Continue your ascent through fir forest along Wolverton Creek for .9 mile to the low saddle of Panther Gap, where your route intersects the Alta Trail coming from the Giant Forest. From this point you can see the high peaks of the Great Western Divide in the east. The fantastic jumble of spires and crags visible to the south across the deep trench of the Middle Fork Kaweah River are the Castle Rocks. Bear left and contour into the bowl that contains Mehrten Meadow and the first adequate campsites on the hike. The cliffs and crags associated with Alta Peak and the granite dome of Tharps Rock looming above the meadow combine with the excellent views to make this a highly scenic camping area.
Water is usually available in the small creek until late summer.
Near the east side of the Mehrten Meadow bowl, about 1.1 miles from the previous junction, turn left onto the Alta Peak Trail. The Alta Trail continues eastward, leading to Moose Lake and providing access to the alpine Tableland. Your trail crosses an avalanche chute emanating from Alta Peak and climbs steep slopes under imposing Tharps Rock. Views are good across Mehrten Meadow to the western Sierra Nevada foothills and the San Joaquin Valley on clear days. As the trail emerges onto more open, rocky slopes, silver pine makes its debut and quickly dominates the forest.