The Hermit (California mountain)
The Hermit is a 12,328-foot-elevation (3,758-meter) mountain summit located west of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Fresno County of central California, United States.[3] It is situated in northern Kings Canyon National Park, 2.5 miles (4.0 km) east of Emerald Peak, and 2.5 miles (4.0 km) west of Mount Darwin. Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises 2,500 feet (760 meters) above Evolution Valley in less than one mile. The John Muir Trail passes to the east and north of this landmark, providing an approach. This geographical feature was named by Sierra Club explorer Theodore Solomons in 1895 as he wrote: "The traveler will be greatly attracted by a very sharp peak or butte that rises on the south wall. From its isolated position as viewed from the valley we called it the Hermit."[4]
| The Hermit | |
|---|---|
 North aspect, from Darwin Bench | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 12,328 ft (3,758 m)[1] |
| Prominence | 368 ft (112 m)[1] |
| Parent peak | Peak 12342[2] |
| Isolation | 0.52 mi (0.84 km)[2] |
| Listing | Sierra Peaks Section |
| Coordinates | 37°09′46″N 118°43′07″W[3] |
| Geography | |
  The Hermit Location in California  The Hermit The Hermit (the United States) | |
| Location | Kings Canyon National Park Fresno County California, U.S. |
| Parent range | Sierra Nevada[1] |
| Topo map | USGS Mount Darwin |
| Geology | |
| Type of rock | granite |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1924 |
| Easiest route | class 5.5[2] |
Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification system, The Hermit is located in an alpine climate zone.[5] Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east toward the Sierra Nevada mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks, causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the range (orographic lift). Precipitation runoff from this mountain drains to Evolution Creek which is a San Joaquin River tributary.
Climbing
The first ascent of the mountain is credited to Leonard Keeler, Ralph Brandt, Marion Avery, and Margaret Avery on July 2, 1924.[6] George R. Bunn climbed it July 28, 1924, declaring the final 20-foot summit slab as unclimbable, and Sierra Club mountaineers James Rennie and Norman Clyde climbed it on August 2, 1925.[7][8] Due to exposure, rope is recommended for the final class 5.5 summit block, although one source claims that the south side of the summit block can be climbed by employing a "shaky shoulder stand."[9]
Established routes on The Hermit:[10]
- East side from Evolution Lake – class 2
- Southwest slope via McGee Canyon – class 2
- North Ridge – class 3 – FA 1936, by Richard G. Johnson, Peter Grubb
- Northwest Face – class 3 – FA 1939, by Harriet Parsons, Madi Bacon, Maxine Cushing
Gallery
North aspect, from Evolution Valley
North aspect, from Darwin Bench
North aspect, from Darwin Bench
The Hermit from northwest in Evolution Valley
The Hermit, far left (Emerald Peak to far right)
The Hermit from Evolution Lake
References
- "The Hermit, California". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
- "Hermit, The - 12,328' CA". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
- "The Hermit". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
- Francis P. Farquhar, Place Names of the High Sierra (1926)
- Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11. ISSN 1027-5606.
- R. J. Secor, The High Sierra Peaks, Passes, Trails, 2009, Third Edition, Mountaineers Books, ISBN 9781594857386, page 299.
- Alan M. Hedden and David R. Brower, A Climber's Guide to the High Sierra (1954)
- Norman Clyde - Mountaineer, Owensvalleyhistory.com
- R. J. Secor, The High Sierra Peaks, Passes, Trails, 2009, Third Edition, Mountaineers Books, ISBN 9781594857386, page 290.
- Alan M. Hedden and David R. Brower, A Climber’s Guide to the High Sierra, (1954)
External links
- Weather forecast: The Hermit