Alta Peak
Description
WikipediaAlta 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, and was officially recognized by the Board on Geographic Names in 1928. 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. 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.
First ascent
Best months
Hiking score 0–100 · 10-yr climate averagesNeighbouring summits
| Name | Elevation | Bearing | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tharps Rock | 3,261 m | SW 218° | 0.7 km |
| Winter Alta | 3,453 m | NE 47° | 1.2 km |
| Little Blue Dome | 2,236 m | S 170° | 3.0 km |
| The Watchtower | 2,735 m | NW 301° | 3.7 km |
| Sugarbowl Dome | 2,334 m | S 162° | 4.4 km |
| Panther Peak | 2,758 m | W 260° | 4.7 km |
Routes of ascent
| Route | Network | Distance | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alta Trail | lwn | 20.1 km | — |
Climbing routes
nearest first| Route | Area | Grade | From summit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Ridge | Winter Alta | 1- | 1.2 km |
| Big Time | Watchtower, The | 7a+ | 3.7 km |
| Timex Route | Watchtower, The | 5c | 3.7 km |
| Blazing Arrow | Tokopah Falls Bouldering | V8 | 4.1 km |
| Hyde and Hide | Panther Peak | 6b+ | 4.7 km |
| Rack 'em up, Reid | Panther Peak | 6a | 4.7 km |
| Superman | Panther Peak | 7b+ | 4.7 km |
| Liquid Gravity | Panther Peak | 7a | 4.7 km |
| Krymptonite | Panther Peak | 6c | 4.7 km |
| The Boardwalk Chimney | Lower Tokopah Dome | 5b | 4.8 km |
| Tokopah Adventure | Lower Tokopah Dome | 6b | 4.8 km |
| Beauty and the Beast | Lower Tokopah Dome | 6c | 4.8 km |
| Welcome to Wallmart | Lower Tokopah Dome | 6c | 4.8 km |
| Mango Lassi Lulz Machine | Lower Tokopah Dome | 6c | 4.8 km |
| Tokopah Reality | Lower Tokopah Dome | 6c | 4.8 km |
| Tan in November | Santa Cruz Dome | 5c | 5.2 km |
| Usually Its Sunny | Santa Cruz Dome | 6b | 5.2 km |
| North Arete | Horn Peak | 5b | 7.2 km |
| Freeslider | Horn Peak | 5b | 7.2 km |
| North Arete Left Side | Hamilton Dome | 6a | 7.3 km |
| North Arete | Hamilton Dome | 5a | 7.3 km |
| The Subliminal Verses | Hamilton Dome | 6a+ | 7.3 km |
| Val Kilmer | Angel Wings | 7a | 7.4 km |
| Valkyrie | Angel Wings | 7a | 7.4 km |
| South Arete Direct | Angel Wings | 7a | 7.4 km |