Alta Peak

Alta Peak
Alta Peak

Location of Alta Peak in California

Elevation 11,208 ft (3,416 m) NAVD 88[1]
Prominence 124 ft (38 m)[2]
Listing Sierra Peaks Section[3]
Location
Range Sierra Nevada
Coordinates 36°35′26″N 118°39′48″W / 36.590579589°N 118.663385947°WCoordinates: 36°35′26″N 118°39′48″W / 36.590579589°N 118.663385947°W[1]
Topo map USGS Lodgepole
Climbing
First ascent 1896 by William R, Dudley[4]
Easiest route Hike, class 1[3]

Alta Peak is in Sequoia National Park not far from Giant Forest. Before 1896, the mountain was known as Tharps Peak. By 1903 it was generally known by its current name and Alta Peak appears on the Tehipite quadrangle, USGS 30 minute topographic map of 1905,[5] and was officially recognized by the Board on Geographic Names in 1928.[6] The Sierra Club Bulletin noted that the name Alta Peak was "euphonious". A meadow on its southern slope had long been known as Alta Meadow.[7] A rocky outcrop, 0.5 miles (0.8 km) southwest of the summit, is now known as Tharps Rock. Hale Tharp was the first euro-American to explore the Giant Forest area. His summer camp, a hollowed out Sequoia log near Crescent Meadow known as Tharp's Log, is popular with park visitors.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Alta". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey.
  2. ↑ "Alta Peak, California". Peakbagger.com.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Sierra Peaks Section List". Angeles Chapter, Sierra Club.
  4. ↑ Secor, R. J. (1992). The High Sierra: Peaks, Passes and Trails. Seattle: The Mountaineers Books. p. 90. ISBN 0-89886-313-9.
  5. ↑ Tehipite quadrangle, California (Map). 1:125000. 30 Minute Topographic. USGS. 1905.
  6. ↑ "Alta Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  7. ↑ Browning, Peter (1986). Place Names of the Sierra Nevada. Berkeley: Wilderness Press. pp. 4, 214. ISBN 978-0-89997-119-3.