View source for White Mountain Peak

{{Short description|Mountain in California, United States}}
{{About|the third-highest mountain in California|the mountain in Yosemite|White Mountain (Yosemite)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name            = White Mountain Peak
| photo           = White Mountain CA.JPG
| photo_caption   = White Mountain Peak from trail, June 2004
| elevation_ft    = 14,252
| elevation_ref   = {{NAVD88}}<ref name=NGS>{{cite ngs |pid=HR2559 |name=White Mountain Peak |access-date=January 5, 2016}}</ref>
| prominence_ft   = 7196
| prominence_ref  = <ref name=PB>{{cite peakbagger |pid=3628 |title=White Mountain Peak, California |access-date=January 5, 2016}}</ref>
| isolation_mi    = 67.4
| isolation_ref   = <ref name=PB/>
| parent_peak     = [[Mount Whitney]]<ref>{{cite peakbagger |kid=3628 |title=Adobe Hills West |access-date=May 20, 2016}}</ref>
| listing         = {{unbulleted list
  | [[List of the highest major summits of North America|North America highest peaks]] 44th
  | [[List of the most prominent summits of North America|North America prominent peak]] 67th
  | [[List of the highest major summits of the United States|U.S. highest major peaks]] 30th
  | [[List of highest mountain peaks of California|California highest major peaks]] 3rd
  | [[List of highest points in California by county|California county high points]] 3rd
  | [[Ultra-prominent peak|Ultra]]
  }}
| location        = [[Mono County, California|Mono County]], [[California|California, U.S.]]
| range           = [[White Mountains (California)|White Mountains]]
| map             = USA California#USA
| map_caption     = Location in California
| map_size        = 240
| coordinates     = {{coord|37.634094761|N|118.255655789|W|type:mountain_region:US-CA_scale:100000_source:NGS|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref = <ref name=NGS/>
| topo            = [[United States Geological Survey|USGS]] White Mountain Peak
| type            = [[Igneous Rock]]
| easiest_route   = Road hike
}}

'''White Mountain Peak''' (or simply '''White Mountain'''), at {{convert|14,252|ft|0}}, is the highest peak in the [[White Mountains (California)|White Mountains]] of [[California]], the highest peak in [[Mono County, California|Mono County]], and the third highest peak in the state after [[Mount Whitney]] and [[Mount Williamson]]. In spite of its name, the summit block of the peak has large swaths of very dark and colorful orange scree and rock; it is composed of Mesozoic [[metavolcanic rock]], which is [[igneous rock]] altered by rising granite.

It is the fourteenth most [[topographic prominence|topographically prominent]] peak in the [[contiguous United States]].<ref name="pb_list">{{cite peakbagger |lid=41204 |name=USA Lower 48 Top 100 Peaks by Prominence |access-date=March 30, 2012}}</ref> White Mountain Peak is one of only two fourteeners (peaks above 14,000 feet) in California that are not in the [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)|Sierra Nevada]], the other being [[Mount Shasta]] at the far northern end of the state in the [[Cascade Range]]. It is the only fourteener in the contiguous United States that is not in the [[Rocky Mountains]], the Cascade Range, or the Sierra Nevada. It is in the [[Inyo-White Mountains]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=White Mountain Peak – California, United States, North America – John Diggler|url=https://www.summitpost.org/page/150221|access-date=December 15, 2022|archive-date=December 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215140341/https://www.summitpost.org/page/150221|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Research Station==
The [[University of California]] operates the White Mountain Research Center, comprising three [[high altitude]] research stations, on the mountain: Crooked Creek Station at {{Convert|10200|ft|m|-2}}, Barcroft Station at {{convert|12470|ft|m|-2}}, and a small hut at the summit. The effects of altitude on [[physiology]] are studied at the Barcroft Station and summit hut.<ref>{{cite web |title=White Mountain Research Center Summit Hut |url=https://www.wmrc.edu/facilities/bar/summit.html |website=White Mountain Research Center |publisher=University of California |access-date=September 4, 2018 |archive-date=September 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904230138/https://www.wmrc.edu/facilities/bar/summit.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Climbing==
[[File:White Mountain Peak 2018 Open Gate Day.jpg|thumb|right|Hikers resting at the summit hut on the 2018 open gate day]]
There is a winding dirt road leading to the summit station that is usually cleared of snow between late June and September. Access is restricted to hikers only by a locked gate about 2 miles before Barcroft Station, but White Mountain Research Station usually opens this locked gate at {{Convert|11680|ft|m|-1}} once each year. Open gate days are typically held on a Sunday in the summer season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Community Outreach |url=https://wmrc.edu/community/default.html |website=White Mountain Research Center |publisher=University of California |access-date=September 4, 2018 |archive-date=September 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904230138/https://wmrc.edu/community/default.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The round-trip hike from the gate to the summit is about {{Convert|14|mi|km|0}} with less than {{Convert|2600|ft|m|-2}} of vertical gain. However, there are two different dips in the trail of about 250 feet each, adding up to a total elevation gain during the roundtrip of over 3500 feet. The open gate shaves about {{Convert|4|mi|km|0}} and {{Convert|790|ft|m}} of gain off the round trip. This route is popular with [[mountain biking|mountain bikers]].

While the peak is arguably California's easiest [[fourteener]] via the jeep road, it features more strenuous climbs such as its western ridge, an {{Convert|8150|ft|m|-2|adj=on}} climb out of [[Owens Valley]] via a steep ridge from the end of a rough road. Another route from the East, up Wyman Canyon from the Deep Springs Valley, has a lot of water sources in the first 12 miles.  It climbs 7,100 feet to the summit.  The peak is rarely approached from the north where it is guarded by a narrow [[arête]] or knife-edge ridge. A better nontechnical alternative to the jeep road would be to drive as far as possible up Leidy Canyon from Fish Lake Valley, then take a graded cattle trail up the broad ridge to Perry Aiken Flat.

From the flats it is an easy traverse south into the cirque of the North Fork, North Branch of Perry Aiken Creek. A moderate scramble up the ridge between the North Branch and the larger cirque of the main North Fork leads to the easier upper slopes of the peak. While the peak does not require technical climbing skills, it still poses a serious challenge to hikers because of the high altitude.

==Climate==
The summit and the weather station at {{convert|12470|ft|m}} has an alpine tundra climate ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''ET''). Winters are extremely severe, with the peak receiving upwards of {{convert|13|ft|cm}} of snow annually.
{{Weather box
|location = White Mountain Peak 37.6357 N, 118.2579 W, Elevation: {{cvt|13717|ft}} (1991–2020 normals)
|single line = y

|Jan high F = 22.2
|Feb high F = 19.2
|Mar high F = 23.9
|Apr high F = 27.4
|May high F = 34.9
|Jun high F = 48.0
|Jul high F = 55.6
|Aug high F = 54.7
|Sep high F = 47.1
|Oct high F = 39.2
|Nov high F = 29.0
|Dec high F = 23.3

|Jan mean F = 15.2
|Feb mean F = 12.3
|Mar mean F = 16.1
|Apr mean F = 16.9
|May mean F = 23.6
|Jun mean F = 34.4
|Jul mean F = 41.3
|Aug mean F = 40.4
|Sep mean F = 38.1
|Oct mean F = 28.2
|Nov mean F = 21.5
|Dec mean F = 15.3

|Jan low F = 8.1
|Feb low F = 5.4
|Mar low F = 8.4
|Apr low F = 6.4
|May low F = 12.3
|Jun low F = 20.8
|Jul low F = 26.9
|Aug low F = 26.1
|Sep low F = 29.0
|Oct low F = 17.1
|Nov low F = 14.0
|Dec low F = 7.4

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.88
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.27
|Mar precipitation inch = 3.20
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.81
|May precipitation inch = 1.48
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.74
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.03
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.06|
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.50
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.70
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.89
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.20

|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= September 28, 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.
|archive-date= July 25, 2019
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190725164937/http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/
|url-status= live
}}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box|location = White Mountain, California (Station Elevation 12,470ft)
|collapsed = yes
|width=auto
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 47
|Feb record high F = 52
|Mar record high F = 46
|Apr record high F = 50
|May record high F = 59
|Jun record high F = 66
|Jul record high F = 72
|Aug record high F = 73
|Sep record high F = 61
|Oct record high F = 69
|Nov record high F = 50
|Dec record high F = 48
|year record high F = 73
|Jan high F = 22.9
|Feb high F = 23.0
|Mar high F = 24.3
|Apr high F = 28.3
|May high F = 36.3
|Jun high F = 46.3
|Jul high F = 54.2
|Aug high F = 53.0
|Sep high F = 47.6
|Oct high F = 39.9
|Nov high F = 30.9
|Dec high F = 25.4
|year high F = 36.0
|Jan mean F = 15.2
|Feb mean F = 14.8
|Mar mean F = 15.6
|Apr mean F = 19.1
|May mean F = 27.5
|Jun mean F = 37.5
|Jul mean F = 45.3
|Aug mean F = 44.4
|Sep mean F = 38.8
|Oct mean F = 31.4
|Nov mean F = 22.8
|Dec mean F = 17.6
|year mean F = 27.5
|Jan low F = 7.4
|Feb low F = 6.6
|Mar low F = 6.8
|Apr low F = 9.9
|May low F = 18.7
|Jun low F = 28.7
|Jul low F = 36.4
|Aug low F = 35.5
|Sep low F = 30.0
|Oct low F = 22.9
|Nov low F = 14.7
|Dec low F = 9.7
|year low F = 18.9
|Jan record low F = -25
|Feb record low F = -21
|Mar record low F = -35
|Apr record low F = -30
|May record low F = -15
|Jun record low F = 2
|Jul record low F = 12
|Aug record low F = 13
|Sep record low F = -5
|Oct record low F = -20
|Nov record low F = -28
|Dec record low F = -30
|year record low F = -35
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 2.00
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.70
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.17
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.88
|May precipitation inch = 1.98
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.82
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.09
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.11
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.87
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.02
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.22
|Dec precipitation inch = 2.60
|year precipitation inch = 18.47
|Jan snow inch = 20.2
|Feb snow inch = 19.5
|Mar snow inch = 19.5
|Apr snow inch = 20.8
|May snow inch = 21.5
|Jun snow inch = 7.0
|Jul snow inch = 1.3
|Aug snow inch = 1.0
|Sep snow inch = 3.5
|Oct snow inch = 10.9
|Nov snow inch = 13.1
|Dec snow inch = 20.3
|year snow inch = 158.5
|source 1 = The Western Regional Climate Center<ref name="WRCC">{{cite web | url =http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?ca9633 | title =Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Information | access-date =April 9, 2013 | publisher =Western Regional Climate Center | archive-date =March 5, 2016 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160305011700/http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?ca9633 | url-status =live }}</ref>
|source 2 = https://wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliGCStT.pl?cawhit
|date=April 2013
}}

{{Wide image|White Mountain.jpg|1500px|Panorama from top of White Mountain looking to the east, south and west}}

==See also==
{{portal|Mountains}}
* [[List of mountain peaks of California]]
* [[List of highest points in California by county]]
* [[List of Ultras of the United States]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{commons-inline}}
* {{cite gnis |id=255232 |name=White Mountain Peak}}
* {{cite summitpost |id=150221 |name=White Mountain Peak}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.wmrc.edu/ |title=White Mountain Research Station |publisher=University of California}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.timberlinetrails.net/WhiteMountain.html |title=White Mountain Peak |publisher=Timberline Trails}}
* [https://libraries.ucsd.edu/speccoll/findingaids/rss2308.html White Mountain Research Station. Administrative Files] RSS 2308. [http://libraries.ucsd.edu/collections/sca/ Special Collections & Archives], UC San Diego Library.

{{California highest}}
{{California Fourteeners}}
{{NA highest}}
{{NA prominent}}

[[Category:White Mountains (California)]]
[[Category:Mountains of Mono County, California]]
[[Category:Fourteeners of California]]
[[Category:Inyo National Forest]]
[[Category:Four-thousanders of the United States]]
[[Category:Mountains of Northern California]]