Cirque Peak (California)

Cirque Peak
Northeast aspect
Highest point
Elevation12,906 ft (3,934 m) NAVD 88[1]
Prominence900 ft (274 m)[1]
Parent peakMount Langley[1]
Isolation2.59 mi (4.17 km)[1]
Listing
Coordinates36°28′37″N 118°14′13″W / 36.4769355°N 118.2369766°W / 36.4769355; -118.2369766[4]
Naming
Etymologycirque
Geography
Cirque Peak is located in California
Cirque Peak
Cirque Peak
Cirque Peak is located in the United States
Cirque Peak
Cirque Peak
Location
Parent rangeSierra Nevada
Topo mapUSGS Cirque Peak
Geology
Rock ageCretaceous
Mountain typeFault block
Rock typegranitic
Climbing
Easiest routeExposed scramble, class 2[2]

Cirque Peak is a 12,900-foot-elevation (3,900-meter) mountain summit located on the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California.[4] It is situated on the common border of Tulare County with Inyo County, as well as the shared boundary of Golden Trout Wilderness and John Muir Wilderness, on land managed by Inyo National Forest. It is 14 miles (23 km) southwest of the community of Lone Pine, 7.7 miles (12.4 km) south-southeast of Mount Whitney, and 3.2 miles (5.1 km) south of Mount Langley, the nearest higher neighbor. Cirque Peak is the highest point of the Golden Trout Wilderness, and ranks as the 175th highest peak in California.[5] Topographic relief is significant as it rises 1,800 feet (550 meters) above Cirque Lake in approximately one mile. The Pacific Crest Trail traverses the southwest slope of this mountain, providing an approach option. The mountain was apparently named in 1890 by Joseph Nisbet LeConte and companions who noted the remarkable cirque on the north aspect.[6]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Cirque Peak has an alpine climate.[7] 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 west to the Kern River via Golden Trout Creek, and east to Owens Valley via Cottonwood Creek.

  • Summit view looking north into the cirque and to Mt. Langley
    Summit view looking north into the cirque and to Mt. Langley
  • Cottonwood Lakes Trail and Cirque Peak
    Cottonwood Lakes Trail and Cirque Peak

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Cirque Peak, California". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  2. ^ a b "Sierra Peaks Section List" (PDF). Angeles Chapter, Sierra Club.
  3. ^ "Vagmarken Sierra Crest List". Angeles Chapter, Sierra Club. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
  4. ^ a b "Cirque Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  5. ^ "Cirque Peak - 12,900' CA". ListsOfJohn.com.
  6. ^ Kenneth L. Taylor, Names on the Range: Scientists and Science in the Naming of Sierra Nevada Features
  7. ^ Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11. ISSN 1027-5606.