Mount Silliman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mount Silliman
Mount Silliman, from the north near Silliman Pass
Highest point
Elevation	11,193 ft (3,412 m) NAVD 88
Prominence	828 ft (252 m)
Parent peak	Midway Mountain
Geography
Mount Silliman Location in California Show map of California Mount Silliman Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Tulare County, California, U.S.
Parent range	Sierra Nevada
Topo map	USGS Mount Silliman
Climbing
First ascent	June 28, 1864 by Clarence King, James Gardiner, Richard Cotter, and William Brewer
Easiest route	Scramble from Sillman Pass, class 2

Mount Silliman is a tall mountain in California. It sits right on the edge of two famous national parks: Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park. The very top of Mount Silliman is 11,193 feet (3,412 meters) high! It is part of a ridge called Silliman Crest, which is also part of the Kings-Kaweah Divide.

History of Mount Silliman

How Mount Silliman Got Its Name

Mount Silliman was named by a group of explorers called the Whitney Survey. They named the peak to honor Benjamin Silliman. He was a chemistry professor at Yale University. The leader of the survey, William Henry Brewer, had actually studied agricultural chemistry with Professor Silliman. Because of this important person, not only the mountain and its crest, but also a pass, a creek, a meadow, and a lake in the area are named Silliman.

First People to Climb Mount Silliman

The first time someone officially climbed Mount Silliman was on June 28, 1864. The climbers were Clarence King, James Gardiner, Richard Cotter, and William Brewer. They were the first to record their journey to the summit.

Climbing Mount Silliman

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  Foxtail Pines growing near the top of Mount Silliman.

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  A view of Little Lakes from the mountain's summit.

Routes to the Summit

You can reach the top of Mount Silliman by following the Twin Lakes trail. This trail starts from the Lodgepole Campground, which is located on the Generals Highway.

From a place called Silliman Pass, you can "scramble" (which means climbing over rocks using your hands and feet) to the east ridge. Then, you follow that ridge all the way to the summit. This route is rated as class 2, meaning it's a relatively easy climb for experienced hikers.

More Challenging Climbs

There are also several harder ways to climb Mount Silliman. These are called "technical routes." They usually involve more difficult rock climbing and often require special gear. Most of these routes are rated class 5.6 or even harder, which means they are for very experienced climbers.

Plants on Mount Silliman

Foxtail Pines Near the Summit

A special kind of tree called the foxtail pine grows very close to the summit of Mount Silliman. These rare trees are known for their unique needle clusters that look a bit like a fox's tail. They can survive in harsh, high-altitude environments.