East Vidette

Mountain summit of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Tulare County, California

East Vidette

North aspect

Highest point
Elevation| 12,356 ft (3,766 m)[1]
Prominence| 250 ft (76 m)[1]
Parent peak| East Spur (12,749 ft)[2]
Isolation| 0.91 mi (1.46 km)[2]
Listing| Sierra Peaks Section
Coordinates| 36°44′38″N 118°24′02″W﻿ / ﻿36.7438136°N 118.4005552°W﻿ / 36.7438136; -118.4005552[3]
Naming
Etymology| Vedette
Geography

East Vidette

Location in California

Show map of California

East Vidette

East Vidette (the United States)

Show map of the United States

Country| United States
State| California
County| Tulare
Protected area| Kings Canyon National Park
Parent range| Sierra Nevada
Topo map| USGS Mount Brewer
Climbing
First ascent| 1910
Easiest route| class 3 scrambling

East Vidette is a 12,356-foot-elevation (3,766-meter) mountain summit located two miles west of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in the northeast corner of Tulare County in northern California.[3] It is situated in Kings Canyon National Park, 12.5 miles (20.1 km) west-southwest of the community of Independence, and one mile southwest of the Kearsarge Pinnacles. Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises nearly 2,800 feet (850 meters) above Vidette Meadow in less than one mile. The John Muir Trail traverses below the north and east aspects of this remote peak. The first ascent of the summit was made in 1910 by a Sierra Club party via the East Ridge.[4]

## Etymology

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Vidette is an alternative spelling of vedette, which is a mounted sentry for bringing information, giving signals, or warnings of danger, to a main body of troops. The pyramid-shaped East Vidette appears to stand guard above a valley, which inspired members of the Sierra Club to name it: "Two of these promontories, standing guard, as it were, the one at the entrance to the valley and the other just within it, form a striking pair, and we named them the Videttes."[5]

## Climate

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According to the Köppen climate classification system, East Vidette is located in an alpine climate zone.[6] 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, causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the range (orographic lift). Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into Bubbs Creek, a tributary of the South Fork Kings River.

## Gallery

[edit]

* East Vidette centered beyond Bullfrog Lake

* East Vidette, Deerhorn Mountain, West Vidette, from Bullfrog Lake

* East Vidette from NNW

* Northeast aspect

* Northwest aspect

## See also

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* Mountains portal

* West Vidette
* List of mountain peaks of California

## References

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1. ^ a b "East Vidette, California". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
2. ^ a b "East Vidette - 12,355' CA". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
3. ^ a b "East Vidette". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
4. ^ Steve Roper, The Climber's Guide to the High Sierra, 1976, Sierra Club Books, ISBN 9780871561473, page 359.
5. ^ Cornelius Beach Bradley, Sierra Club Bulletin, 1899, page 272.
6. ^ Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11. ISSN 1027-5606.

## External links

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* East Vidette: YouTube
* Weather forecast: East Vidette
* East Vidette photo by Ansel Adams
* East Vidette photo: Flickr