Mount Gould (California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Gould |
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Mount Gould's summit from its south ridge, May 2009.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 13,011 ft (3,966 m) NAVD 88 |
| Prominence | 1,030 ft (314 m) |
| Parent peak | Diamond Peak |
| Listing | Sierra Peaks Section |
| Geography | |
 Mount Gould
Location in California
Mount Gould
Location in the United States
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| Location | Fresno and Inyo Counties California, U.S. |
| Parent range | Sierra Nevada |
| Topo map | USGS Mount Clarence King |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | July 20, 1890, by J. N. LeConte, Hubert Dyer, Fred Pheby, and C. B. Lakeman |
| Easiest route | Scramble, class 3 from Kearsarge Pass |
Mount Gould is a very tall mountain located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California. It's called a "thirteener" because its peak is over 13,000 feet high! This impressive mountain sits right on the main ridge of the Sierra Nevada, just north of a well-known spot called Kearsarge Pass.
Where is Mount Gould?
Mount Gould's long ridge runs from north to south. It forms a natural border between two different areas. To the west, you'll find Fresno County and Kings Canyon National Park. To the east, it borders Inyo County and the John Muir Wilderness.
The mountain also plays a role in California's water system. Water from its western slopes flows into the Kings River. On the other hand, water from its eastern slopes feeds into the Owens River. Mount Gould has some mountain neighbors too. To its north, across Gould Pass, is Dragon Peak. To its south, across Kearsarge Pass, is a peak known as Nameless Pyramid.
Who First Climbed Mount Gould?
The first time someone officially climbed Mount Gould was a long time ago, on July 20, 1890. A group of four explorers made the climb: Joseph N. LeConte, Hubert P. Dyer, Fred S. Pheby, and C. B. Lakeman.
When they first reached the top, they thought they were climbing a different mountain and called it "University Peak." They climbed the loose rocks on the south side of the mountain and then tackled the more solid rocks near the very top. This path, which starts from the Onion Valley trailhead and goes through Kearsarge Pass, is still the easiest way to climb Mount Gould today.
Later, in 1896, Joseph LeConte and another group climbed an even taller mountain about 2.4 miles south of Mount Gould. He then decided that the name "University Peak" should belong to that higher mountain. The very next day, he led a second climb up the mountain we now know as Mount Gould. This time, he named it after his climbing friend, Wilson S. Gould.
