PEAR LAKE SKI HUT
Maps, Directions, and Site Details:
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Directions:
Pear Lake Ski Hut/Winter Hut/Ranger Station is accessible via the Lakes Trail, which begins at the Wolverton picnic area parking lot in Sequoia National Park. From Visalia, drive east on Hwy 198 through the town of Three Rivers to the Park entrance (fee). Follow Hwy 198 (called the Generals Highway in the Park) up the mountain to the Giant Forest. Shortly after passing the winter parking area for the General Sherman tree, turn right onto the road to Wolverton. The trailhead is on the north edge of the east parking area, elevation 7,280'. The trail ascends a steep six miles to the Pear Lake area at 9,200', where a ~1/3 mile spur trail leads to the hut. The snow season trip to the hut, which roughly follows the Hump portion of the trail, is for experienced backcountry skiers and snowshoers; winter conditions are potentially very dangerous. Advance reservations are required. For site details and reservations, see https://www.sequoiaparksconservancy.org/pearlakewinterhut.html. In summer, the hut serves as a Sequoia National Park backcounty wilderness Ranger Station and houses Park personnel only. |
Site Details: (NOTE: The Pear lake Winter Hut is CLOSED for the 2021-2022 season, due to damage caused in the area by the KNP Fire in 2021. The hut itself was not damaged!)
Environment: Mountains, conifer forest near timberline, elevation 9,200 feet, in Sequoia National Park*
Activities: architecture study, backpacking, hiking, history, photography, skiing, snow shoeing (NOTE: The hut can be visited only by foot/ski/snowshoe trail in winter; stock is permitted on the Lakes Trail in summer, for day use only, and never on the Watchtower portion.)
Open: Sequoia National Park is always open, weather permitting, unless closed due to emergency conditions; park entrance fee; Wilderness Permit required for all overnight trips; winter hut use is by advance reservation only via Sequoia Parks Conservancy. In summer, the hut serves as a backcounty wilderness Ranger Station. Note: Park Ranger Stations serve as residences for rangers and backcountry crews. Therefore, while you may knock on the door, please respect the occupants' privacy. Knock on the door when park employees are present if you need assistance or have information to report (e.g., wildfire, hazardous conditions, etc.). You may also leave a note.
Site Steward: National Park Service-Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks; 559-565-3341; www.nps.gov/seki; Pear Lake Winter Hut is managed by the Sequoia Parks Conservancy; 559-565-4251; https://www.sequoiaparksconservancy.org/pearlakewinterhut.html. In summer, the hut serves as a Sequoia National Park backcountry wilderness Ranger Station
Opportunities for Involvement: Sequoia Parks Conservancy (SPC) membership; donate, volunteer
Links: National Register of Historic Places documentation: https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/78000285
*The geology of the Pear Lake environment is in many ways visible and ongoing: Pear Lake is a glacial lake in a small basin under the north face of 11,208-foot Alta Peak, rimmed by vertical cliffs to the south and west that were eroded and sculpted by glaciers as they periodically advanced and receded over time. Before the glacial period, Alta Peak was a large dome of intruded granite formed from cooled molten rock miles below the earth's surface. This granite pluton was exposed with the uplift and erosion of the Sierra Nevada starting nearly 10M years ago.
Today the visitor can see the remaining southern portion of the glaciated dome of Alta Peak, as well as remnants of the glacial sedimentary deposits from eroded bedrock at its base. There are also bedrock surfaces "polished" by the advancing glaciers, and even boulders that were transported long distances on glaciers and left stranded after the glacier receded. Weather related erosion continues today with rockfalls and landslides visible beneath the cliffs. -- Laurel Di Silvestro, geophysicist
Photos for this article courtesy of: David Baselt; beyondlimitsonfoot.com; Ayelete Bitton; Aron Bosworth; Alice Kao/backcountrycow.com; Laile DiSilvestro; Laurel DiSilvestro; The Fresno Bee; Kevin Gallagher/7Trails Photography; Louise Jackson; Jennifer Carr Photography/jennifercarrphotography.com; jessieonajourney.com/April B. photo; myendlesswinter.com; National Park Service/Rick Cain photo; petesthousandpeaks.com; roamtheatlas.com, rove-met.com; Thor Riksheim/NPS; Ron Rothbart; Greg Scarich; Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks Archives; Sequoia Parks Conservancy; Aaron Slaven; snowymonk.blogspot.com; Reiner Stenzel; Johnnie Chamberlin, TrailsOfArkansas.com; tillthemoneyrunsout.com; Ryan Underhill; and Sarah Vaughan/Two Outliers