Matthes Crest

Matthes Crest
Matthes crest from the west side.
Elevation	10,923 ft (3,329 m) NAVD 88[1]
Location
Location	Yosemite National Park Mariposa County, California, U.S.
Range	Cathedral Range, Sierra Nevada
Coordinates	37°49′24″N 119°23′51″W / 37.823259°N 119.3973791°W / 37.823259; -119.3973791Coordinates: 37°49′24″N 119°23′51″W / 37.823259°N 119.3973791°W / 37.823259; -119.3973791[2]
Topo map	USGS Tenaya Lake
Geology
Type	Granite arête
Age of rock	Cretaceous
Climbing
First ascent	1931 by Jules Eichorn, Glen Dawson and Walter Brem
Easiest route	Rock climb class 5.7<ref name="barenes2009tuoloumne"">{{cite book | title=Tuolumne Free Climbs | author=Barnes, G. and McNamara, C. and Roper, S. | isbn=9780976523574 | url=http://books.google.de/books?id=5sNXPgAACAAJ | year=2009 | publisher=SuperTopo }}</ref>

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.

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.^[3] Matthes crest arose as a nunatak in the glacial field which covered Tuolumne during the last ice age. ^[4]

Climbing

The first ascent of Matthes crest was by Jules Eichorn, Glen Dawson, and Walter Brem in 1931. Climbing Matthes Crest by traversing the ridge from south to north is a popular alpine climbing activity today.^[5]

Matthes Crest
Matthes Crest from the west side.  Matthes Crest from the north east side.

References