Devils Crags | |
---|---|
Devils Crag #1 | |
Highest point | |
Elevation | 12,424 ft (3,787 m) [1] |
Prominence | 800 ft (240 m) [2] |
Parent peak | Wheel Mountain (12,774 ft) [3] |
Isolation | 1.11 mi (1.79 km) [3] |
Listing | Sierra Peaks Section |
Coordinates | 37°02′17″N118°36′45″W / 37.0380561°N 118.6124615°W Coordinates: 37°02′17″N118°36′45″W / 37.0380561°N 118.6124615°W [1] |
Geography | |
Location | Kings Canyon National Park Fresno County California, U.S. |
Parent range | Sierra Nevada Black Divide [2] |
Topo map | USGS North Palisade |
Geology | |
Type of rock | metamorphic rock |
Climbing | |
First ascent | 1913, Charles W. Michael [4] |
Easiest route | class 4+ [3] |
Devils Crags is a 12,424-foot-elevation (3,787-meter) mountain summit located west of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Fresno County of central California, United States. [1] This jagged line of 11 pinnacles is situated at the southern end of the Black Divide in northern Kings Canyon National Park, 1.88 miles (3.03 km) south of The Citadel, and one mile southeast of Wheel Mountain, which is the nearest higher neighbor. [2] Devils Crags ranks as the 299th highest summit in California. [3] Topographic relief is significant as it rises 4,200 feet (1,300 meters) above Le Conte Canyon in approximately two miles. An approach to this remote peak is made possible via the John Muir Trail which passes through Le Conte Canyon, below to the east. The class 5 Northwest Arête is considered one of the classic climbing routes in the Sierra Nevada. [5]
This mountain was bestowed its name in 1906 by Joseph Nisbet LeConte, a Sierra Nevada explorer and cartographer. [6] [7] The name has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names. [1]
The first ascent of the highest summit, Crag 1, was made July 21, 1913, by Charles W. Michael, who in addition to being an accomplished climber, was the assistant postmaster at Yosemite Valley. [6]
Crag 2 was first climbed July 25, 1933, by Jules Eichorn, Glen Dawson, and Ted Waller. [4]
Crags 3 and 4 were climbed June 24, 1934, by David Brower, Hervey Voge, and Norman Clyde. The next day, June 25, this same team made the first ascents of Crags 5, 6, 7, and 8. [4]
Crag 9 was first climbed August 1, 1933, by Glen Dawson and Jules Eichorn. [4]
Crags 10 and 11 were first climbed June 23, 1934, by David Brower, Hervey Voge, and Norman Clyde. [4]
Established climbing routes for Crag 1: [4]
Devils Crag #1 has a bad reputation for unstable rock which has contributed directly to two climbing deaths, Mark Hoffman in 1988, and David Dykeman in 1997. [8] [9]
Devils Crags is located in an alpine climate zone. [10] 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 into tributaries of the Middle Fork Kings River.
Norman Clyde was a mountaineer, mountain guide, freelance writer, nature photographer, and self-trained naturalist. He is well known for achieving over 130 first ascents, many in California's Sierra Nevada and Montana's Glacier National Park. He also set a speed climbing record on California's Mount Shasta in 1923. The Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley has 1467 articles written by Clyde in its archives.
North Palisade is the third-highest mountain in the Sierra Nevada range of California, and one of the state's small number of peaks over 14,000 feet, known as fourteeners. It is the highest peak of the Palisades group of peaks in the central part of the Sierra range. It sports a small glacier and several highly prized rock climbing routes on its northeast side.
Jules Marquard Eichorn was an American mountaineer, environmentalist, and music teacher.
Glen Dawson was an American rock climber, mountaineer, antiquarian bookseller, publisher and environmentalist.
Robert K. Brinton was a pioneer American rock climber and ski mountaineer. Along with his frequent climbing partner, Glen Dawson, he made numerous first ascents in California, British Columbia, and Utah in the 1930s and named a number of well-known routes.
Mount Haeckel is a 13,424-foot (4,092 m) 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 21.5 miles (34.6 km) west of the community of Big Pine, 1.27 miles (2.04 km) south-southeast of Mount Darwin, and one mile north-northeast of Mount Fiske, which is the nearest higher neighbor. Mount Haeckel ranks as the 71st highest summit in California.
Columbine Peak is a 12,662-foot-elevation mountain summit located 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Fresno County of northern California, United States. It is situated between Palisade Basin and Dusy Basin in the Palisades area of northern Kings Canyon National Park. It is 1.54 miles (2.48 km) west of North Palisade, 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Bishop Pass, and immediately north of Knapsack Pass. This mountain's name has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names. The first ascent of the summit was made prior to 1925 by persons unknown.
Recess Peak is a 12,813-foot-elevation mountain summit located west of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Fresno County of northern California, United States. It is situated on Mono Divide in the John Muir Wilderness, on land managed by Sierra National Forest, and approximately six miles east of Lake Thomas A Edison. The nearest higher neighbor is Mount Hilgard, 2.2 miles (3.5 km) to the southeast. The John Muir Trail follows Bear Creek below the western slope of this remote peak. The summit is surrounded by arêtes and cirques, which were formed by glaciers in the past, most recently ending 13,000 years ago in the late Pleistocene.
North Guard is a remote 13,327-foot-elevation (4,062-meter) mountain summit located near the northern end of the Great Western Divide of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Tulare County of northern California. It is situated in Kings Canyon National Park, 0.9 miles (1.4 km) southeast of Mount Farquhar, and 0.6 miles (0.97 km) north-northwest of Mount Brewer, which is the nearest higher neighbor. Topographic relief is significant as the east aspect rises 3,858 feet above East Lake in three miles. North Guard ranks as the 87th highest summit in California, and the second highest point of the northern Great Western Divide. It's not as high as Mount Brewer, but offers better climbing and is considered one of the classic climbing routes in the Sierra Nevada.
Center Peak is a 12,760-foot-elevation (3,890-meter) mountain summit located one mile west of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in the northeast corner of Tulare County in northern California. It is situated in eastern Kings Canyon National Park, 11 miles (18 km) southwest of the community of Independence, 1.8 miles (2.9 km) south of University Peak, and two miles north of Forester Pass. Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises 2,230 feet above Bubbs Creek in one mile. The John Muir Trail which traverses below the west slope of this remote peak provides an approach.
Mount McGee is a 12,944-foot-elevation (3,945-meter) mountain summit located west of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Fresno County of central California, United States. It is situated in northern Kings Canyon National Park, 0.6 miles (0.97 km) southeast of Peter Peak, 2 miles (3.2 km) southwest of The Hermit, and 2.6 miles (4.2 km) north-northwest of Mount Goddard, the nearest higher neighbor. Topographic relief is significant as the west aspect rises 3,100 feet above Goddard Canyon in two miles. This geographical feature was named for William John McGee (1853–1912), well-known American geologist and anthropologist. This mountain's name has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names. The first ascent of the summit was made in July 1923 by Roger N. Burnham, Robert E. Brownlee, Ralph H. Brandt, and Leonard Keeler.
Mount Genevra is a remote 13,054-foot-elevation (3,979-meter) mountain summit located on the Kings–Kern Divide of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Tulare County of northern California. It is situated on the shared boundary of Kings Canyon National Park with Sequoia National Park, 3.5 miles (5.6 km) southeast of Mount Brewer, and 0.86 miles (1.38 km) east of Mount Jordan, which is the nearest higher neighbor. Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises 3,025 feet above Lake Reflection in 1.5 mile. Mount Genevra ranks as the 138th highest summit in California, and the eighth highest peak on the Kings–Kern Divide.
Giraud Peak is a 12,608-foot-elevation (3,843-meter) mountain summit located west of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Fresno County of northern California, United States. It is situated in the Palisades area of northern Kings Canyon National Park, 3.0 miles (4.8 km) southwest of North Palisade, and 1.5 miles (2.4 km) southwest of Columbine Peak, the nearest higher neighbor. Giraud Peak ranks as the 258th-highest summit in California. Topographic relief is significant as the west aspect rises 4,400 feet above LeConte Canyon in less than two miles. On the direct opposite side of the canyon The Citadel stands guard. The first ascent of the summit was made September 1, 1925, by Norman Clyde via the east arête.
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.
Wheel Mountain is a 12,774-foot-elevation (3,894-meter) mountain summit located west of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Fresno County of central California, United States. This mountain is situated on the Black Divide in northern Kings Canyon National Park, one mile northwest of Devils Crags, and two miles south-southeast of Mount McDuffie, which is the nearest higher neighbor. Wheel Mountain ranks as the 216th-highest summit in California, and the fifth-highest on Black Divide. Topographic relief is significant as the west aspect rises 4,500 feet above Enchanted Gorge in approximately 1.5 mile, and the east aspect rises 4,500 feet above Le Conte Canyon in 2.5 miles. An approach to this remote peak is made possible via the John Muir Trail.
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.
Observation Peak is a 12,362-foot-elevation summit located in Fresno County, California, United States.
Muriel Peak is a 12,937-foot-elevation (3,943 meter) double summit mountain located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Fresno County, California, United States. The true summit is set within the John Muir Wilderness on land managed by Sierra National Forest, whereas the slightly lower south summit is on the boundary shared with Kings Canyon National Park. It is situated one mile northeast of Mount Goethe and one mile south of Muriel Lake. Muriel Peak is the 167th-highest peak in California, and topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,600 feet above Muriel Lake.
Scylla is a 12,956-foot-elevation (3,949 meter) mountain summit located west of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Fresno County, California, United States. This peak is situated in Kings Canyon National Park, 1.27 miles (2.04 km) southwest of Charybdis, 2.3 miles (3.7 km) southeast of Mount Goddard, and 2.57 miles (4.14 km) west of Mount McDuffie. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 3,150 feet above Enchanted Gorge in approximately one mile. The John Muir Trail provides one possible approach option to this remote peak. An ascent of the peak is non-technical via the northwest slope, and inclusion on the Sierra Peaks Section peakbagging list generates climbing interest in this peak.
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).