Caltech Peak
# Caltech Peak

Caltech Peak is a 13,832-foot-elevation (4,216 meter) mountain summit located in Sequoia National Park in Tulare County, California. It is situated one mile west of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, just one-half mile south of the Kings–Kern Divide, one mile south of line parent Mount Stanford, and 9.3 miles northwest of Mount Whitney. Caltech Peak ranks as the 24th-highest summit in California. Topographic relief is significant as the southwest aspect rises nearly 1,900 feet (580 meters) above Lake South America in 0.7 miles (1.1 km). The John Muir Trail traverses below the east aspect of the mountain, providing an approach option for climbers.

## History

The first ascent of the summit was made June 22, 1926, by Norman Clyde, who is credited with 130 first ascents, most of which were in the Sierra Nevada.

This mountain's toponym was officially adopted in 1961 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to commemorate California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

## Climate

Caltech Peak is located in an alpine climate zone. 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 mountain drains into headwaters of the Kern River.

