Precipice Lake

Lakes of California #10

If you knew Ansel Adams, you have seen Frozen Lake and Cliffs. Precipice lake was one of the motivations to hike the High Sierra Trail. Once you leave Hamilton lakes and start the steep climb to Kaweah Gap, you take in the breathtaking views of Hamilton lake below, walk through the Hamilton Gorge and be a tad bit intimidated (some people say that the Hamilton Gorge was the most stressful part of their HST hike) and you finally reach Precipice lake.

The lake is smaller than some of the other lakes, but given its altitude and how little Sun hits the lake, there was still a lot of snow left and the lake was uninvitingly cold for a swim. I didn’t have a longer lens with me, I hiked the HST with the Nikon Z6 and the 14-30 f/4 lens and regretted not carrying a slightly longer lens.

It was mid day sun and we had no legs to climb the previous afternoon to this spot to camp, but I will take it nonetheless.