Matthes Crest

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Matthes Crest
Matthes crest yosemite backcountry view from west side.jpg
Matthes crest from the west side.
Highest point
Elevation 10,923 ft (3,329 m)  NAVD 88 [1]
Prominence 278 ft (85 m) [1]
Parent peak Echo Ridge
Coordinates 37°49′24″N119°23′51″W / 37.823259°N 119.3973791°W / 37.823259; -119.3973791 [2]
Geography
Relief map of California.png
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Matthes Crest
Location in California
Location
Parent range Cathedral Range, Sierra Nevada
Topo map USGS Tenaya Lake
Geology
Age of rock Cretaceous
Mountain type Granite arête
Climbing
First ascent 1931 by Jules Eichorn, Glen Dawson and Walter Brem [3]
Easiest route Rock climb class 5.7 [4]

Matthes Crest is an approximately mile-long fin of rock with two summits separated by a deep notch. It is a part of the Cathedral Range, which is a mountain range in the south-central portion of Yosemite National Park. The range is part of the Sierra Nevada.

Contents

History and geology

Matthes crest is named for François E. Matthes, a cartographer and author who described the geology in the region where Matthes Crest lies. It was originally named Echo Ridge due to its proximity to the Echo Peaks.[ citation needed ] Matthes crest arose as a nunatak in the glacial field which covered Tuolumne during the last ice age. [5]

Climbing

The first known ascent of Matthes Crest was by Jules Eichorn, Glen Dawson, and Walter Brem on June 16, 1931. [3] Climbing Matthes Crest by traversing the ridge from south to north is a popular alpine climbing activity today. [6]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "Matthes Crest, California". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  2. "Matthes Crest". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  3. 1 2 Roper, Steve (1976). The Climber's Guide to the High Sierra. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books. p. 335. ISBN   978-0871561473.
  4. Barnes, G. and McNamara, C. and Roper, S. (2009). Tuolumne Free Climbs. SuperTopo. ISBN   9780976523574.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. Matthes, Francois (1950). The Incomparable Valley, A Geological Interpretation of the Yosemite. The University of California Press. ISBN   9780520008274.
  6. "Matthes Crest". SummitPost.org. Retrieved May 25, 2014.