The Thumb (California)

The Thumb is a 13,356-foot-elevation (4,071-meter) mountain summit located on the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Inyo County of northern California.[3] It is situated in the Palisades area of the John Muir Wilderness, on land managed by Inyo National Forest. It is 1.3 miles (2.1 km) east of Middle Palisade, 1.6 miles (2.6 km) west-northwest of Birch Mountain, and 1.8 miles (2.9 km) north of Mount Bolton Brown. The Thumb ranks as the 83rd-highest summit in California.[2] Topographic relief is significant as the east aspect rises over 2,500 feet (760 meters) above Birch Lake in approximately one mile. The John Muir Trail traverses below the southwest aspect of the mountain, providing an optional approach access.

The Thumb
East Palisade
The Thumb centered, west aspect
Highest point
Elevation13,356 ft (4,071 m)[1]
Prominence594 ft (181 m)[1]
Parent peakEd Lane Peak (13,577 ft)[2]
Isolation0.93 mi (1.50 km)[2]
ListingSierra Peaks Section
Coordinates37°04′17″N 118°26′46″W[3]
Geography
The Thumb is located in California
The Thumb
The Thumb
Location in California
The Thumb is located in the United States
The Thumb
The Thumb
The Thumb (the United States)
LocationInyo County, California, U.S.
Parent rangeSierra Nevada
Palisades[1]
Topo mapUSGS Split Mountain
Geology
Age of rockCretaceous
Mountain typeFault block
Type of rockgranitic
Climbing
First ascent1921
Easiest routeclass 2[2] Southeast slope

History

The first ascent of the summit was made December 12, 1921, by Windsor B. Putnam via the southeast slope and an approach from Birch Creek. The class 4 northwest face was first climbed June 5, 1930, by Norman Clyde.[4] This mountain's name was submitted for consideration by Windsor B. Putnam, and officially adopted in 1926 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.[3] This peak has in the past been called "East Palisade" and "Thumb Peak".[3]

Climate

The Thumb has an alpine climate which supports the Middle Palisade Glacier below the western cliffs.[5] 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 to Owens Valley via Big Pine and Birch Creeks.

  • Northwest aspect
    Northwest aspect
  • Eastern Sierra Nevada from Hwy 168 with The Thumb centered.
    Eastern Sierra Nevada from Hwy 168 with The Thumb centered.
  • The Thumb visible to right of center
    The Thumb visible to right of center

See also

References
  1. "The Thumb". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  2. "Thumb, The - 13,356' CA". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  3. "The Thumb". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  4. Hervey Voge and David R. Brower, A Climber’s Guide to the High Sierra (1954)
  5. "Climate of the Sierra Nevada". Encyclopædia Britannica.
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