Mount Mendel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Mendel |
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Mount Mendel from Evolution Lake
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 13,716 ft (4,181 m) NAVD 88 |
| Prominence | 550 ft (168 m) |
| Listing |
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| Geography | |
 Mount Mendel
Location in California
Mount Mendel
Location in the United States
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| Location | Kings Canyon National Park, Fresno County, California, U.S. |
| Parent range | Sierra Nevada, Evolution Region |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | July 15, 1930 Jules Eichorn, Glen Dawson and John Olmstead |
| Easiest route | Exposed scramble, class 3 |
Mount Mendel is a tall mountain peak located in Fresno County, California. It stands proudly within Kings Canyon National Park. This mountain is part of the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountain range, specifically in an area known as the Evolution Region. It is also very close to Mount Darwin.
The Story Behind the Name
Mount Mendel was named by two people from the United States Geological Survey: Theodore S. Solomons and E. C. Bonner. They decided to name a group of mountains after important scientists who studied the theory of evolution.
Mount Mendel is named after Gregor Mendel. He was an Augustinian friar, which is like a monk. Gregor Mendel is often called the "father of modern genetics." Genetics is the study of how living things inherit traits from their parents.
Other mountains nearby are also named after famous scientists. These include Mount Darwin, Mount Fiske, Mount Haeckel, Mount Huxley, Mount Spencer, Mount Wallace, and Mount Lamarck. The whole area around these peaks is called the Evolution Region. This region also has places like Evolution Basin, Evolution Valley, Evolution Meadow, and Evolution Creek.
Climbing Mount Mendel
Climbing Mount Mendel can be quite an adventure! There are several routes that climbers can take to reach the top. Some of these paths involve what climbers call "scrambling." This means you might need to use your hands to help you climb up rocky sections.
Mount Mendel is also famous for having some of the most challenging ice climbs in the High Sierra mountains. These ice climbs are on the mountain's North Face. Two of these very difficult ice climbs are known as "Ice Nine" and "The Mendel Couloir." They are considered super challenging climbs for experienced mountaineers.
