Mount Tallac
{{short description|Mountain peak southwest of Lake Tahoe, El Dorado county in California, U.S.A.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Mount Tallac
| photo = Mt. Tallac in Sierra.jpg
| photo_caption = Northeast aspect
| elevation_ft = 9739
| elevation_ref = {{NAVD88}}{{cite ngs |id=JS3922 |name=Tallac Peak 1893 |accessdate=2009-01-24}}
| prominence_ft = 695
| prominence_ref = {{cite peakbagger |pid=13564 |name=Mount Tallac, California |accessdate=2009-01-24}}
|isolation_mi = 2.82
|isolation_ref = {{cite web|url=https://listsofjohn.com/peak/56576|title=Tallac, Mount - 9,735' CA|website=listsofjohn.com|accessdate=2022-06-03}}
|parent_peak = Dicks Peak (9,974 ft)
| location = El Dorado County, California, U.S.
| map = California
| map_caption = Location in California
| map_size = 240
| label_position = below
| range = Sierra Nevada
| listing = {{ubl
| Tahoe OGUL Star Peak{{cite ogul |access-date=2021-11-07}}
| Sierra Peaks Section{{cite sps |accessdate=2014-01-19}} }}
| coordinates = {{coord|38|54|21.5|N|120|05|56.3|W|type:mountain_region:US-CA_scale:100000_source:NGS|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| topo = USGS Emerald Bay
| type =
| age =
| first_ascent =
| easiest_route = Trail hike, {{YDS|1-2}}{{cite web
| url = http://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/eldorado
| title = East Side Trailheads and Trails
| publisher = Eldorado National Forest
| access-date = 2014-01-19}}
}}
Mount Tallac is a mountain peak southwest of Lake Tahoe, in El Dorado County, California. The peak lies within the Desolation Wilderness in the Eldorado National Forest. It is quite visible from State Routes 89 and 28, and U.S. Route 50. A "cross of snow" is clearly visible on the mountain's face during the winter, spring, and early summer months.
The Aetherius Society considers it to be one of its 19 holy mountains.{{cite web|title=Holy Mountains Of The World|website=The Aetherius Society, New Zealand Branch|date=2019-05-13|url=https://www.aetherius.org.nz/about/holy-mountains/|access-date=2024-06-06}}{{cite web|title=Holy Mountains|website=The Aetherius Society|date=2022-06-02|url=https://www.aetherius.org/pilgrimages-to-holy-mountains/|access-date=2024-06-06}}{{cite web|title=Aetherius Society Holy Mountains|website=Peakbagger|date=2004-11-01|url=https://www.peakbagger.com/list.aspx?lid=609|access-date=2024-06-06}}
History
The mountain is shown on maps of the Whitney Survey as Chrystal Peak. In 1877, the Wheeler Survey named the peak "Tallac", after the Washo word "daláʔak", meaning 'big mountain'.{{cite book |last=Gudde |first=Erwin G. |title=California Place Names |year=1949 |location=Berkeley |publisher=Univ. of California Press |pages=352–353}}
Access
An estimated 10,000 climb the peak each year via routes approaching the summit from Desolation Wilderness to the west, Fallen Leaf Lake to the East, and access roads from the north.{{cite summitpost |id=150430 |name=Mount Tallac |accessdate=2016-04-10}} Wilderness permits are required to hike Mount Tallac. For day hikes, permits are free and self-issued at the trailhead.{{Cite web |title = Mt. Tallac Trailhead |url = https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/ltbmu/null/recarea/?recid=11798&actid=51 |publisher=Lake Tahoe Basin Mgt Unit, U.S. Forest Service |access-date = 2015-12-14}} There is a quota for overnight hikes on Mount Tallac (and throughout Desolation Wilderness), but there is no quota for day hiking.
Climate
Mount Tallac is located in an alpine climate zone.{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Sierra-Nevada-mountains/Climate |title=Climate of the Sierra Nevada |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica}} 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.
In popular culture
The opening sequence of the TV series Bonanza was filmed at the McFaul Creek Meadow, with Mount Tallac in the background.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{cite gnis |id=268072 |name=Mount Tallac}}
- [https://backcountryskimaps.com/product/tahoe-southwest/ Alpine Ski Tours - Lake Tahoe: Southwest Topographic Map]
{{Sierra Nevada|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tallac, Mount}}
Category:Mountains of the Desolation Wilderness
Category:Mountains of El Dorado County, California
Category:Tourist attractions in El Dorado County, California