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Information About

Split Mountain




  Photo Split_Mountainjpg
  Caption <small>Sunrise on Split Mountain's east face, September 2004</small>
  Location California , United States
  Range Sierra Nevada
  Type Granite
  First Ascent 1887 <br>Frank Saulque and party
  Easiest Route Scramble via N slope
  Listing SPS Emblem peak


Split Mountain is a peak in the Sierra Nevada in the US State of California , near the southeast end of the Palisades group of peaks. Its north summit rises to , and is the eighth highest peak in the state.

The name Split Mountain, inspired by the shape of its double summit, was first coined by mountaineer Bolton Brown in 1895 . Alternately, it has been called Southeast Palisade or South Palisade.

The two toned appearance of the mountain's eastern face is created by a roof pendant of darker colored Granodiorite atop a lighter colored body of Leucogranite .

Split Mountain is one of the easier California Fourteener s to climb. The least technical route is the Class 2 north slope, which can be approached from the west or east. Joseph LeConte , Helen LeConte and Curtis Lindley took the simple western approach from Upper Basin when they climbed Split Mountain on July 23 , 1902 . A more common route to the north face is from the east, by way of Red Lake. Starting at the Red Lake trailhead, this trail covers with of elevation gain one way to the lake. From here, another of cross-country climbing, including a short class 3 ridge traverse, leads to the summit.

There are many more technical routes up both the north and south peaks of Split Mountain.


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