Mount Williamson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mount Williamson | |
|---|---|
 Mount Williamson above Manzanar |
|
| Elevation | 14,403 ft (4,390 m) |
| Location | California, USA |
| Range | Sierra Nevada |
| Prominence | 1,645 ft (501 m) |
| Coordinates | |
| First ascent | 1884 by W. L. Hunter, C. Mulholland |
| Easiest route | West Side: hike/scramble |
Mount Williamson, at 14,403 ft (4390 m), is the second highest mountain in the Sierra Nevada range of California, and the second highest mountain in all of California. It is the sixth highest peak in the contiguous United States. It lies in the John Muir Wilderness of the Inyo National Forest. It is located approximately 6 miles (9 km) north of Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous US, and about 2.5 miles (4 km) southeast of Shepherd Pass, the nearest trail access. The closest town is Independence, California, about 11.8 miles (19 km) north-north-east of the peak in the Owens Valley.
Williamson lies about 1 mile (1.6 km) east of the High Sierra crest, which forms the western edge of the Owens Valley. It is more remote than Whitney in terms of access; however it is actually a bit closer to the Owens Valley floor than Whitney. For example, the drop from the summit to the forest edge is 8000 feet (2430 m) in approximately 4 miles (6.4 km). This makes it an imposing mountain, though far less of a popular climb than its higher neighbor.
The standard ascent route is the West Side Route, accessed from Shepherd's Pass. From the pass, one travels across the Williamson Bowl, which lies between Mount Williamson and Mount Tyndall, part of the Sierra Crest. The bowl is home to five high alpine lakes. From the bowl, the route climbs gullies up the west face to the relatively broad summit plateau; this portion involves scrambling up to Class 3. Technically easier, but with a much more difficult approach, is the Southeast Slopes Route, rising from George Creek. Other routes exist on the mountain, including a significant technical route on the North Rib (Grade IV, 5.7).
Climbing Mount Williamson is made more difficult by two factors: first is the length and difficulty of the approach. Elevation gain from the trailhead is over 8,000 feet, and the trail to Shepherd's Pass alone is 11 miles (18 km). Second, the peak is in the Bighorn Sheep Zoological Preserve, which is closed for much of the year.[1]
The first recorded ascent of Mount Williamson was made in 1884 by W. L. Hunter and C. Mulholland, via the Southeast Slopes Route. The first ascent of the West Side Route was made in 1896 by Bolton C. Brown and Lucy Brown. New routes continued to be put up on the harder faces at least through the 1970's.
The mountain is named after Lt. Robert S. Williamson, who conducted one of the Pacific Railroad Surveys in Southern California.
[edit] Reference
- Steve Roper, The Climber's Guide to the High Sierra, Sierra Club Books, 1976.
