Last Sunday we hike to and climbed to the summit of Twin Peaks. This peak is on the Tahoe Ogul list and I think it is a very good representative sample of the 63 peaks on the list.
What I mean is, if you are contemplating climbing the peaks on this list, climbing Twin Peaks is about the middle level of difficulty. About half of the peaks are easier and about half are harder (YMMV).
This hike is a 5 mile in 5 mile out hike on very well graded trail. The last third of a mile off trail climb is over a class 2 talus scramble (with a little loose scree / grus) to the summit. The 10 miles on trail is a good test of a person’s endurance. The climb is easy, but not a walk up.
There are two ways to climb to this summit by trail. We chose to start at the Pacific Crest Trail intersection with the road at Barker Pass.
The PCT takes you up to the ridge of Barker Peak and contours around another ridge leading out to peak 8366.
The trail then drops down along a ridge above the north fork of Blackwood Creek. It was here we met five lovely young ladies who were hiking from Barker pass down to Ward Creek. Two of them were completing the Tahoe Rim Trail one segment at a time.
The trail bottoms out at about 7600 feet and then begins to ascend up a ridge over a series of 6 looooong switchbacks. The switchbacks take you to the top of a ridge where you get this great view of the Twin Peaks…
…minus the hot, leggy blonde.
A short traverse across the crest of the Sierra brings you to the well-marked PCT / THT split at about mile 4.8.
Hike down the Tahoe Rim Trail for about a quarter of a mile and look up for a use trail up to the talus just below the peak. This is an easy class two scramble.
There is some exposure on the other side of the summit!
The climb to the summit is easy!
The register, placed by Pete Yamagata, is full. Please take a little notebook up with you so others have a place to sign their names.
The views are great!
This is the perfect time of the year to make this hike. The trail is somewhat exposed to sun and I don’t think the hike would be quite as delightful during the summer months.
Thanks to Cefire for giving us the idea to climb this peak from Barker Pass. I think this is the easiest way to summit. Like he said in his report…the well graded trail makes this hike so much easier than the 10 miles sounds.
Thanks for reading our report!
-Russ
"...Or have you only comfort, and the lust for comfort, that stealthy thing that enters the house a guest, and then becomes a host and then a master?"
Kahil Gibran.
