Mount McGee (California)

Mount McGee
Mt. McGee, north aspect
Highest point
Elevation12,944 ft (3,945 m)[1]
Prominence1,264 ft (385 m)[1]
Parent peakMount Goddard (13,564 ft)[2]
Isolation1.82 mi (2.93 km)[2]
ListingSierra Peaks Section
Coordinates37°08′20″N 118°44′17″W / 37.1388212°N 118.7381530°W / 37.1388212; -118.7381530[3]
Naming
EtymologyWilliam John McGee
Geography
Mount McGee is located in California
Mount McGee
Mount McGee
Location in California
Mount McGee is located in the United States
Mount McGee
Mount McGee
Mount McGee (the United States)
LocationKings Canyon National Park
Fresno County
California, U.S.
Parent rangeSierra Nevada
Topo mapUSGS Mount Darwin
Geology
Rock typemetamorphic
Climbing
First ascentJuly 1923[4]
Easiest routeclass 2+[2]

Mount McGee is a 12,944-foot-elevation (3,945-meter) mountain summit located west of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Fresno County of central California, United States.[3] It is situated in northern Kings Canyon National Park, 0.6 miles (0.97 km) southeast of Peter Peak, 2 miles (3.2 km) southwest of The Hermit, and 2.6 miles (4.2 km) north-northwest of Mount Goddard, the nearest higher neighbor.[1] Topographic relief is significant as the west aspect rises 3,100 feet (940 meters) above Goddard Canyon in two miles. This geographical feature was named for William John McGee (1853–1912), well-known American geologist and anthropologist.[5] This mountain's name has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names.[3] The first ascent of the summit was made in July 1923 by Roger N. Burnham, Robert E. Brownlee, Ralph H. Brandt, and Leonard Keeler.[4]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Mount McGee is located in an alpine climate zone.[6] 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 into tributaries of the San Joaquin River.

Climbing

Established climbing routes:[4]

  • South chute – class 2 – Probably route of 1923 first ascent
  • West face – class 2 – FA 1933 by Glen Dawson, Neil Ruge, Bala Ballantine
  • North chute – class 4 – FA 1930 by Glen Dawson, Charles Dodge, Jules M. Eichorn, John Olmstead

See also

  • Mt. McGee centered, from Muir Pass
    Mt. McGee centered, from Muir Pass
  • Mt. McGee centered beyond Wanda Lake. Looking northwest from Muir Pass.
    Mt. McGee centered beyond Wanda Lake. Looking northwest from Muir Pass.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Mount McGee, California". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  2. ^ a b c "McGee, Mount - 12,944' CA". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  3. ^ a b c "Mount McGee". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  4. ^ a b c Alan M. Hedden and David R. Brower, A Climber's Guide to the High Sierra (1954)
  5. ^ Erwin G. Gudde, California Place Names, page 188.
  6. ^ 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.