Virginia Peak (Yosemite)

Virginia Peak is a mountain summit in the northern part of Yosemite National Park, north of Tuolumne Meadows. It is the 25th-highest mountain in Yosemite National Park.[2]

This article is about the mountain in Yosemite National Park. For the mountain in Nevada, see Virginia Peak (Nevada).
Virginia Peak
East aspect (centered), from Black Mountain
Highest point
Elevation12,002 ft (3,658 m) NAVD 88[1]
Prominence481 ft (147 m)[1]
Coordinates38°3′57″N 119°21′29″W[1]
Geography
Virginia Peak is located in California
Virginia Peak
Virginia Peak
Virginia Peak
Virginia Peak is located in the United States
Virginia Peak
Virginia Peak
Virginia Peak (the United States)
LocationYosemite National Park
Tuolumne County, California, U.S.
Parent rangeSierra Nevada
Topo mapUSGS Dunderberg Peak
Climbing
Easiest routeclass 2 to class 3

Virginia Peak's particulars

Virginia Peak is in northeastern Yosemite National Park, on a north–south ridge splitting off the main Sierra crest at Twin Peaks.

Virginia Pass and Sawtooth Ridge are near, as are Whorl Mountain, Excelsior Mountain and Matterhorn Peak.[3]

Near Virginia Pass, viewed from the east, Virginia Peak looks dark, forbidding — it is not composed of more-common Yosemite granite, but of reddish metamorphic rock, such as is found on Mount Dana and Dunderberg Peak.[4] Of note, Virginia Peak is along the ancient boundary between the Sierra Nevada Batholith's intruding granite and pre-existing sediments, which are now metamorphosed, so-called metasediments.[5]

Virginia Peak (left) and Stanton Peak (centered)

Climate

Virginia Peak is located in an alpine climate zone.[6] 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 moisture in the form of rain or snowfall to drop onto the range.

See also

References
  1. "Virginia Peak, California". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  2. Kelliher, Mat. "Yosemite NP Peaks". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  3. "Virginia Peak, Part of Yosemite National Park". Anyplaceamerica.com. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  4. Steeleman. "Virginia Peak, California, United States, North America". Summitpost.org. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  5. mpbro. "Stanton Peak". Summitpost.org. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  6. "Climate of the Sierra Nevada". Encyclopædia Britannica.
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