Fremont Peak (California)
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| Fremont Peak | |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 3,169 feet (966 m) |
| Location | California, USA |
| Range | Gabilan Range |
| Coordinates | |
- For other peaks named Fremont Peak, see Fremont Peak
Fremont Peak is a prominence in the Gabilan Range, one of the mountain ranges paralleling California's central coast. The peak affords clear views of the Salinas Valley and Monterey Bay.
Previously called Gavilon Peak, it is now named for John C. Frémont, an American explorer and general. In 1846 he, and a crew of 60 armed surveyors, mounted the peak to assess its military value. The peak commands the inland approach from Monterey. As a response to the threat, local Mexican authority General José Castro ordered Frémont and his men to leave California. In defiance, Frémont built a crude stockade and raised a modified American flag above the peak. The US Consol in Monterey, Thomas O. Larkin supported Castro's decision to evict Frémont, and the general and his men were duly ordered out of the area.
Frémont took providence from a windy night which blew down the makeshift flagpole to hasten himself and his men from the peak.
Today the peak is the site of a State Park, and is favored by astronomers for its clear views unsullied by artificial light.
[edit] References
- Fremont Peak SP. State of California. Retrieved on November 29, 2006.
