5 hours each way. From Kaweah Gap we traversed into Nine Lakes Basin and then utilized a broad ramp to scramble to the upper slopes of Mount Stewart, which contained some snow slopes and more scrambling to the third class summit block. The panorama from the summit of Mount Stewart was outstanding with a commanding view of the Great Western Divide, the Big Arroyo River Valley, and Black Kaweah. The Hamilton Lakes amphitheater is one of the most scenic areas I have seen in the High Sierra with the towering granite faces of the Valhallas including the famous Angel Wings rock wall, Mount Stewart, and Eagle Scout Peak. Complete trip report with many more photos here.
Joel’s footage in HD:
Complete trip report with many more photos here.
Leor Pantilat's Adventures
Nice work! Any idea what the elevation profile was?
-Sean
Thanks! The Crescent Meadow trailhead is at 6,680 ft and the summit of Mount Stewart is 12,205 ft. There are several ups and down along the trail so I’d imagine the total elevation gain for the day to be close to 10,000 feet.
Wow! The roof of the Sierras. Those were some dizzy views (I mean that in a good way with the sheer vertical views). I had to hold onto my computer chair so that I didn’t fall off.