Merriam Peak (California)
{{Short description|Mountain summit in California}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox mountain
|name = Merriam Peak
|other_name =
|photo = Mt Merriam.jpg
|photo_caption = North aspect
|elevation_ft = 13103
|elevation_ref = {{cite peakbagger |pid=2677|name=Merriam Peak, California|accessdate=2021-05-06}}
|prominence_ft = 863
|isolation_mi = 0.69
|isolation_ref = {{cite web|url=https://listsofjohn.com/peak/32382|title=Merriam Peak - 13,103' CA|website=listsofjohn.com|accessdate=2021-05-06}}
|parent_peak = Royce Peak (13,300 ft)
|etymology = Clinton Hart Merriam
|listing = Sierra Peaks Section
|map = California#USA
|map_caption = Location in California
|map_size = 260
|label_position = bottom
|location = Fresno County
California, U.S.
|range = Sierra Nevada
|coordinates = {{coord|37.3091265|N|118.7652123|W|type:mountain_region:US-CA_scale:100000_source:GNIS|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|coordinates_ref = {{cite gnis|id=263460|name=Merriam Peak|accessdate=2021-05-06}}
|topo = USGS Mount Hilgard
|rock = granitic
|age =
|first_ascent = July 14, 1933
|easiest_route = {{YDS|2+}} Royce-Merriam saddle
}}
Merriam Peak is a {{convert|13,103|ft|meter|adj=mid|-elevation|abbr=off|sp=us}} mountain summit located in Fresno County in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in northern California, United States. It is situated south of the Royce Lakes and north of French Canyon, in the John Muir Wilderness, on land managed by Sierra National Forest. It is set {{convert|0.7|mi}} south-southeast of Royce Peak, the nearest higher neighbor. Merriam Peak is the 129th highest summit in California. Topographic relief is significant as it rises approximately {{convert|3,000|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} above French Canyon in one mile. This mountain was named in 1929 by the California State Geographic Board, and officially adopted in 1930 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to honor Dr. Clinton Hart Merriam (1855–1942), an American zoologist and naturalist, who served on the U.S. Board on Geographic Names from 1914 through 1925.
Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Merriam Peak is located in an alpine climate zone.{{cite journal | author = Peel, M. C. |author2=Finlayson, B. L. |author3=McMahon, T. A. | year = 2007 | title = Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification | journal = Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. | volume = 11 | issn = 1027-5606}} 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 south into tributaries of the South Fork San Joaquin River.
Climbing
The first ascent of the summit was made July 14, 1933, by Sierra Club members Lewis Clark, Julie Mortimer, and Ted Waller.R. J. Secor, The High Sierra Peaks, Passes, Trails, 2009, Third Edition, Mountaineers Books, {{ISBN|9781594857386}}, page 330. They called it "Bastille Peak" in honor of the July 14th French holiday, Bastille Day, unaware that it had previously been named.Sierra Club Bulletin, 1935, page 93. Class 3 scrambles can be made via the east, south, and southwest aspects.Steve Roper, The Climber's Guide to the High Sierra, 1976, Sierra Club Books, {{ISBN|9780871561473}}, page 139. The North Buttress is considered one of the classic climbing routes in the Sierra Nevada.John Moynier, Claude Fiddler, 1993, Sierra Classics 100 Best Climbs in the High Sierra, Chockstone Press, {{ISBN|9780934641609}}, page 194.
Established rock climbing routes:[https://www.mountainproject.com/area/106086810/merriam-peak Merriam Peak Rock Climbing, Mountainproject.com]
- North Buttress – {{YDS|5.10}} – 1976 by Vern Clevenger, Bob Harrington
- The Flying Buttress – class 5.11b – 2011 by Peter Croft, Lisa Rands
- Gargoyle – class 5.11b – 2011 by Peter Croft, Lisa Rands
Gallery
File:Merriam Peak (California).jpg|Southeast aspect
File:Merriam Peak, Puppet Lake.jpg|Merriam Peak (center) with Royce Peak behind, right. Puppet Lake in foreground. Camera pointed northwest.
File:Merriam, Royce, Feather peaks.jpg|Merriam Peak (left) with Royce Peak (centered), and Feather Peak (right)
File:Merriam Peak with falls.jpg|East aspect of Merriam Peak with waterfall plunging into French Canyon.
See also
{{Portal|Mountains}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- Weather forecast: [https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-table/2-5372345/United%20States/California/Fresno/Merriam%20Peak Merriam Peak]
- Merriam Peak rock climbing: [https://www.mountainproject.com/area/106086810/merriam-peak Mountain Project]
Category:Sierra National Forest
Category:Mountains of Fresno County, California
Category:Mountains of the John Muir Wilderness
Category:Three-thousanders of the United States