Minarets (California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clyde Minaret |
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The Minarets from Minaret Lake
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 12,270 ft (3,740 m) NAVD 88 |
| Prominence | 1,152 ft (351 m) |
| Parent peak | Mount Ritter |
| Listing | SPS Mountaineers peak |
| Geography | |
| Location | Madera County, California, U.S. |
| Parent range | Ritter Range, Sierra Nevada |
| Topo map | USGS Mount Ritter |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Mid-cretaceous |
| Mountain type | Metamorphic rock |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1928 by Norman Clyde |
| Easiest route | Rock climb class 4 |
The Minarets are a group of sharp, pointy mountain peaks. They are located in the Ritter Range, which is part of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. You can easily see them from Minaret Summit. This spot is simple to reach by car.
These peaks look like a long, jagged wall. This type of ridge is called an arête. The Minarets are a very famous sight in the Ansel Adams Wilderness. This wilderness area was named after a famous photographer, Ansel Adams, in 1984. Before that, it was known as the Minaret Wilderness.
Naming the Minarets
The peaks got their name in 1868. The California Geographical Survey explored the area. They wrote that south of Mount Ritter were "grand pinnacles of granite." These peaks looked very tall and hard to reach. So, they decided to call them 'the Minarets.' A minaret is a tall, slender tower, often found on mosques.
Famous Peaks and Climbs
There are seventeen Minarets that have special names. Some of these include Michael Minaret, Adams Minaret, and Leonard Minaret. The tallest of these pointy peaks is called Clyde Minaret. It was named after Norman Clyde, a famous mountaineer.
The Southeast Face Route on Clyde Minaret is a very challenging rock climb. It is so famous that it is featured in a book called Fifty Classic Climbs of North America. This book lists some of the best and most important climbs in North America.
Notable Events
The Minarets area has been the site of a few important events.
- In 1933, Walter A. Starr, Jr. had an accident while climbing Michael Minaret. He was the author of a popular guide book called Starr’s Guide to the John Muir Trail and the High Sierra Region.
- In 2007, Steve Fossett, a well-known American aviator and adventurer, was in a plane accident near the Minarets.
