Mount Sill
Description
WikipediaMount Sill is one of the fourteeners of the Sierra Nevada in California. It is located in the Palisades, a group of prominent rock peaks with a few small glaciers on their flanks. Mount Sill is located 0.6 miles (1 km) east of North Palisade, the high point of the group. The two peaks are connected by a high, rocky ridge, on the north side of which lies the Palisade Glacier. Mount Sill lies on the main Sierra Crest, but is at a point where the crest turns sharply, giving it particularly striking summit views. On one side is Kings Canyon National Park and Fresno County; on the other is the John Muir Wilderness, Inyo National Forest and Inyo County. Routes on Mount Sill are found on all sides of the peak and range in difficulty from scrambles (class 2-3) to a moderately technical rock climbs (class 5.7). The mountain is called Nen-i-mish ("the Guardian of the Valley") by the Indigenous Northern Paiute people. Its English name was coined, in 1904, by Joseph LeConte, a noted mountaineer, in honor of American poet Edward Rowland Sill.
First ascent
Best months
Hiking score 0–100 · 10-yr climate averagesNeighbouring summits
| Name | Elevation | Bearing | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Peak | 4,211 m | NW 330° | 0.1 km |
| Barrett Peak | 4,258 m | SW 209° | 0.7 km |
| Polemonium Peak | 4,296 m | W 250° | 0.8 km |
| Mount Gayley | 4,106 m | N 21° | 0.8 km |
| North Palisade | 4,343 m | W 259° | 1.0 km |
| Starlight Peak | 4,336 m | W 265° | 1.1 km |
Climbing routes
nearest first| Route | Area | Grade | From summit |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Couloir | Mt. Sill | 1 | 20 m |
| Swiss Arete | Mt. Sill | 5a | 20 m |
| North Couloir Variation | Mt. Sill | 3 | 20 m |
| V-Notch Couloir | Polemonium Peak | 1+ | 881 m |
| Southwest Chute | Polemonium Peak | 1+ | 881 m |
| Traverse from Mt Sill | Polemonium Peak | 1+ | 881 m |
| South West Ridge (aka Yellow Brick Road) | Mt. Gayley | 1- | 881 m |
| U-Notch Couloir | North Palisade | 4c | 975 m |
| West Face | North Palisade | 4b | 975 m |
| Southwest Chute | North Palisade | 1 | 975 m |
| Starlight Buttress | Starlight Peak | 5a | 1.1 km |
| Northwest Chute | Starlight Peak | 1 | 1.1 km |
| North Couloir | Thunderbolt Peak | 1 | 1.3 km |
| Thunderbolt to Sill Traverse | Thunderbolt Peak | 5c | 1.3 km |
| Austrian Arete | Thunderbolt Peak | 5a | 1.3 km |
| Southwest Chute 1 | Thunderbolt Peak | 1+ | 1.3 km |
| Southwest Buttress | Thunderbolt Peak | 5a | 1.3 km |
| Underhill Couloir | Thunderbolt Peak | 1 | 1.3 km |
| Temple, Galey, Sill Traverse | Temple Crag | 5a | 1.9 km |
| Venusian Blind | Temple Crag | 5a | 1.9 km |
| Dark Star | Temple Crag | 6b | 1.9 km |
| Moon Goddess Arete | Temple Crag | 5b | 1.9 km |
| Planaria | Temple Crag | 6b | 1.9 km |
| Sun Ribbon Arete | Temple Crag | 6a | 1.9 km |
| Backside of Beyond | Temple Crag | 5c | 1.9 km |