Clyde Spires

Clyde Spires is a 13,267-foot-elevation (4,044 meter) mountain summit located on the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, United States.[4] It is situated on the boundary shared by Kings Canyon National Park with John Muir Wilderness, and along the common border of Fresno County with Inyo County. It is 20 miles (32 km) west of the community of Big Pine, and 0.5 miles (0.80 km) southeast of Mount Wallace, which is the nearest higher neighbor.[2] The west spire is slightly higher than the east spire.[1] Topographic relief is significant as the spires rise 1,665 feet (507 meters) above Echo Lake in 0.38 miles (0.61 km).

Clyde Spires
North aspect
Highest point
Elevation13,267 ft (4,044 m)[1]
Prominence80 ft (24 m)[2]
Parent peakMount Wallace (13,377 ft)[3]
Isolation0.50 mi (0.80 km)[3]
Coordinates37°08′24″N 118°38′54″W[4]
Naming
EtymologyNorman Clyde[5]
Geography
Clyde Spires is located in California
Clyde Spires
Clyde Spires
Location in California
Clyde Spires is located in the United States
Clyde Spires
Clyde Spires
Clyde Spires (the United States)
LocationKings Canyon National Park
Fresno County / Inyo County
California, U.S.
Parent rangeSierra Nevada
Topo mapUSGS Mount Darwin
Geology
Age of rockCretaceous
Mountain typeFault block
Type of rockGranite[6]
Climbing
First ascent1933[6]
Easiest routeclass 4[3]

History

The first ascent of the spires was made July 22, 1933, by Norman Clyde, Jules Eichorn and Ted Waller, who were members of the Sierra Club.[7] They named the landform for Norman Clyde (1885–1972), the leader of the group and legendary mountaineer credited with 130 first ascents, most of which were in the Sierra Nevada.[8] The toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names.[4]

Climate

Clyde Spires is located in an alpine climate zone.[9] 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. Precipitation runoff from this geographic feature drains north to Bishop Creek, and south into Middle Fork Kings River.

  • Clyde Spires from Mt. Wallace
    Clyde Spires from Mt. Wallace
  • Picture Peak (centered), Clyde Spires to left.
    Picture Peak (centered), Clyde Spires to left.
  • Clyde Spires far left, Picture Peak (left),Mt. Wallace's summit centered (behind ridge), Mt. Haeckel in upper right.
    Clyde Spires far left, Picture Peak (left),
    Mt. Wallace's summit centered (behind ridge), Mt. Haeckel in upper right.
  • Clyde Spires centered. Picture Peak to right. "Donkey Peak" to left.
    Clyde Spires centered. Picture Peak to right. "Donkey Peak" to left.
  • Norman Clyde
    Norman Clyde

See also

References
  1. R. J. Secor, The High Sierra Peaks, Passes, Trails, 2009, Third Edition, Mountaineers Books, ISBN 9781594857386, page 291.
  2. "Clyde Spires, California". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  3. "Clyde Spires, West - 13,260' CA". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  4. "Clyde Spires". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  5. Robert C. Pavlik (2008), Norman Clyde: Legendary Mountaineer of California's Sierra Nevada, Heyday Books, ISBN 9781597141109, p. 99
  6. Alan M. Hedden and David R. Brower, A Climber's Guide to the High Sierra (1954)
  7. John Moynier, Claude Fiddler (1993), Sierra Classics: 100 Best Climbs in the High Sierra, Chockstone Press, ISBN 9780934641609, p. 158
  8. Peter Browning, Place Names of the Sierra Nevada From Abbot to Zumwalt, 1986, Wilderness Press, ISBN 9780899970479, p. 42.
  9. "Climate of the Sierra Nevada". Encyclopædia Britannica.
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