Mount Muir

This article is about the mountain in California. For other mountains, see Mount Muir (disambiguation).

Mount Muir is a peak in the Sierra Nevada of California, 0.95 miles (1.5 km) south of Mount Whitney. This 14,018-foot (4,273 m) peak is named in honor of John Muir, a geologist, conservationist and founder of the Sierra Club. The southernmost section of the John Muir Trail contours along the west side of Mount Muir near its summit and ends on the summit of Mount Whitney.

Mount Muir
The East Face of Mount Muir
Highest point
Elevation	14,018 ft (4,273 m) NAVD 88[1]
Prominence	298 ft (91 m)[1]
Parent peak	Mount Whitney[2]
Listing	Sierra Peaks Section[3] Western States Climbers Emblem peak[4] Vulgarian Ramblers[5] Vagmarken Club Sierra Crest List[6]
Coordinates	36°33′53″N 118°17′29″W[7]
Geography
Mount Muir
Location	Inyo / Tulare counties, California, U.S.
Parent range	Sierra Nevada
Topo map	USGS Mount Whitney
Climbing
First ascent	1919 by LeRoy Jeffers[8]
Easiest route	Hike and scramble from the west, class 3[9]

Climbing

Among mountain climbers, a peak needs to meet certain criteria in order to be included in some lists. To be listed as an independent peak a summit must have 300 feet (91 m) of clean prominence. A reliable source gives Mount Muir's clean prominence as 298 feet,^[1] and so the peak does not qualify for lists of fourteeners based on elevation and prominence.^[10] It is included in other lists which do not depend on prominence. Some lists are based on more subjective criteria, and Mount Muir is included in the Sierra Peaks Section list,^[3] the Western States Climbers list,^[4] and the Vulgarian Ramblers 13,800-Footers of the Contiguous USA list.^[5][11]

The easiest approach is from the John Muir Trail just north of its junction with the Mount Whitney Trail in Sequoia National Park. The trail passes very near the summit and the climb involves a short stretch of difficult scrambling and/or easy rock climbing up the steep western slope to the summit block, (class 3). A dayhike permit or a backcountry permit with a Whitney Zone stamp is required to hike the Mount Whitney Trail.^[12]

The east side of Mount Muir, which is in the John Muir Wilderness, is a near-vertical cliff about 1,400 feet (430 m) high. The route on this side (the north side of the east buttress) was first climbed on July 11, 1935, by Nelson P. Nies and John D. Mendenhall. It is a roped climb, (class 4). The south side of the east buttress, also class 4, was first climbed on September 1, 1935, by Arthur B. Johnson and William Rice.^[9]

Mount Muir's East Face and the Sierra crest as seen from Trail Camp on the Mount Whitney Trail during September of a drought year.

See also

• List of mountain peaks of California

References

1. "Mount Muir, California". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
2. "Key Col for Mount Muir". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2016-03-23.
3. "Sierra Peaks Section List" (PDF). Angeles Chapter, Sierra Club. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
4. "Western States Climbers Qualifying Peak List". Climber.org. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
5. "Vulgarian Ramblers 13,800-Footers of the Contiguous USA". Archived from the original on 2016-04-01. Retrieved 2016-03-23.
6. "Vagmarken Sierra Crest List". Angeles Chapter, Sierra Club. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
7. "Mount Muir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
8. Secor, R.J. (2009). The High Sierra Peaks, Passes, and Trails (3rd ed.). Seattle: The Mountaineers. p. 67. ISBN 978-0898869712.
9. Roper, Steve (1976). The Climber's Guide to the High Sierra. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books. p. 312. ISBN 0-87156-147-6.
10. "What Happened to Mt. Muir?". VulgarianRamblers.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-15. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
11. "Mt. Muir Details". VulgarianRamblers.org. Archived from the original on 2016-04-04. Retrieved 2016-03-23.
12. "Mount Muir". SummitPost.org. Retrieved 2011-05-31.