Cirque Peak (California)

Last updated
Cirque Peak
Cirque Peak CA.jpg
Northeast aspect
Highest point
Elevation 12,906 ft (3,934 m)  NAVD 88 [1]
Prominence 900 ft (274 m) [1]
Parent peak Mount Langley [1]
Isolation 2.59 mi (4.17 km) [1]
Listing
Coordinates 36°28′37″N118°14′13″W / 36.4769355°N 118.2369766°W / 36.4769355; -118.2369766 [4]
Naming
Etymology cirque
Geography
Relief map of California.png
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Cirque Peak
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Cirque Peak
Location
Parent range Sierra Nevada
Topo map USGS Cirque Peak
Geology
Rock age Cretaceous
Mountain type Fault block
Rock type granitic
Climbing
Easiest route Exposed scramble, class 2 [2]

Cirque Peak is a 12,900-foot-elevation (3,900-meter) mountain summit located on the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California. [4] It is situated on the common border of Tulare County with Inyo County, as well as the shared boundary of Golden Trout Wilderness and John Muir Wilderness, on land managed by Inyo National Forest. It is 14 miles (23 km) southwest of the community of Lone Pine, 7.7 miles (12.4 km) south-southeast of Mount Whitney, and 3.2 miles (5.1 km) south of Mount Langley, the nearest higher neighbor. Cirque Peak is the highest point of the Golden Trout Wilderness, and ranks as the 175th highest peak in California. [5] Topographic relief is significant as it rises 1,800 feet (550 meters) above Cirque Lake in approximately one mile. The Pacific Crest Trail traverses the southwest slope of this mountain, providing an approach option. The mountain was apparently named in 1890 by Joseph Nisbet LeConte and companions who noted the remarkable cirque on the north aspect. [6]

Contents

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Cirque Peak has an alpine climate. [7] 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, causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the range (orographic lift). Precipitation runoff from this mountain drains west to the Kern River via Golden Trout Creek, and east to Owens Valley via Cottonwood Creek.

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colosseum Mountain</span> Double summit mountain in the state of California

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Lamarck</span> Mountain in the state of California

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Starr</span> Mountain in the state of California

Mount Starr, elevation 12,835 feet (3,912 m), is a 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 common boundary shared by Sierra National Forest with Inyo National Forest, and along the common border of Fresno County with Inyo County. It is bound on the east by Little Lakes Valley, and is 0.8 mile northeast of Mono Pass. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 2,300 feet above Little Lakes Valley in approximately one-half mile (0.80 km). Neighbors include Mount Abbot, three miles to the south-southwest, Mount Morgan, 2.5 miles to the southeast, and Pointless Peak is 2.5 miles to the north.

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Four Gables, elevation 12,776 feet (3,894 m), is a 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 common boundary shared by Sierra National Forest with Inyo National Forest, and along the common border of Fresno County with Inyo County. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 2,800 feet above Horton Lake in approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km). Neighbors include Basin Mountain, two miles to the east-southeast, Mount Tom, three miles to the northeast, and Merriam Peak, four miles to the west. The nearest community is Bishop, California, 17 miles to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pointless Peak</span> Mountain in the state of California

Pointless Peak, elevation 12,256 feet (3,736 m), is a mountain summit located in Inyo County of northern California, United States. Set one-half mile east of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, the peak is situated in the John Muir Wilderness on land managed by Inyo National Forest. It rises at the northern end of Little Lakes Valley, and is immediately west of Rock Creek Lake. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 2,550 feet above this lake in approximately one mile (1.6 km). Neighbors include Mount Starr, 2.5 miles to the south, and line parent Mount Huntington, 1.4 mile to the northwest. This landform is also known as "Mono Mesa", but neither name is official and it will remain unofficial so long as the USGS policy of not adopting new toponyms in designated wilderness areas remains in effect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dragon Peak (California)</span> Mountain in the state of California

Dragon Peak is a 12,955-foot-elevation (3,949 meter) mountain summit located on the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in northern California. It is situated on the common border of Fresno County with Inyo County, as well as the boundary shared by John Muir Wilderness and Kings Canyon National Park. It is 10 miles (16 km) west of the community of Independence, and 1.3 miles (2.1 km) south of Black Mountain. Dragon Peak ranks as the 161st-highest summit in California. Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises 1,900 feet above Dragon Lake in less than one mile. This mountain is habitat for the endangered Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, which restricts climbing from July through December, so most ascents are made in the spring. The first ascent of the summit was made in 1920 by either Norman Clyde, or Fred Parker and J. E. Rother. The John Muir Trail traverses two miles west of this peak, providing an approach option. The mountain is so named because of the shape of its outline as seen from Rae Lakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Julius Caesar</span> Mountain in the American state of California

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).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sawmill Point</span> Mountain in the state of California

Sawmill Point is a 9,429-foot-elevation (2,874 meter) mountain summit located in Inyo County, California. It is situated 2.6 miles east of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in the John Muir Wilderness, on land managed by Inyo National Forest. It is also 10.5 miles (16.9 km) northwest of the community of Independence, and 2.6 miles (4.2 km) east of proximate parent Colosseum Mountain. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 4,770 feet above Owens Valley in two miles. The Sawmill Pass Trail traverses the east and south slopes of the peak, providing an approach option, and access to the John Muir Trail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aperture Peak</span> Mountain in the state of California

Aperture Peak is a 13,265-foot-elevation mountain summit located in Inyo County, California, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Robinson (California)</span> Mountain in the state of California

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

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Cirque Peak, California". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  2. 1 2 "Sierra Peaks Section List" (PDF). Angeles Chapter, Sierra Club .
  3. "Vagmarken Sierra Crest List". Angeles Chapter, Sierra Club . Retrieved 2021-11-21.
  4. 1 2 "Cirque Peak". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  5. "Cirque Peak - 12,900' CA". ListsOfJohn.com.
  6. Kenneth L. Taylor, Names on the Range: Scientists and Science in the Naming of Sierra Nevada Features
  7. Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11. ISSN   1027-5606.