Mount Tyndall
Encyclopedia
Mount Tyndall is a peak in the Mount Whitney
region of the Sierra Nevada in the U.S. state
of California
. It rises to 14025 feet (4,274.8 m), and is the tenth highest peak in the state. The mountain was named after the British scientist and mountaineer, John Tyndall
.
, 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.
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 find that they had not climbed the correct peak.
. It begins about one half mile (0.8 km.) west of from Shepherd Pass and about 1 miles (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.
Mount Whitney
Mount Whitney is the highest summit in the contiguous United States with an elevation of . It is on the boundary between California's Inyo and Tulare counties, west-northwest of the lowest point in North America at Badwater in Death Valley National Park...
region of the Sierra Nevada in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It rises to 14025 feet (4,274.8 m), and is the tenth highest peak in the state. The mountain was named after the British scientist and mountaineer, John Tyndall
John Tyndall
John Tyndall FRS was a prominent Irish 19th century physicist. His initial scientific fame arose in the 1850s from his study of diamagnetism. Later he studied thermal radiation, and produced a number of discoveries about processes in the atmosphere...
.
Geography
Tyndall lies on the Sierra CrestSierra Crest
The Sierra Crest is a ~ generally north-to-south ridgeline that demarcates the broad west and narrow east slopes of the Sierra Nevada and that extends as far east as the Sierra's topographic front...
, which in this region forms the boundary between the John Muir Wilderness
John Muir Wilderness
The John Muir Wilderness is a wilderness area that extends along the crest of the Sierra Nevada of California, USA for , in the Inyo and Sierra National Forests. Established in 1964 by the Wilderness Act and named for naturalist John Muir, it contains...
and the Inyo National Forest
Inyo National Forest
Inyo National Forest is a federally administered forest in the United States. The forest covers parts of the eastern Sierra Nevada of California, and the White Mountains of California and Nevada. It contains two wilderness areas: the John Muir Wilderness and the Ansel Adams Wilderness...
on the east, and Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park is a national park in the southern Sierra Nevada east of Visalia, California, in the United States. It was established on September 25, 1890. The park spans . Encompassing a vertical relief of nearly , the park contains among its natural resources the highest point in the...
on the west; and the boundary between Inyo
Inyo County, California
-National protected areas:* Death Valley National Park * Inyo National Forest * Manzanar National Historic Site-Major highways:* U.S. Route 6* U.S. Route 395* State Route 127* State Route 136* State Route 168* State Route 178...
and Tulare
Tulare County, California
Tulare County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, south of Fresno. Sequoia National Park is located in the county, as are part of Kings Canyon National Park, in its northeast corner , and part of Mount Whitney, on its eastern border...
counties. Mount Tyndall is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west of the higher Mount Williamson
Mount Williamson
Mount Williamson, at , is the second highest mountain in both the Sierra Nevada range and the state of California. It is the sixth highest peak in the contiguous United States.- Geography :...
, and about 6 miles (9.7 km) north-northeast of Mount Whitney.
History
Mount Tyndall was first climbed on July 6, 1864 by Clarence KingClarence King
Clarence R. King was an American geologist, mountaineer, and art critic. First director of the United States Geological Survey, from 1879 to 1881, King was noted for his exploration of the Sierra Nevada. He was born in Newport, Rhode Island.-Career:...
and Richard Cotter who were members of the California Geological Survey
California Geological Survey
Although it was not until 1880 that the California State Mining Bureau, predecessor to the California Geological Survey, was established, the "roots" of California's state geological survey date to an earlier time...
and under the overall direction of Josiah Whitney
Josiah Whitney
Josiah Dwight Whitney was an American geologist, professor of geology at Harvard University , and chief of the California Geological Survey...
and the field leadership of William Brewer
William Henry Brewer
William Henry Brewer was an American botanist. He worked on the first California Geological Survey and was the first Chair of Agriculture at Yale University's Sheffield Scientific School....
. King and Cotter were attempting to make the first ascent of Mount Whitney, and had made a long trek from Kings Canyon
Kings Canyon National Park
Kings Canyon National Park is a National Park in the southern Sierra Nevada, east of Fresno, California. The park was established in 1940 and covers...
only to find that they had not climbed the correct peak.
Climbing Routes
The easiest route on Mount Tyndall in terms of access and climbing is the Northwest Ridge, which involves an easy scrambleScrambling
Scrambling is a method of ascending rocky faces and ridges. It is an ambiguous term that lies somewhere between hillwalking and rock climbing. It is often distinguished from hillwalking by defining a scramble as a route where hands must be used in the ascent...
. It begins about one half mile (0.8 km.) west of from Shepherd Pass and about 1 miles (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
Fred Beckey
Fred Beckey is an American mountaineer and author, who has made hundreds of first ascents, more than any other North American climber.-Early years:...
and Charlie Raymond in 1970.