Mount Gayley
{{Short description|Mountain in the Sierra Nevada mountain range}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Mount Gayley
| other_name =
| photo = Mount Gayley.jpg
| photo_caption = Southwest aspect
| elevation_ft = 13,516
| elevation_ref = {{cite peakbagger |pid=2724|name=Mount Gayley, California|accessdate=2021-04-18}}
| prominence_ft = 430
| parent_peak = Mount Sill{{cite loj |id=32300 |name=Gayley, Mount}}
| etymology = Charles Mills Gayley
| map = California#USA
| map_caption = none
| map_size = 200
| label_position = left
| country = United States
| state = California
| region = Inyo
| region_type = County
| part_type = Protected area
| part = John Muir Wilderness
| range = Sierra Nevada
| coordinates = {{coord|37.1030007|N|118.4998074|W|type:mountain_region:US-CA_scale:100000_source:GNIS|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref = {{cite gnis|id=233920|name=Mount Gayley|accessdate=2021-04-18}}
| topo = USGS Split Mountain
| rock =
| age =
| first_ascent = 1927 by Norman Clyde{{cite Secor |edition=1 |page=187}}
| easiest_route = Exposed scramble, {{YDS|3}}
}}
Mount Gayley is a {{convert|13,510|ft|meter|adj=mid|-elevation|abbr=off|sp=us}} mountain summit located one mile east of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Inyo County, California, United States. It is situated in the Palisades area of the John Muir Wilderness, on land managed by Inyo National Forest. It is approximately {{convert|13|mi}} west-southwest of the community of Big Pine, {{convert|0.67|mi}} southwest of Temple Crag, and {{convert|0.5|mi}} north-northeast of parent Mount Sill. Mount Gayley ranks as the 59th highest summit in California.
History
The name commemorates Charles Mills Gayley (1858–1932), beloved English professor and Academic Dean of the University of California, Berkeley.Erwin Gustav Gudde, William Bright, California Place Names: The Origin and Etymology of Current Geographical Names, 1998, University of California Press, {{ISBN|9780520213166}}, page 142. This mountain's name was officially adopted prior to 1939 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names based on a recommendation by the Sierra Club.[https://cshe.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/chron3_excerpt_lage.pdf Ann Lage, Chronicle of the University of California, 2000, page 96.] Mount Sill and nearby Mount Jepson were also named for University of California professors. The first ascent of the summit was made June 10, 1927, by Norman Clyde, who is credited with 130 first ascents, most of which were in the Sierra Nevada.[http://www.owensvalleyhistory.com/norman_clyde/page57.html Norman Clyde - Mountaineer, Owensvalleyhistory.com]
Climbing
Established climbing routes on Mount Gayley:[https://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/climbers_guide/palisades.html Alan M. Hedden and David R. Brower, A Climber's Guide to the High Sierra (1954)]
- Southwest Ridge (aka Yellow Brick Road) – {{YDS|3}} – First ascent 1927
- South Face – class 3 – Several possible routes
- West Face – class 3 – FA June 1950 by Robert Cogburn and Ed Robbins
Access from Big Pine: Glacier Lodge Road, North Fork Big Pine Creek Trail, then Glacier Trail.
Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Mount Gayley 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). This climate supports the Palisade Glacier below the west slope. Precipitation runoff from this mountain drains into Big Pine Creek.
Gallery
File:Mt. Gayley.jpg|Mt. Gayley from the west
File:Mt Gayley.jpg|In 1984, with Palisade Glacier
File:Mt. Gayley, Palisade Glacier.jpg|Mt. Gayley (centered) above Palisade Glacier as seen from North Palisade.
"Buck Mountain" (aka Contact Peak) beyond Gayley.
File:Mt. Gayley, west aspect.jpg|Mt. Gayley from the west
File:Mts. Gayley and Sill.jpg|Gayley from the north. (Mt. Sill to right)
File:Mount Gayley CA.jpg
File:Gayley from Temple Crag.jpg|Mount Gayley (centered) seen from Temple Crag, with Mt. Sill behind (left).
See also
- {{Portal-inline|Mountains|size=tiny}}
- List of the major 4000-meter summits of California
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- Weather forecast: [https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-table/2-5351809/United%20States/California/Inyo%20County/Mount%20Gayley Mount Gayley]
- Mt. Gayley Rock Climbing: [https://www.mountainproject.com/area/105804398/mt-gayley Mountainproject.com]
- Mt. Gayley: [https://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Mt-Gayley Mountain-Forecast.com]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gayley, Mount}}
Category:Mountains of Inyo County, California
Category:Mountains of the John Muir Wilderness
Category:Four-thousanders of the United States