The Citadel (Sierra Nevada)

The Citadel is an 11,738-foot-elevation (3,578-meter) mountain summit located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Fresno County of central California, United States.^[3] It is situated in northern Kings Canyon National Park, 20 miles (32 km) west-southwest of the community of Big Pine, and 2.4 miles (3.9 km) south of Langille Peak. Topographic relief is significant as it rises 3,400 feet (1,000 meters) above Le Conte Canyon in approximately one mile. The long approach to this remote peak is made via the John Muir Trail. The Northeast Arête, also known as Edge of Time Arête, is considered one of the classic climbing routes in the Sierra Nevada.^[5]

The Citadel
The Citadel viewed from the northeast, on the John Muir Trail in Le Conte Canyon
Highest point
Elevation	11,738 ft (3,578 m)[1]
Prominence	298 ft (91 m)[1]
Parent peak	Peak 12020[2]
Isolation	0.54 mi (0.87 km)[2]
Coordinates	37°03′55″N 118°36′40″W[3]
Geography
The Citadel Location in California Show map of California The Citadel The Citadel (the United States) Show map of the United States
Location	Kings Canyon National Park Fresno County California, U.S.
Parent range	Sierra Nevada[1]
Topo map	USGS North Palisade
Geology
Rock type	granite
Climbing
First ascent	June 24, 1951[4]
Easiest route	class 2, from Ladder Lake[1]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, The Citadel is located in an alpine climate zone.^[6] 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, causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the range (orographic lift). Precipitation runoff from this mountain drains into the Middle Fork Kings River.

Climbing

Non-technical routes:^[7]

• West Ridge – class 2 – First ascent June 24, 1951, by Richard Searle, William Wirt
• Northeast Face – class 4 – FA by Donald Goodrich, Robert Means also on June 24, 1951
• North Wall – class 4 – FA by Locker, Albright, G. Hufbauer, and K. Hufbauer

Established rock climbing routes:^[8]

• North Face – class 5.7 A3 – FA 1968 by T. M. Herbert, Don Lauria, Dennis Hennick
• Edge of Time Arête – class 5.10+ – 14 pitches – FA 1991 by Dave Nettle and Jim Howle
• Quality Time – class 5.10b – 9 pitches – FA 2003 by Urmas Franosch, Peter Mayfield
• Wild Kingdom – class 5.11- – 16 pitches – FA 2019 by Katie Lambert, Ben Ditto

Gallery

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• 
  The Citadel with cascade
• 
  The Citadel (centered) and Wheel Mountain (behind, left)

See also

• Mountains portal

• List of mountain peaks of California