Mount Tyndall

Summary

Mount Tyndall is a peak in the Mount Whitney region of the Sierra Nevada in the U.S. state of California. At 14,025 feet (4,275 m), it is the tenth highest peak in the state. The mountain was named in honor of the Irish scientist and mountaineer, John Tyndall.[8]

Mount Tyndall
East aspect
Highest point
Elevation14,025 ft (4,275 m) NAVD 88[1]
Prominence1,092 ft (333 m)[1]
Parent peakMount Williamson[2]
Listing
Coordinates36°39′21″N 118°20′14″W / 36.6557436°N 118.3372726°W / 36.6557436; -118.3372726[6]
Geography
Mount Tyndall is located in California
Mount Tyndall
Mount Tyndall
Mount Tyndall is located in the United States
Mount Tyndall
Mount Tyndall
Location
Parent rangeSierra Nevada
Topo mapUSGS Mount Williamson
Climbing
First ascentJuly 6, 1864 by Clarence King and Richard Cotter[7]
Easiest routeScramble, class 2[7]

Geography edit

Tyndall lies on the Sierra Crest, which in this region forms the boundary between the John Muir Wilderness and the Inyo National Forest on the east, and Sequoia National Park on the west; and the boundary between Inyo and Tulare counties. Mount Tyndall is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west of the higher Mount Williamson, and about 6 miles (9.7 km) north-northeast of Mount Whitney.

History edit

Mount Tyndall was first climbed on July 6, 1864, by Clarence King and Richard Cotter who were members of the California Geological Survey and under the overall direction of Josiah Whitney and the field leadership of William Brewer. King and Cotter were attempting to make the first ascent of Mount Whitney, and had made a long trek from Kings Canyon, only to realize months later that they had climbed the wrong peak.[7]

Climbing routes edit

The easiest route on Mount Tyndall in terms of access and climbing is the Northwest Ridge, which involves an easy scramble (class 2). It begins about one half mile (0.8 km.) west of Shepherd Pass and about 1 mile (1.6 km) north of the peak. Other non-technical routes exist on the gently sloped west side of the peak. At least two significant technical routes lie on the much steeper east face; the first of these routes was climbed by noted mountaineer Fred Beckey and Charlie Raymond in 1970.[7]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Mount Tyndall, California". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2009-02-02.
  2. ^ "Key Col for Mount Tyndall". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
  3. ^ "California 14,000-foot Peaks". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
  4. ^ "Sierra Peaks Section List" (PDF). Angeles Chapter, Sierra Club. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
  5. ^ "Western States Climbers Qualifying Peak List". Climber.org. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
  6. ^ "Mount Tyndall". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2008-09-21.
  7. ^ a b c d Roper, Steve (1976). The Climber's Guide to the High Sierra. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books. pp. 299, 366. ISBN 978-0871561473.
  8. ^ Brewer, William H. (1873). "Discovery of Mount Tyndall". The Popular Science Monthly. 2: 739–741.

External links edit

  • "Mount Tyndall". SummitPost.org.
  • King, Clarence (1871). Mountaineering in the Sierra Nevada (1905 ed.). New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. ISBN 0-585-27432-0. In Chapter 3 of the free online version of this book, King gives an account of the first ascent of Mount Tyndall.