Aperture Peak

Aperture Peak
Aperture Peak
	West aspect
Highest point
Elevation	13,265 ft (4,043 m)
Prominence	305 ft (93 m)
Parent peak	Mount Agassiz (13,899 ft)
Isolation	0.44 mi (0.71 km)
Coordinates	37°07′05″N118°31′50″W / 37.1180306°N 118.5304725°W
Geography
	Aperture Peak Location in California Aperture Peak Aperture Peak (the United States)
Country	United States
State	California
County	Inyo
Protected area	John Muir Wilderness
Parent range	Sierra Nevada ; Inconsolable Range
Topo map	USGS North Palisade
Geology
Rock age	Cretaceous
Mountain type	Fault block
Rock type	Inconsolable Quartz Monzodiorite
Climbing
First ascent	1934
Easiest route	class 3 via Jigsaw Pass

Last updated January 06, 2025

Aperture Peak is a 13,265-foot-elevation (4,043 meter) mountain summit located in Inyo County, California, United States.^[5]

Description

Aperture Peak is set within the John Muir Wilderness, on land managed by Inyo National Forest. It is situated one-half mile east of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in the Palisades area, just outside the boundary of Kings Canyon National Park. It is approximately 14 miles (23 km) west of the community of Big Pine, one mile (1.6 km) east-northeast of Bishop Pass, one-half mile (0.80 km) north of line parent Mount Agassiz, and 0.8 miles (1.3 km) southeast of Picture Puzzle. Aperture Peak ranks as the 95th-highest summit in California,^[4] and the fourth-highest peak of the Inconsolable Range.^[3] Topographic relief is modest as the summit rises 2,500 feet (760 meters) above the Big Pine Lakes in 1.5 mile. The west face of the peak features a large, white, diagonal dike, and a rock glacier lies below the east face.

History

The first ascent of the summit was made June 14, 1934, by David Brower and Hervey Voge.^[2] This landform's toponym was officially adopted in 1969 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names,^[5] but the name was used informally by mountaineers for years prior.^[7] The geological term "aperture" is the measure of the distance separating adjacent rock walls relating to joints and open discontinuities.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Aperture Peak is located in an alpine climate zone.^[8] Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east toward the Sierra Nevada mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks (orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the range. Precipitation runoff from this mountain drains east into headwaters of North Fork Big Pine Creek, and west into headwaters of South Fork Bishop Creek.

Gallery

Aperture Peak (left) and Mount Agassiz from Bishop Lake
Picture Puzzle (left) and Aperture Peak (right) from Bishop Pass
Aperture Peak (left) and Mount Agassiz from Bishop Lake
Sunset on Aperture Peak (left) and Mt. Agassiz, from Bishop Lake
Picture Puzzle (left), Aperture Peak centered, and Mt. Agassiz (right)
Dawn view of Aperture Peak (left) and Mt. Agassiz (right)
Sunset on Aperture Peak (left) and Mt. Agassiz

Related Research Articles

Mount Agassiz, at 13,899 feet (4,236 m), is one of the 20 highest peaks of California. It is the northernmost and easiest to climb of the major Palisades summits. This peak is not to be confused with the 9,967-foot (3,038 m) peak by the same name in Desolation Wilderness, also in the California Sierra.

Mount Winchell, a thirteener, is among the thirty highest peaks of California. It is in the Palisades region of the Sierra Nevada, on the Sierra Crest between Mount Agassiz and Thunderbolt Peak.

Mount Goode is a 13,085-foot-elevation mountain summit located on the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, United States. It is situated on the shared boundary of Kings Canyon National Park with John Muir Wilderness, and along the common border of Fresno County with Inyo County. It is also approximately one mile west-northwest of Bishop Pass, one mile east-southeast of Mount Johnson, 1.23 miles (1.98 km) south of Hurd Peak, and 16 miles (26 km) west of the community of Big Pine.

Mount Gayley is a 13,510-foot-elevation mountain summit located one mile east of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Inyo County, California, United States. It is situated in the Palisades area of the John Muir Wilderness, on land managed by Inyo National Forest. It is approximately 13 miles (21 km) west-southwest of the community of Big Pine, 0.67 miles (1.08 km) southwest of Temple Crag, and 0.5 miles (0.80 km) north-northeast of parent Mount Sill. Mount Gayley ranks as the 59th highest summit in California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cloudripper</span> Mountain peak of the Sierra Nevada in California, United States

Cloudripper is a 13,525-foot-elevation mountain summit located two miles east of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Inyo County of northern California, United States. It is situated in the Palisades area of the John Muir Wilderness, on land managed by Inyo National Forest. It is approximately 14 miles (23 km) west of the community of Big Pine, 1.1 miles (1.8 km) north-northeast of Picture Puzzle, and 2.1 miles (3.4 km) south of parent Mount Agassiz. Cloudripper ranks as the 58th highest summit in California, and the highest point of the Inconsolable Range.

Picture Puzzle, also known as Picture Puzzle Peak, is a 13,297-foot-elevation mountain summit located one mile east of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Inyo County of northern California, United States. It is situated in the Palisades area of the John Muir Wilderness, on land managed by Inyo National Forest. It is approximately 14.5 miles (23.3 km) west of the community of Big Pine, one mile north of Bishop Pass, 0.8 miles (1.3 km) northwest of Aperture Peak, 1.2 miles (1.9 km) north-northwest of Mount Agassiz, and 1.1 miles (1.8 km) south-southwest of parent Cloudripper. Picture Puzzle ranks as the 90th-highest summit in California, and the third-highest peak of the Inconsolable Range.

Hurd Peak is a 12,237-foot-elevation (3,730-meter) mountain summit located one mile east of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Inyo County of northern California, United States. Surrounded by lakes, it is situated in the John Muir Wilderness, on land managed by Inyo National Forest. It is approximately 16 miles (26 km) west of the community of Big Pine, 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Picture Puzzle, and 1.23 miles (1.98 km) north of parent Mount Goode. Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises nearly 2,500 feet above South Lake in approximately one mile.

Picture Peak is a 13,140+ foot mountain summit located one mile east of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Inyo County in northern California, United States. It is situated in the John Muir Wilderness, on land managed by Inyo National Forest. It is approximately 21 miles (34 km) west of the community of Big Pine, and 0.65 miles (1.05 km) east of parent Mount Haeckel. Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises over 2,000 feet above Hungry Packer Lake in approximately one-half mile (1 km). The first ascent of the summit was made July 1967, by Gary Colliver and Steve Thompson via the northeast face. This mountain's name has not been officially adopted by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.

Thor Peak is a 12,306-foot-elevation (3,751-meter) mountain summit located east of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Inyo County, California. It is situated in the John Muir Wilderness on land managed by Inyo National Forest. It is 12.5 miles (20.1 km) west of the community of Lone Pine, and 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of Mount Whitney. Topographic relief is significant as it rises 3,937 feet above Whitney Portal in 1.5 mile. Hikers on the Mount Whitney Trail pass below the impressive south face of the peak.

The Thumb is a 13,356-foot-elevation (4,071-meter) mountain summit located on the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Inyo County of northern California. It is situated in the Palisades area of the John Muir Wilderness, on land managed by Inyo National Forest. It is 1.3 miles (2.1 km) east of Middle Palisade, 1.6 miles (2.6 km) west-northwest of Birch Mountain, and 1.8 miles (2.9 km) north of Mount Bolton Brown. The Thumb ranks as the 83rd-highest summit in California. Topographic relief is significant as the east aspect rises over 2,500 feet above Birch Lake in approximately one mile. The John Muir Trail traverses below the southwest aspect of the mountain, providing an optional approach access.

Mount Johnson is a 12,871-foot-elevation mountain summit located on the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, United States. It is situated on the boundary between Kings Canyon National Park and John Muir Wilderness, and along the county line between Fresno County and Inyo County. It is also 18 miles (29 km) west of the community of Big Pine, 0.9 miles (1.4 km) southeast of Mount Gilbert, and one mile (1.6 km) west-northwest of Mount Goode. Mount Johnson ranks as the 187th-highest summit in California. Topographic relief is significant as the southwest aspect rises 3,670 feet above LeConte Canyon in 1.5 mile, and the north aspect rises 3,100 feet above South Lake in 2.5 miles.

Mount Wallace is a 13,377-foot-elevation mountain summit located on the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in northern California, United States. It is situated on the shared boundary of Kings Canyon National Park with John Muir Wilderness, and along the common border of Fresno County with Inyo County. It is 21 miles (34 km) west of the community of Big Pine, 1.38 miles (2.22 km) northwest of Mount Powell, 0.5 miles (0.80 km) southwest of Picture Peak, and 0.37 miles (0.60 km) southeast of Mount Haeckel, which is the nearest higher neighbor. Mount Wallace ranks as the 79th-highest summit in California, and the ninth-highest in the Evolution Region.

Disappointment Peak is a 13,917-foot-elevation summit located on the shared boundary of Fresno County and Inyo County in California, United States.

Mount Warren is a 12,327-foot-elevation (3,757 meter) summit located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Mono County, California, United States. The mountain is set within the Hoover Wilderness, on land managed by Inyo National Forest. The peak is situated 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south of Gilcrest Peak, 1.8 miles (2.9 km) northwest of Lee Vining Peak, and 5 miles (8.0 km) southeast of Excelsior Mountain, which is the nearest higher neighbor. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 5,955 feet above Mono Lake in 4.5 miles.

Mount Julius Caesar is a 13,213-foot-elevation mountain summit located on the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in northern California, United States. It is situated in the John Muir Wilderness on the boundary that Sierra National Forest shares with Inyo National Forest, and along the common border shared by Fresno County with Inyo County. It is one mile southwest of line parent Bear Creek Spire, and 22 miles (35 km) west of the community of Bishop. Italy Pass is one-half mile immediately south of the summit, and Granite Park lies to the southeast. Mount Julius Caesar ranks as the 106th-highest summit in California. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 2,000 feet above Lake Italy in 0.7 miles (1.1 km).

Mount Bolton Brown is a 13,491-foot-elevation (4,112 meter) mountain summit located on the shared border of Fresno County and Inyo County in California, United States.

Mount Prater is a 13,471-foot-elevation (4,106 meter) mountain summit located on the shared border of Fresno County and Inyo County in California, United States.

Clyde Spires is a 13,267-foot-elevation (4,044 meter) mountain summit located on the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, United States. It is situated on the boundary shared by Kings Canyon National Park with John Muir Wilderness, and along the common border of Fresno County with Inyo County. It is 20 miles (32 km) west of the community of Big Pine, and 0.5 miles (0.80 km) southeast of Mount Wallace, which is the nearest higher neighbor. The west spire is slightly higher than the east spire. Topographic relief is significant as the spires rise 1,665 feet above Echo Lake in 0.38 miles (0.61 km).

Mount Jepson is a 13,390-foot-elevation (4,081 meter) summit located on the shared boundary of Fresno County and Inyo County in California, United States.

Mount Robinson is a 12,967-foot-elevation (3,952 meter) mountain summit located in Inyo County, California, United States.

References

↑ United States Geological Survey topographical map - North Palisade
1 2 3 Secor, R.J. (2009). The High Sierra Peaks, Passes, and Trails (3rd ed.). Seattle: The Mountaineers. p. 263. ISBN 978-0898869712.
1 2 3 "Aperture Peak, California". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
1 2 3 "Aperture Peak CA". ListsOfJohn.com. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
1 2 3 "Aperture Peak". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved July 22, 2022.
↑ Stratotype Inventory—Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, California, nps.gov
↑ Browning, Peter (1986). Place Names of the Sierra Nevada. Berkley: Wilderness Press. p. 6. ISBN 978-0899970479.
↑ "Climate of the Sierra Nevada". Encyclopædia Britannica .

External links

Weather forecast: Aperture Peak

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[1] United States Geological Survey topographical map - North Palisade

[Secor-2] 1 2 3 Secor, R.J. (2009). The High Sierra Peaks, Passes, and Trails (3rd ed.). Seattle: The Mountaineers. p. 263. ISBN 978-0898869712.

[pb-3] 1 2 3 "Aperture Peak, California". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved July 22, 2022.

[loj-4] 1 2 3 "Aperture Peak CA". ListsOfJohn.com. Retrieved July 22, 2022.

[gnis-5] 1 2 3 "Aperture Peak". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved July 22, 2022.

[6] Stratotype Inventory—Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, California, nps.gov

[Browning-7] Browning, Peter (1986). Place Names of the Sierra Nevada. Berkley: Wilderness Press. p. 6. ISBN 978-0899970479.

[8] "Climate of the Sierra Nevada". Encyclopædia Britannica .

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