"Started on the Lakes Trail at about 6:30 AM and ascended at a decent pace to Panther Gap and past the trail sign to Alta Meadow. Covered the first ~4.5 miles in about 2 hours, and spent the next 2 hours on the last section of the hike. I'd heard reports of a little snow above about 10,200 feet, but there was hardly any left on the mountain after a hot week. I passed two hikers on their way up somewhere around 9,000-10,000 feet, and then passed one other solo hiker not much farther up. There were many irritating flies and bugs which had come out after the melting snow. The little snow that remained tended to gather on the trail switchbacks above 10,400 ft so I took a more direct approach up to the summit. I was thrilled to reach the peak and took a look at Pear Lake, below, before climbing up to the summit register and benchmark. I didn't spend much time at the top because the flies were bothering me and it was already getting warm. I came down quickly and was happy to get below some trees for shade. I saw many other hikers on their way up but I was relieved to be on my way down on such a hot day. This was my first big hike for the season and the descent was tough for me - I've neve..." — Fandral • Jun 22, 2024

"From Moose lake I traversed the east ridge passed all the false summits to Alta peak. I got up there early and had it all to myself with perfect clear views in all directions! Then I descended the regular Alta peak trail back down to Woolverton wrapping up my 7 day loop." — DerekJayRichardson • Sep 27, 2019

"Started about 8:10am from Wolverton Trailhead arrived Alta Peak ~12:30pm; Heading to Pear Lake ~1:40pm and down to Pear Lake northern end ~3:30pm; Back to Trailhead 6:10pm via The Watchtower." — keung • Aug 28, 2016

"Started at 7:00 from Wolverton. Met a bear and her child right near the start of the trail. Last two miles were really challenging for us and took almost three hours. Made it to the summit at 12:00 am. Great people across the trail. Came back to parking at 04:15 pm. " — Vadym • Oct 4, 2014

"Got a late 10:45 start after leaving the Bay Area at 5am. Trail up was busy with backpackers. Summit is run by crows. Great views of the Great Western Divide and the Kaweahs. Bluebird day." — edg • Aug 16, 2014

"I hiked with a large group of young men with some adult leaders. We hiked in the first day, about four miles. The second day we summited and hiked all the way down. Awesome views of the great western divide. I got some breath-taking pictures!" — thevandyker • Apr 4, 2013

"My first big hike when I moved up to SNP. Brought my full pack to the summit and got cliffed out on the way down to pear to camp. Some of my first class 3 moves with an overweight backpack. " — MatthewWinterberg • Jul 17, 2012

"Climbed the Alta Peak Trail from Wolverton about 1 week after an early season storm dumped about 1' of snow on the summit. Several days of warm weather consolidated the snow nicely for hiking. " — klotito • Oct 12, 2011