Mount Winchell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Winchell |
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Mount Winchell's East Arête route, October 2007.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 13,781 ft (4,200 m) NAVD 88 |
| Prominence | 655 ft (200 m) |
| Parent peak | Mount Agassiz |
| Listing | Sierra Peaks Section |
| Geography | |
 Mount Winchell
Location in California
Mount Winchell
Location in the United States
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| Location | Fresno and Inyo counties, California, U.S. |
| Parent range | Sierra Nevada |
| Topo map | USGS North Palisade |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | June 10, 1923 by Harvey C. Mansfield, John M. Newell, and Windsor B. Putnam |
| Easiest route | East Arête, class 3 scramble |
Mount Winchell is a tall mountain in California. It is one of the thirty highest peaks in the state. This mountain is part of the Palisades area within the Sierra Nevada mountain range. You can find it on the Sierra Crest, located between Mount Agassiz and Thunderbolt Peak.
Where is Mount Winchell?
Mount Winchell sits right on the border between Inyo County and Kern County in California. This border follows the mountain's ridges that run from northwest to southeast.
The mountain also marks a natural division for water. On one side, water flows into Big Pine Creek. On the other side, water goes into Dusy Basin, which is part of the Kings River's starting points.
The western slopes of Mount Winchell are inside Kings Canyon National Park. Its eastern slopes are part of the John Muir Wilderness, which is managed by the Inyo National Forest.
The Story of Mount Winchell
The name "Mount Winchell" was first used in the 1870s for two different peaks. However, neither of those was the mountain we call Mount Winchell today. The United States Geological Survey later gave the name to the current peak.
The mountain was named by Elisha Winchell. He named it after his cousin, Alexander Winchell. Alexander was one of the people who helped start the Geological Society of America.
First Climbs to the Top
The first time someone officially climbed Mount Winchell was in June 1923. The climbers were Harvey C. Mansfield, Sr., John M. Newell, and Windsor B. Putnam. They used a path called the East Arête. This route is considered the easiest way to climb the mountain.
The first time anyone climbed Mount Winchell in winter was in January 1938. This climb was made by Norman Clyde, Morgan Harris, and David Brower. They also used the East Arête route.
