Caltech Peak

Caltech Peak is a 13,832-foot-elevation (4,216-meter) mountain summit located in Sequoia National Park in Tulare County, California.^[5] It is situated one mile west of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, just one-half mile south of the Kings–Kern Divide, one mile south of line parent Mount Stanford, and 9.3 miles northwest of Mount Whitney. Caltech Peak ranks as the 24th-highest summit in California.^[7] Topographic relief is significant as the southwest aspect rises nearly 1,900 feet (580 meters) above Lake South America in 0.7 miles (1.1 km). The John Muir Trail traverses below the east aspect of the mountain, providing an approach option for climbers.

Caltech Peak
Northeast aspect
Highest point
Elevation	13,832 ft (4,216 m)[1][2]
Prominence	512 ft (156 m)[3]
Parent peak	Mount Stanford (13,979 ft)[4]
Isolation	1.08 mi (1.74 km)[4]
Listing	Sierra Peaks Section
Coordinates	36°41′18″N 118°23′26″W[5]
Naming
Etymology	California Institute of Technology
Geography
Caltech Peak Location in California Show map of California Caltech Peak Caltech Peak (the United States) Show map of the United States
Location	Sequoia National Park Tulare County, California, U.S.
Parent range	Sierra Nevada
Topo map	USGS Mount Brewer
Geology
Rock age	Cretaceous
Mountain type	Fault block
Rock type	granitic
Climbing
Easiest route	class 2[4] Southeast slope[6]

History

The first ascent of the summit was made June 22, 1926, by Norman Clyde, who is credited with 130 first ascents, most of which were in the Sierra Nevada.^[2]

This mountain's toponym was officially adopted in 1961 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to commemorate California Institute of Technology (Caltech).^[5][8]

Climate

Caltech Peak is located in an alpine climate zone.^[9] Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east toward the Sierra Nevada mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks (orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the range. Precipitation runoff from this mountain drains into headwaters of the Kern River.

See also

• Mountains portal
• List of the major 4000-meter summits of California

Caltech Peak to far right seen from Bighorn Plateau. (Mt. Ericsson right of center). Camera pointed NNW.