Mount Morgan (Inyo County, California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Morgan |
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Morgan seen from Little Lakes Valley
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 13,754 ft (4,192 m) NAVD 88 |
| Prominence | 2,628 ft (801 m) |
| Parent peak | North Palisade |
| Listing |
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| Geography | |
| Location | Inyo County, California, U.S. |
| Parent range | Sierra Nevada |
| Topo map | USGS Mount Morgan |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | About 1870 by the Wheeler Survey party |
| Easiest route | Scramble, class 2 |
Mount Morgan is a tall mountain in California. It is found in the northwestern part of Inyo County, California. This mountain is also part of the beautiful John Muir Wilderness and the Inyo National Forest.
Where is Mount Morgan?
Mount Morgan is in a special type of area called an endorheic basin. This means water flows into it but doesn't flow out to the ocean. All the water around the mountain eventually drains into Owens Lake.
Owens Lake is mostly a dry lake now. This happened because its main water source, the Owens River, was redirected. The river's water was sent to supply the city of Los Angeles.
- The west and north sides of Mount Morgan drain into Rock Creek. This creek then flows into the Owens River.
- The east and south sides of the mountain drain into Morgan Creek. This water then goes into Pine Creek, and finally into the lower part of Rock Creek.
Climbing Mount Morgan
You can reach Mount Morgan by following a trail from Rock Creek Canyon. This area is above a place called Tom's Place, which is on Highway 395.
The trail starts at the very end of the lake. It is clearly marked for the first 4 miles (6.4 km) (about 6.4 km) until it reaches Francis Lake. After Francis Lake, the trail ends. From there, climbers need to scramble up rocky slopes. This means climbing over rocks using both hands and feet. It's about 2 miles (3.2 km) (about 3.2 km) of scrambling to reach the top of the mountain.
History of Mount Morgan
Mount Morgan was named in 1878. It was named after J.H. Morgan of Alabama, who was a member of the Wheeler Survey. The Wheeler Survey was a group that explored and mapped parts of the western United States.
Members of the Wheeler Survey were also the first people to climb Mount Morgan. They reached the summit around the year 1870.
