Alta Peak is in Sequoia National Park not far from Giant Forest. Before 1896, the mountain was known as Tharps Peak. By 1903 it was generally known by its current name and Alta Peak appears on the Tehipite quadrangle, USGS 30 minute topographic map of 1905,[5] and was officially recognized by the Board on Geographic Names in 1928.[6] The Sierra Club Bulletin noted that the name Alta Peak was "euphonious". A meadow on its southern slope had long been known as Alta Meadow.[7] A rocky outcrop, 0.5 miles (0.8 km) southwest of the summit, is now known as Tharps Rock. Hale Tharp was the first euro-American to explore the Giant Forest area. His summer camp, a hollowed out Sequoia log near Crescent Meadow known as Tharp's Log, is popular with park visitors.

Alta Peak
Alta Peak
West aspect, from Moro Rock
Highest point
Elevation11,208 ft (3,416 m) NAVD 88[1]
Prominence124 ft (38 m)[2]
ListingSierra Peaks Section[3]
Coordinates36°35′26″N 118°39′48″W / 36.590579589°N 118.663388637°W / 36.590579589; -118.663388637[1]
Geography
Alta Peak is located in California
Alta Peak
Alta Peak
Alta Peak is located in the United States
Alta Peak
Alta Peak
LocationTulare County, California, U.S.
Parent rangeSierra Nevada
Topo mapUSGS Lodgepole
Climbing
First ascent1896 by William R, Dudley[4]
Easiest routeHike, class 1[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Alta". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
  2. ^ "Alta Peak, California". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
  3. ^ a b "Sierra Peaks Section List" (PDF). Angeles Chapter, Sierra Club. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
  4. ^ Secor, R.J. (2009). The High Sierra Peaks, Passes, and Trails (3rd ed.). Seattle: The Mountaineers. p. 90. ISBN 978-0898869712.
  5. ^ Tehipite quadrangle, California (Map). 1:125000. 30 Minute Topographic. USGS. 1905. Retrieved 2021-11-02 – via USC Digital Library.
  6. ^ "Alta Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
  7. ^ Browning, Peter (1986). Place Names of the Sierra Nevada. Berkeley: Wilderness Press. pp. 4, 214. ISBN 978-0-89997-119-3.