Merced Peak

{{Short description|Mountain in the American state of California}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Merced Peak | image = Merced Peak.jpg | image_caption = South aspect, aerial view | elevation_ft = 11,731 | elevation_ref = {{NAVD88}}<ref name="pb">{{cite peakbagger |pid=2640 |name=Merced Peak |accessdate=2011-06-17}}</ref> | prominence_ft = 1206 | prominence_ref= <ref name="pb"/> | listing = Sierra Peaks Section<ref name="sps">{{cite sps |accessdate=2014-02-23}}</ref> | location = Madera County, California, U.S. | range = Clark Range | map = USA California#USA | map_caption = Location in California | map_size = 200 | label_position = left | coordinates = {{coord|37.6352111|N|119.3945904|W|type:mountain_region:US-CA_scale:100000_source:GNIS|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | range_coordinates = | coordinates_ref = <ref name="gnis">{{cite gnis |id=253545 |name=Merced Peak |accessdate=2011-06-17}}</ref> | topo = USGS Merced Peak | first_ascent = | easiest_route = Scramble, {{YDS|2}}<ref name="sps"/><ref name=Secor>{{cite Secor |edition=3 |pages=408-409}}</ref> }}

'''Merced Peak''', with an elevation of {{convert|11,731|ft|0}}, is the highest point in the Clark Range,<ref name="pb"/> just surpassing three other peaks; Red Peak (11,704 feet),<ref>{{cite peakbagger |pid=2639 |name=Red Peak, California |accessdate=2014-02-23}}</ref> Gray Peak (11,578 feet),<ref>{{cite peakbagger |pid=13555 |name=Gray Peak, California |accessdate=2012-03-08}}</ref> and Mount Clark (11,527 feet).

Merced Peak is located close to southern border of Yosemite National Park, near the Ottoway Lakes. The summit can be approached from the Quartz Mountain Trailhead over Chiquito pass or from one of two trailheads on the road to Glacier Point.<ref>{{cite summitpost |id=151768 |name=Merced Peak |accessdate=2012-03-08}}</ref>

In 1871, influential Scottish-American naturalist John Muir discovered an active alpine glacier below Merced Peak, which helped his theory that Yosemite Valley was formed by glacial action gain acceptance.

==Climate== According to the Köppen climate classification system, Merced Peak is located in an alpine climate zone.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Sierra-Nevada-mountains/Climate |title=Climate of the Sierra Nevada |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica}}</ref> 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 (orographic lift), causing moisture in the form of rain or snowfall to drop onto the range.

{{Weather box |location = Merced Peak (CA) 37.6362 N, 119.3897 W, Elevation: {{cvt|11165|ft}} (1991–2020 normals) |single line = y

|source=PRISM Climate Group<ref>{{cite web |url= http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/ |title= PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University |publisher= PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University |access-date= October 8, 2023 |quote= To find the table data on the PRISM website, start by clicking ''Coordinates'' (under ''Location''); copy ''Latitude'' and ''Longitude figures'' from top of table; click ''Zoom to location''; click ''Precipitation, Minimum temp, Mean temp, Maximum temp''; click ''30-year normals, 1991-2020''; click ''800m''; click ''Retrieve Time Series'' button.}}</ref> }}

==See also==

* Intrusive Suite of Merced Peak

==Gallery== <div style="max-width: 400px;"> <gallery mode=slideshow> File:Merced Peak, west.jpg|Merced Peak, west aspect File:Merced Peak, Ottoway Lake.jpg|Merced Peak seen from Ottoway Lake </gallery> </div>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{cite summitpost |id=151768 |name=Merced Peak}} * [http://www.climber.org/reports/2004/1314.html "Merced Peak"]. Climber.org.

Category:Mountains of Merced County, California Category:Mountains of Yosemite National Park Category:Mountains of Northern California Category:Sierra Nevada (United States)