Top Notch Peak

{{Infobox mountain

| name = Top Notch Peak

| photo = Top Notch Peak.jpg

| photo_caption = North aspect, seen from Avalanche Peak trail

| elevation_ft = 10245

| elevation_ref = {{cite peakbagger|pid=5296|title=Top Notch Peak, Wyoming|accessdate=2021-11-13}}

| prominence_ft = 805

| prominence_ref =

| isolation_mi = 1.91

| isolation_ref = {{cite web|url=https://listsofjohn.com/peak/8007|title=Top Notch Peak - 10,245' WY|website=listsofjohn.com|accessdate=2021-11-13}}

| parent_peak = Hoyt Peak (10,506 ft)

| location = Yellowstone National Park
Park County, Wyoming, U.S.

| range = Absaroka Range
Rocky Mountains

| etymology =

| map = Wyoming#USA

| label_position = bottom

| map_size = 270

| map_caption = Location in Wyoming

| coordinates = {{coord|44.4518614|N|110.1431116|W|type:mountain_region:US-MT_scale:100000_source:gnis|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| coordinates_ref = {{cite gnis|id=1603702|name=Top Notch Peak|access-date=2021-11-13}}

| topo = USGS Sylvan Lake

| type =

| rock =

| first_ascent =

| easiest_route =

}}

Top Notch Peak is a {{convert|10,245|ft|meter|adj=mid|-elevation|abbr=off|sp=us}} mountain summit located in Yellowstone National Park, in Park County, Wyoming, United States.

Description

The peak is situated immediately southwest of Sylvan Pass, and {{convert|7|mi}} west of the park's east entrance. It is the 43rd-highest peak within the park.{{cite web |url=https://peakvisor.com/peak/top-notch-peak.html |title=Top Notch Peak |website=Peakvisor.com}} It is part of the Absaroka Range, which is a subset of the Rocky Mountains. Neighbors include Hoyt Peak {{convert|1.9|mi}} across the opposite side of Sylvan Pass, Avalanche Peak {{convert|2.6|mi}} to the north, and Mount Doane {{convert|2.67|mi}} to the south. The mountain's name was officially adopted in 1930 by the United States Board on Geographic Names.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cV1wnLcPmmQC&dq=pollux+peak+yellowstone&pg=RA15-PA19 |title=Decisions of the United States Geographic Board, Place Names, Yellowstone National Park, Wyo. |date=May 7, 1930 |page=24|publisher=United States Geographic Board }} The descriptive name refers to a deep notch near the summit which is apparent from the park road at Sylvan Lake.{{cite book |first=Stephen |last=Timblin |title=The Rough Guide to Yellowstone & Grand Teton |year=2007 |isbn=9781848368200 |page=83|publisher=Rough Guides UK }} On August 22, 1970, Dr. Dean Jack Tiller, his wife, daughter, and son-in-law were killed when their small plane crashed into the east face of the peak.{{cite book |first=Lee H. |last=Whittlesey |title=Death in Yellowstone: Accidents and Foolhardiness in the First National Park |year=2014 |isbn=9781570984518 |page=277|publisher=Roberts Rinehart }}

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Top Notch Peak is located in a subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and cool to warm summers.{{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 |issue=5 |page=1633 |doi=10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007 |bibcode=2007HESS...11.1633P |s2cid=9654551 | issn = 1027-5606|doi-access=free }} Winter temperatures can drop below −10 °F with wind chill factors below −30 °F. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains to Yellowstone Lake six miles to the west.