Donner Peak

Donner Peak is an 8,019-foot-elevation (2,444-meter) summit in Placer County, California, United States.

Donner Peak
Northwest aspect
Highest point
Elevation	8,019 ft (2,444 m)[1][2]
Prominence	139 ft (42 m)[3]
Parent peak	Mount Judah (8,243 ft)[4]
Isolation	0.73 mi (1.17 km)[4]
Coordinates	39°18′31″N 120°18′45″W[5]
Naming
Etymology	Donner Party
Geography
Donner Peak Location in California Show map of California Donner Peak Donner Peak (the United States) Show map of the United States
Location	Donner Pass
Country	United States of America
State	California
County	Placer
Parent range	Sierra Nevada[3]
Topo map	USGS Norden
Climbing
Easiest route	class 1 hiking[4]

Description

Donner Peak is located one mile southeast of Donner Pass, on land managed by Tahoe National Forest. It is situated in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, with precipitation runoff from the peak draining to Donner Lake. Topographic relief is modest as the summit rises 2,100 feet (640 meters) above Donner Lake in 1.5 mile. Neighbors include George R. Stewart Peak, one mile (1.6 km) to the north, and line parent Mount Judah, 0.73 miles (1.17 km) to the south.^[3] The Pacific Crest Trail traverses the west slope of the peak, providing an approach from Donner Pass. Round-trip hiking distance to summit is 3.5 miles (5.6 km) with 940 feet (290 m) of elevation gain.^[6]

History

This landform's toponym was officially adopted in October 1940 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, having appeared on an 1873 topographic map made by California Geological Survey.^[5] The mountain was also called "Donner Peak" during 1865 construction of the route for the Central Pacific Railroad.^[7] The railroad originally traversed the steep north cliffs of the peak via tunnels and snow sheds before the 10,322-foot-long (3,146 m) Tunnel #41 running under Mount Judah and Donner Peak was opened in 1925. The peak, pass, and lake are named for the ill-fated Donner Party who spent the winter of 1846–1847 snowbound at the east end of Donner Lake.^[8]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Donner 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. Donner Pass averages 51.6 inches (1,310 mm) of precipitation per year,^[10] and with an average of 411.5 inches (10.45 m) of snow per year, it is one of the snowiest places in the contiguous United States.^[11] There are five ski areas at Donner Pass.

Gallery

• 
  North aspect of Donner Peak with railroad snowshed.
• 
  Summit of Donner Peak, from northwest
• 
  Donner Peak seen from McGlashan Point
• 
  North aspect
• 
  Donner Peak (centered) seen from Donner Lake, with parent Mount Judah partially visible behind, left.
• 
  Donner Lake (left) and Donner Peak (right)
• 
  The view of Donner Lake from Donner Peak
• 
  Mt. Judah (upper left), Donner Peak centered, from Donner Lake
• 
  Northeast aspect of Donner Peak rises above the west end of Donner Lake
• 
  The top of Donner Peak from Mount Judah Loop Trail
• 
  View east to Donner Lake, McGlashan Point, Donner Peak (right).
• 
  Donner Peak right of center

See also

• Mountains portal
• Donner Pass