Highland Peak (California)

Highland Peak
Highland Peak, north aspect
Highest point
Elevation10,936 ft (3,333 m)[1]
Prominence2,456 ft (749 m)[1]
Parent peakStanislaus Peak (11,233 ft)[2]
Isolation10.64 mi (17.12 km)[2]
ListingSierra Peaks Section
Major summits of California
Coordinates38°32′37″N 119°45′20″W / 38.5436240°N 119.7555481°W / 38.5436240; -119.7555481[3]
Geography
Highland Peak is located in California
Highland Peak
Highland Peak
Location in California
Highland Peak is located in the United States
Highland Peak
Highland Peak
Highland Peak (the United States)
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountyAlpine
Protected areaCarson–Iceberg Wilderness
Parent rangeSierra Nevada
Topo mapUSGS Ebbetts Pass
Geology
Mountain typeLava dome[4]
Rock typeRhyolite[4]
Climbing
Easiest routeclass 2[2]

Highland Peak is a prominent 10,936-foot-elevation (3,333-meter) mountain summit located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Alpine County of northern California, United States.[3] It is situated 3.5 miles east of Ebbetts Pass in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness, on land managed by Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest. Although it ranks as the 680th-highest summit in California, it ranks 36th-highest of those with at least 500 meters of topographic prominence.[2] Also, there is no higher peak than Highland Peak to the north within the Sierra Nevada. Highland Peak has a subsidiary South Peak (10,824 ft; 3,299 m), with one-half mile separation between summits.[1] The Pacific Crest Trail traverses the western foot of this mountain, providing an approach option. Precipitation runoff from this mountain drains into tributaries of the East Fork Carson River. . Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises over 2,900 feet (884 meters) above Noble Canyon in 1.6 mile (2.6 km).

History

This mountain's name was applied in 1878 by Lieutenant Montgomery M. Macomb during the Wheeler Survey.[5] The name commemorates the short-lived Highland City, set on the high land between the Carson and Stanislaus watersheds.[6] The mountain's name has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names, and a brass USGS benchmark bearing the name was placed at the summit in 1956.[3]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Highland Peak is located in an alpine climate zone.[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).

Climate data for Highland Peak (CA) 38.5423 N, 119.7608 W, Elevation: 10,371 ft (3,161 m) (1991–2020 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 33.1
(0.6) 		31.9
(−0.1) 		34.4
(1.3) 		38.2
(3.4) 		46.3
(7.9) 		56.4
(13.6) 		65.4
(18.6) 		64.8
(18.2) 		58.8
(14.9) 		49.0
(9.4) 		38.8
(3.8) 		32.8
(0.4) 		45.8
(7.7)
Daily mean °F (°C) 24.1
(−4.4) 		22.3
(−5.4) 		24.4
(−4.2) 		27.3
(−2.6) 		34.8
(1.6) 		43.9
(6.6) 		51.9
(11.1) 		51.2
(10.7) 		45.6
(7.6) 		37.3
(2.9) 		29.3
(−1.5) 		24.0
(−4.4) 		34.7
(1.5)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 15.1
(−9.4) 		12.7
(−10.7) 		14.3
(−9.8) 		16.4
(−8.7) 		23.2
(−4.9) 		31.3
(−0.4) 		38.4
(3.6) 		37.6
(3.1) 		32.4
(0.2) 		25.6
(−3.6) 		19.8
(−6.8) 		15.2
(−9.3) 		23.5
(−4.7)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 9.65
(245) 		8.20
(208) 		8.13
(207) 		4.95
(126) 		3.02
(77) 		1.14
(29) 		0.67
(17) 		0.52
(13) 		0.91
(23) 		3.04
(77) 		5.18
(132) 		9.21
(234) 		54.62
(1,388)
Source: PRISM Climate Group[8]

See also

  • West aspect
    West aspect
  • West aspect from Ebbetts Pass area
    West aspect from Ebbetts Pass area
  • Highland Peak (left), Silver Peak (center), and Round Top (right)
    Highland Peak (left), Silver Peak (center), and Round Top (right)
  • from NNW
    from NNW
  • from Silver Peak
    from Silver Peak
  • Aerial view looking west at Highland Peak (left) and Silver Peak (right)
    Aerial view looking west at Highland Peak (left) and Silver Peak (right)

References

  1. ^ a b c "Highland Peak, California". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  2. ^ a b c d "Highland Peak - 10,935' CA". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  3. ^ a b c "Highland Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  4. ^ a b Mary Hill, Geology of the Sierra Nevada, University of California Press, 2006, ISBN 9780520936942
  5. ^ Peter Browning, Place Names of the Sierra Nevada: From Abbot to Zumwalt, Wilderness Press, 1986, ISBN 9780899970479, page 96.
  6. ^ Erwin G. Gudde, California Place Names, page 165.
  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.
  8. ^ "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University". PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University. Retrieved October 6, 2023. To find the table data on the PRISM website, start by clicking Coordinates (under Location); copy Latitude and Longitude figures from top of table; click Zoom to location; click Precipitation, Minimum temp, Mean temp, Maximum temp; click 30-year normals, 1991-2020; click 800m; click Retrieve Time Series button.