This mountain's toponym was adopted as "Stanford Peak" in 1911 and officially revised to Mount Stanford in 1982 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.[5] The name was applied during a 1907–09 survey by Robert Bradford Marshall of the USGS to honor Leland Stanford (1824–1893), the 8th governor of California.[6] Later, he was one of the founders of the Central Pacific Railroad, which constructed the westernmost portion of the First transcontinental railroad.[7] Stanford was one of four principal investors, along with Mark Hopkins, Collis Huntington and Charles Crocker (also known as The Big Four), who formed the Central Pacific Railroad. Mount Stanford is one of four peaks named after the Big Four that surrounds Pioneer Basin, the others being Mount Hopkins, Mount Huntington, and Mount Crocker.
The first ascent of the summit was made by Robert B. Marshall, George R. Davis, C. F. Urquhart and L. F. Biggs, during the 1907–1909 Goddard Quadrangle survey for the USGS.[8]
Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Mount Stanford 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. Precipitation runoff from the north side of this mountain drains to Crowley Lake via McGee and Hilton creeks, and from the south aspect to Pioneer Basin Lakes, thence the South Fork San Joaquin River via Mono Creek.
