Alpine scrambling in Kings Canyon

I'm headed out to Kings Canyon with some coworkers this weekend and I'd like to bag a summit while I'm in the area.  I'll probably go solo since I don't think my coworkers have a ton of wilderness experience.  I've never been to Kings Canyon before so I'm not familiar with the area, but it seems like there is quite a bit out there and I'm having a hard time narrowing down the options.  I'm bringing along an ice axe and crampons, with the goal of finding something that can be done in a day, preferably class 2-4 and under 20 miles.  Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Mt. Brewer seems to fit the bill. Not sure of the mileage, but it’s commonly done as a dayhike.

https://www.summitpost.org/mount-brewer/150509

"Kings Canyon" is a big place and too vague.

Think you could narrow down your campsite location?

I'll be staying in Sentinel Campground, but I have a car and can drive anywhere in the park with road access.

Yea, the floor of Kings Canyon is pretty damn far from any summits of note unless around an 8000' elevation gain and 20 mile round trip is in your scope of abilities...

I'd drive to Lodgepole Visitor Center at 6700' in Sequoia which is not super far from your camp. That's the nearest access AFAIK to above timberline stuff. Still gonna be a hump day to get high.

:)

Paul Webber wrote: Mt. Brewer seems to fit the bill. Not sure of the mileage, but it’s commonly done as a dayhike.

https://www.summitpost.org/mount-brewer/150509

That would be a huge dayhike from Road's End! Yuge! 8500 feet of elevation gain, too.

Hard to believe it's commonly done as a dayhike. Actually, I don't believe it.

Harumpfster Boondoggle wrote: Yea, the floor of Kings Canyon is pretty damn far from any summits of note unless around an 8000' elevation gain and 20 mile round trip is in your scope of abilities...

I'd drive to Lodgepole Visitor Center at 6700' in Sequoia which is not super far from your camp. That's the nearest access AFAIK to above timberline stuff. Still gonna be a hump day to get high.

:)

Within my scope of abilities?  Sure.  Within my scope of enjoyment?  Ehh...that's another story, haha.

Thanks for the tips.  Any recommended hikes that don't reach a summit?  I've never been to the area but I definitely want to make the most of my time there!

Mark Straub wrote:

Within my scope of abilities?  Sure.  Within my scope of enjoyment?  Ehh...that's another story, haha.

Thanks for the tips.  Any recommended hikes that don't reach a summit?  I've never been to the area but I definitely want to make the most of my time there!

Do you have a map of the area? It starts (Road's End) at a pretty low elevation and none of it is particularly scenic until you've gained some elevation.

Mark Straub wrote:

Within my scope of abilities?  Sure.  Within my scope of enjoyment?  Ehh...that's another story, haha.

Thanks for the tips.  Any recommended hikes that don't reach a summit?  I've never been to the area but I definitely want to make the most of my time there!

There's a number of butt humpers to waterfalls and cascades found here:

https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/ccdayhikesum.htm

Pretty cool hike up to The Watch Tower from Wolverton (its a little higher above the visitor center like ~7300').

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/california/watchtower-trail?ref=sidebar-static-map

FrankPS wrote:

Do you have a map of the area? It starts (Road's End) at a pretty low elevation and none of it is particularly scenic until you've gained some elevation.

I call BS on it not being scenic at roads end. It’s like Yosemite valley minus 90% of the tourons. 

If you’re camping at sentinel, I would not waste time driving to lodgepole to hike. It’s almost a 2 hour drive. Start walking at roads end early, and you’ll beat the heat. 

The Sphinx is another option closer to the road. Mist Falls is wildly popular, but a great and easy hike. 

Mark.... I haven’t done this one before, but when I backpacked there last fall some fellow hikers strongly recommend this peak: Mitchell Pk.... 10,365.
From the Generals Highway.... find 14S11... going to Horse Corral... then 13S12.. to Sequoia High Sierra Camp and the end of the road. Go up Marvin Pass (1.3 miles) from their it is 2 miles to the Top. You can score the Mount Whitney High Country map at stores in KC.
Make sure to spend some time looking up the Middle Fork Kings from the viewing spots before you drop down into the Park.... the Towers you see are part of The Gorge of Despair- one of the most remarkable places to climb in CA.

Have fun 

I can't recommend too much other than what others have stated.  You are pretty low by Road's End and, with the exception of a few hikes, everything is pretty far and alot of elevation gain.  As the rangers will tell you, Kings Canyon is really a backcountry park.  I think the only way you're going to bag something is if you do a quick overnight away from your friends.  Just a light pack with a sleeping bag, pad and a little food.  Maybe hit Mt. Brewer or North Guard, which is right next to it and supposed to be a very nice summit.  It's a long hike up to Sphinx Pass but you could crash at Sphinx Lakes, tag a summit and blow back down in a few hours.  Alternately, you could just scramble up to the base (or maybe summit) of the Grand Sentinel or some other large wall, just to get off trail and near some big stuff.  It's a beautiful area, but nothing is really close to the road.  

Glad your up for 20 miles, cause it’s there if you want it. The elevation gain will be tough as starting at 5K is a bit low, so how high you wanna go up? 10K maybe? I haven’t done a lot in the area, but I’ve been there a bunch so for scrambles this weekend, I’d look into the following:

Mt Hutchings 10785’ little off trail from the pass at 10380’ south of Granite Basin. With the cooler temps. this weekend, this would be a good time to get on that Copper Creek trail. Lotta S. facing trail until the pass.

Charlotte Dome 10672’ big 18 mile day though a well used trail most of the way. North ridge with a bit on face is class 3 and the descent for climbs. Fine view. Might try staying on the left side of the creek on the way up to avoid crossing higher. Prob use that axe and pons high on the north side. There was a fixed rope there many years ago.

Sphinx col or lakes would be good. Mist Falls. Lookout Pk 8581’ is 5.5 mi. up 4K on the Don Cecil trail.

Report back if you get some conditions or do some rad scramble.

It’d be hard to get up to 12K+ Imo but I’ve heard of it before, Kings/Cedar has good trails for running and peak bagging along with it would be some good & hard fitness tests. I have heard of The Sphinx, Charlotte Dome and the Rae Lakes Loop all being done in a day. 

If you like bouldering, it’s really good there. 

Thanks for the suggestions everybody!  I headed out with plans to scramble up the Sphinx, but Sphinx Creek was flowing strong and I couldn't find a safe crossing below ~9500 feet.   I ended up scrambling up some unnamed (?) peak/highpoint at Avalanche Pass across from Palmer Mountain.