colingregory - Oct 17, 2022 10:48 am Date Climbed: Oct 15, 2022
Dayhike
Dayhike from our camp at the Upper Highland Lakes site. While mostly off trail, there are enough use paths to find your way and not have too much trouble. In under a mile we (my buddy and his golden) made it up to the summit. The "knife-edge" is cool but not dangerous at all. Would understand some people with acrophobia not enjoying this one though.
Will Newcomb - Feb 4, 2022 9:44 pm Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2021
Summit Send after a perilous crossing of Highland Lake
Lesson learned: do not swim across an icy cold, snow-fed lake...ever. My friend went out swimming freestyle (anaerobic), and nearly went into shock halfway across the lake as his muscles locked up, but luckily my 2 other friends who had just crossed the lake dove back in and helped anchor my buddy to he far shore. The summit attempt following was much less perlious, but that fin before the ridge NW of the summit gave me goosebumps for sure!
hgrapid - Jul 4, 2021 7:14 am Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2021
Hiram - Airola - Iceberg
Started with Hiram, which is pretty quick. Came off the other side and did the other two.
Marmaduke - Sep 29, 2019 12:51 am Date Climbed: Sep 28, 2019
Great climb, Beautiful Day. Climbed with my son Kyle.
trexkerry - Dec 31, 2017 8:33 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2017
Hiram + Airola
From the end of Highland Lakes Road, I started on a use trail but lost it fairly quickly. Large snowfields on the steep slopes made navigation a touch trickier. Once up on the north ridge of Hiram its a fun knife edge walk on a use trail to the summit. I continued on to Airola Peak, its an easy descent to the saddle. There is one section on the north ridge route on Airola that was tricky, I opted for a chute to the left of the ridge which was very loose and unstable, I was not comfortable with the crappy rock to attempt normal class 3 moves as the rock was breaking off in my hands and chipping away as I tried to stand on it. So I stayed in the chute and bypassed the class 3 section on the ridge, from there its easy enough to make the summit. On descent I had similar problems, the chute is really crappy but I didn't see a way to stay on the ridge proper. This section is only about 50 feet but it really is bad.
I knew there was a use trail that would take me back to the car but I couldn't find it and wound up just going cross county on the slopes of Hiram before finding the trail about a quarter mile from the car.
Bob Burd - Oct 1, 2012 2:01 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2012
From Highland Lakes TH
Five peak day in the Highland Lakes area. Trip Report.
David Naylor - Jul 30, 2012 12:39 am Date Climbed: Jul 27, 2012
After Airola
Wildflowers were fantastic! Smell of sage strong coming up the southwest slopes. Summit is a pleasure to stay-for-a-while and take in the view of Airola etc. A must-do for visitors to Carson Iceberg Wilderness.
ckerth - Aug 10, 2011 4:58 pm Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2011
Highland Lakes
Highland Lake was just starting to melt out. The road in was closed due to snow around Bloomfield CG which added some extra distance. Folger Peak afterwards.
Noondueler - Oct 28, 2008 1:23 am Date Climbed: Oct 26, 2008
Fine little peak.
This is one of the little gems in the Northern Sierra. The peak is in a beautiful setting. It can easily be done in a few hours, with an enjoyable ridge walk and excellent views for minimal effort. Real bang for your buck!
hikerbryan - Oct 3, 2007 12:01 am Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2005
Highland Lakes
Good, quick hike from Highland Lakes. Fun to be on a less popular peak.
Jonodo - Aug 21, 2007 12:36 pm Date Climbed: Aug 19, 2007
Highland Lakes - N Ridge
Started from the use trail at the south Highland Lakes campground. Very nice morning for an quick climb. The easy knife edge ridge was fun. Nothing harder than class 2. Headed over to Airola afterwards. Good views.
Matthew Holliman - Dec 1, 2006 5:21 am Date Climbed: Sep 23, 2006
From Highland Lakes
Running out of easy acclimatization peaks around Yosemite and points south, I decided to head up to Ebbetts Pass to knock off a few in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness: Folger, Hiram, Airola, and Iceberg. Not particularly good climbs or memorable views, but I suppose they can't all be classic weekends in the mountains. At least this was a short day, because the drive down to Bishop was very long.
Route Climbed: West slopes Date Climbed: August 21, 2005
Starting at the highland lakes trailhead, I climbed up the western slopes of Hiram Peak. After taking in the summit views I proceeded to Airola, Iceberg and Peak 9366. The return was via Champion Canyon and the Highland Creek trail.
Route Climbed: Eastern Highland Lakes Campground Date Climbed: 8/5/2004
Reached the summit on the second attempt. It was not easy to find the trail at the start but when you reach the ridge behind the campground, you can see where you should be heading. The climb ended up not being as difficult as it looks from below except for maneuvering around the rock outcroppings at the top of the talus slope. Beautiful views from the summit.
Route Climbed: North face, east ridge Date Climbed: Many times
From the south Highland Lake campground, a trail leads up and over to the tarns below the east face. Follow up the east ridge to the summit. Nice day hike, (or 1/2 day). North face above west Highland Lake is shattered and loose. I worked to the east on a traverse and gained the summit ridge. Nice views from the top.
Route Climbed: North-west Ridge Date Climbed: 26 October, 2002
Had a great time climbing this peak! Excellent weather, and stellar views. We climbed Folger Peak earlier in the day, but this was much prettier. We were the first to sign the register since early August, and didn't see a soul except for a few hunters camping at Highland Lakes.
colingregory - Oct 17, 2022 10:48 am Date Climbed: Oct 15, 2022
DayhikeDayhike from our camp at the Upper Highland Lakes site. While mostly off trail, there are enough use paths to find your way and not have too much trouble. In under a mile we (my buddy and his golden) made it up to the summit. The "knife-edge" is cool but not dangerous at all. Would understand some people with acrophobia not enjoying this one though.
Will Newcomb - Feb 4, 2022 9:44 pm Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2021
Summit Send after a perilous crossing of Highland LakeLesson learned: do not swim across an icy cold, snow-fed lake...ever. My friend went out swimming freestyle (anaerobic), and nearly went into shock halfway across the lake as his muscles locked up, but luckily my 2 other friends who had just crossed the lake dove back in and helped anchor my buddy to he far shore. The summit attempt following was much less perlious, but that fin before the ridge NW of the summit gave me goosebumps for sure!
hgrapid - Jul 4, 2021 7:14 am Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2021
Hiram - Airola - IcebergStarted with Hiram, which is pretty quick. Came off the other side and did the other two.
Marmaduke - Sep 29, 2019 12:51 am Date Climbed: Sep 28, 2019
Great viewsBeautiful area
fenderbender - Sep 2, 2019 7:36 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2019
Hiram PeakGreat climb, Beautiful Day. Climbed with my son Kyle.
trexkerry - Dec 31, 2017 8:33 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2017
Hiram + AirolaFrom the end of Highland Lakes Road, I started on a use trail but lost it fairly quickly. Large snowfields on the steep slopes made navigation a touch trickier. Once up on the north ridge of Hiram its a fun knife edge walk on a use trail to the summit. I continued on to Airola Peak, its an easy descent to the saddle. There is one section on the north ridge route on Airola that was tricky, I opted for a chute to the left of the ridge which was very loose and unstable, I was not comfortable with the crappy rock to attempt normal class 3 moves as the rock was breaking off in my hands and chipping away as I tried to stand on it. So I stayed in the chute and bypassed the class 3 section on the ridge, from there its easy enough to make the summit. On descent I had similar problems, the chute is really crappy but I didn't see a way to stay on the ridge proper. This section is only about 50 feet but it really is bad.
I knew there was a use trail that would take me back to the car but I couldn't find it and wound up just going cross county on the slopes of Hiram before finding the trail about a quarter mile from the car.
Bob Burd - Oct 1, 2012 2:01 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2012
From Highland Lakes THFive peak day in the Highland Lakes area. Trip Report.
David Naylor - Jul 30, 2012 12:39 am Date Climbed: Jul 27, 2012
After AirolaWildflowers were fantastic! Smell of sage strong coming up the southwest slopes. Summit is a pleasure to stay-for-a-while and take in the view of Airola etc. A must-do for visitors to Carson Iceberg Wilderness.
ckerth - Aug 10, 2011 4:58 pm Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2011
Highland LakesHighland Lake was just starting to melt out. The road in was closed due to snow around Bloomfield CG which added some extra distance. Folger Peak afterwards.
Noondueler - Oct 28, 2008 1:23 am Date Climbed: Oct 26, 2008
Fine little peak.This is one of the little gems in the Northern Sierra. The peak is in a beautiful setting. It can easily be done in a few hours, with an enjoyable ridge walk and excellent views for minimal effort. Real bang for your buck!
hikerbryan - Oct 3, 2007 12:01 am Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2005
Highland LakesGood, quick hike from Highland Lakes. Fun to be on a less popular peak.
Jonodo - Aug 21, 2007 12:36 pm Date Climbed: Aug 19, 2007
Highland Lakes - N RidgeStarted from the use trail at the south Highland Lakes campground. Very nice morning for an quick climb. The easy knife edge ridge was fun. Nothing harder than class 2. Headed over to Airola afterwards. Good views.
Matthew Holliman - Dec 1, 2006 5:21 am Date Climbed: Sep 23, 2006
From Highland LakesRunning out of easy acclimatization peaks around Yosemite and points south, I decided to head up to Ebbetts Pass to knock off a few in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness: Folger, Hiram, Airola, and Iceberg. Not particularly good climbs or memorable views, but I suppose they can't all be classic weekends in the mountains. At least this was a short day, because the drive down to Bishop was very long.
derbilly - Aug 23, 2005 3:20 pm
Route Climbed: West slopes Date Climbed: August 21, 2005Starting at the highland lakes trailhead, I climbed up the western slopes of Hiram Peak. After taking in the summit views I proceeded to Airola, Iceberg and Peak 9366. The return was via Champion Canyon and the Highland Creek trail.
davehead - Nov 10, 2004 3:19 pm
Route Climbed: Eastern Highland Lakes Campground Date Climbed: 8/5/2004Reached the summit on the second attempt. It was not easy to find the trail at the start but when you reach the ridge behind the campground, you can see where you should be heading. The climb ended up not being as difficult as it looks from below except for maneuvering around the rock outcroppings at the top of the talus slope. Beautiful views from the summit.
Sierrabonehead - Nov 21, 2003 6:46 pm
Route Climbed: North face, east ridge Date Climbed: Many timesFrom the south Highland Lake campground, a trail leads up and over to the tarns below the east face. Follow up the east ridge to the summit. Nice day hike, (or 1/2 day). North face above west Highland Lake is shattered and loose. I worked to the east on a traverse and gained the summit ridge. Nice views from the top.
adampaul - Oct 27, 2002 9:19 pm
Route Climbed: North-west Ridge Date Climbed: 26 October, 2002Had a great time climbing this peak! Excellent weather, and stellar views. We climbed Folger Peak earlier in the day, but this was much prettier. We were the first to sign the register since early August, and didn't see a soul except for a few hunters camping at Highland Lakes.