Mount Morrison (California)

Mount Morrison

Mount Morrison from Long Valley
Highest point
Elevation 12,276+ ft (3,742+ m)  NAVD 88[1]
Prominence 164 ft (50 m) [1]
Listing
  • SPS Mountaineers peak[2]
  • Western States Climbers Star peak[3]
Coordinates 37°33′41″N 118°51′30″W / 37.5613238°N 118.8584611°W / 37.5613238; -118.8584611Coordinates: 37°33′41″N 118°51′30″W / 37.5613238°N 118.8584611°W / 37.5613238; -118.8584611 [4]
Geography
Location Mono County, California. U.S.
Parent range Sierra Nevada
Topo map USGS Convict Lake
Geology
Age of rock Paleozoic
Mountain type Metamorphic rock
Climbing
First ascent 1928 by Norman Clyde or John Mendendhall[5]
Easiest route Scramble, class 2[2]

Mount Morrison is located in the Sierra Nevada, in the Sherwin Range. It rises south of Convict Lake near the town of Mammoth Lakes.

History

The mountain was named for Robert Morrison, a merchant in the town of Benton, who was killed near Convict Lake on September 23, 1871 while was acting as member of a posse pursuing escaped convicts from the Nevada State Penitentiary.[6] Nearby is Mono Jim Peak which is named for Mono Jim, a Paiute guide, who died in the same gun fight.[7]

Climbing

Sources state that Norman Clyde climbed to the peak on June 22, 1928 and that John Mendendhall also reached the summit in 1928 but the month of his ascent is not documented. There are several routes to the summit, the easiest consisting of a Class 2 scramble and bushwack.[5]

Due to its imposing east face, Mount Morrison is also nicknamed the "Eiger of the Sierra." The east face consists of extremely loose rock and one should exercise extreme caution when attempting the face.

Geology

Fulgurites, natural hollow glass tubes, are found at the top of the mountain. These oddities are formed by lightning acting on certain types of sand or soil.

References

  1. 1 2 "Mount Morrison, California". Peakbagger.com.
  2. 1 2 "Sierra Peaks Section List" (PDF). Angeles Chapter, Sierra Club. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
  3. ↑ "Western States Climbers List". Climber.org. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
  4. ↑ "Mount Morrison". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2009-08-13.
  5. 1 2 Roper, Steve (1976). The Climber's Guide to the High Sierra. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books. pp. 128, 339. ISBN 9780871561473.
  6. ↑ Farquhar, Francis P. (1926). Place Names of the High Sierra. San Francisco: Sierra Club. Retrieved 2009-08-13.
  7. ↑ "Mono Jim Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2009-08-13.


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