Sonora Peak

Mountain in the American state of California

Sonora Peak

Southern face of Sonora Peak from Sonora Pass

Highest point
Elevation| 11,464 ft (3,494 m) NAVD 88[1]
Prominence| 1,816 ft (554 m)[1]
Listing| California county high points 10th
Coordinates| 38°21′14″N 119°38′07″W﻿ / ﻿38.3538016°N 119.6351721°W﻿ / 38.3538016; -119.6351721[2]
Geography

Sonora Peak

Location in California

Location| Alpine and Mono counties, California, U.S.
Parent range| Central Sierra Nevada
Topo map| USGS Sonora Pass
Climbing
Easiest route| Hike, class 1-2[3]

Sonora Peak is a mountain in the Central Sierra Nevada of California north of Sonora Pass. Located on the boundary between Alpine and Mono counties, it is the highest point in Alpine County.[1] Due to the high elevation, most of the precipitation this mountain receives consists of snow.[4]

## Climate

[edit]

There is no weather station at the summit, but this climate table contains interpolated data for an area around the summit. Sonora Peak has a (subalpine climate (Köppen Dfc).

Climate data for Sonora Peak 38.3672 N, 119.6096 W, Elevation: 11,106 ft (3,385 m) (1991–2020 normals)

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)  | 30.4
(−0.9)  | 29.5
(−1.4)  | 32.2
(0.1)  | 36.6
(2.6)  | 44.5
(6.9)  | 54.4
(12.4)  | 62.9
(17.2)  | 62.1
(16.7)  | 56.3
(13.5)  | 47.0
(8.3)  | 36.4
(2.4)  | 30.1
(−1.1)  | 43.5
(6.4)
Daily mean °F (°C)  | 21.8
(−5.7)  | 20.3
(−6.5)  | 22.5
(−5.3)  | 25.7
(−3.5)  | 33.3
(0.7)  | 42.4
(5.8)  | 50.5
(10.3)  | 49.7
(9.8)  | 44.1
(6.7)  | 35.8
(2.1)  | 27.3
(−2.6)  | 21.7
(−5.7)  | 32.9
(0.5)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)  | 13.2
(−10.4)  | 11.1
(−11.6)  | 12.7
(−10.7)  | 14.8
(−9.6)  | 22.1
(−5.5)  | 30.4
(−0.9)  | 38.1
(3.4)  | 37.3
(2.9)  | 31.9
(−0.1)  | 24.7
(−4.1)  | 18.2
(−7.7)  | 13.2
(−10.4)  | 22.3
(−5.4)
Average precipitation inches (mm)  | 7.42
(188)  | 7.05
(179)  | 6.99
(178)  | 3.88
(99)  | 2.35
(60)  | 0.79
(20)  | 0.80
(20)  | 0.78
(20)  | 0.77
(20)  | 2.34
(59)  | 4.83
(123)  | 7.05
(179)  | 45.05
(1,145)
Source: PRISM Climate Group[5]

## Hiking

[edit]

One of the most direct routes of ascent starts at Sonora Pass, 2 miles (3 km) south as the crow flies. Starting at the trailhead of the PCT on Sonora Pass, it is about a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) hike with 1,000 feet (300 m) elevation gain to the top of a pass. From there, the easiest and most direct way is to turn northwest and follow the ridge that will lead to the summit. About halfway from the pass to the peak a small trail appears that heads directly to the peak.[3] A second approach to the summit is from nearby Saint Mary's Pass trailhead. This trail approaches the peak from the other side of the mountain (the northwestern side) and is also a class 1 hike.

Northern face of Sonora Peak as seen from nearby Stanislaus Peak

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Sonora Peak, California". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved February 26, 2009.
2. ^ "Sonora Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved February 26, 2009.
3. ^ a b "Sonora Peak". Northern Sierra Peaks Guide. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
4. ^ "Subsection M261Ek - Glaciated Batholith and Volcanic Flows". US Forest Service. Archived from the original on March 11, 2005. Retrieved February 26, 2009.
5. ^ "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University". PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University. Retrieved October 6, 2023. "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."

## External links

[edit]

* "Sonora Peak". SummitPost.org.

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Sierra Nevada

Mountains|

| Peaks >14,000 ft|

* Whitney
* Williamson
* North Palisade
* Sill
* Russell
* Split
* Langley
* Tyndall
* Muir
* Middle Palisade

|
|

Northern peaks|

* Lola
* Castle
* Granite Chief
* Rose
* Tallac
* Pyramid
* Freel

Central peaks|

* Red Lake
* Round Top
* Mokelumne
* Sonora
* Leavitt
* Dana
* Lyell
* Banner
* Ritter
* Mammoth

Southern peaks|

* Humphreys
* Tom
* Bear Creek Spire
* Darwin
* Agassiz
* Kaweah
* Brewer
* Olancha
* Kern
* Double

Climbing|

* Peak list
* First ascents

Passes|

* Fredonyer
* Beckwourth
* Yuba
* Donner
* Mt. Rose
* Spooner
* Echo
* Carson
* Monitor
* Ebbetts
* Sonora
* Tioga
* Minaret
* Kaweah
* Sherman
* Tehachapi

Rivers|

* Feather
* Yuba
* Bear
* American
* Mokelumne
* Cosumnes
* Calaveras
* Stanislaus
* Tuolumne
* Merced
* Chowchilla
* Fresno
* San Joaquin
* Kings
* Kaweah
* Tule
* Kern
* Truckee
* Carson
* Walker
* Owens

Lakes|

* Tahoe
* Aloha
* Echo
* Fallen Leaf
* Spooner
* Mono
* Almanor
* Oroville
* Isabella
* Donner
* Independence
* Shaver
* Huntington
* Florence
* Edison
* Wishon
* Courtright
* Tenaya
* Mammoth
* Bass
* Crowley
* Convict
* Hell for Sure

Protected
areas|

| National parks
and monuments|

* Kings Canyon
* Sequoia
* Yosemite
* Devils Postpile
* Giant Sequoia

|

National forests|

* Eldorado
* Humboldt–Toiyabe
* Inyo
* Lake Tahoe Basin
* Lassen
* Plumas
* Sequoia
* Sierra
* Stanislaus
* Tahoe

Wilderness areas|

* Ansel Adams
* Bright Star
* Bucks Lake
* Carson–Iceberg
* Chimney Peak
* Dinkey Lakes
* Domeland
* Emigrant
* Golden Trout
* Hoover
* Ishi
* Jennie Lakes
* John Krebs
* John Muir
* Kaiser
* Kiavah
* Mokelumne
* Monarch
* Mount Rose
* Owens Peak
* Owens River Headwaters
* Sacatar Trail
* Sequoia-Kings Canyon
* Yosemite

State parks|

* Burton Creek
* Calaveras Big Trees
* D. L. Bliss
* Donner Memorial
* Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point
* Emerald Bay
* Grover Hot Springs
* Lake Tahoe Nevada
* Plumas-Eureka
* South Yuba River
* Van Sickle

Communities|

* Angels Camp
* Auburn
* Bridgeport
* Chester
* Colfax
* Grass Valley
* Incline Village
* Jackson
* Kernville
* Loyalton
* Mammoth Lakes
* Mariposa
* Markleeville
* Nevada City
* Oakhurst
* Paradise
* Placerville
* Portola
* Quincy
* San Andreas
* Sonora
* South Lake Tahoe
* Susanville
* Sutter Creek
* Tahoe City
* Tehachapi
* Truckee

Ski areas|

* Alpine Meadows
* Badger Pass
* Bear Valley
* Boreal
* China Peak
* Dodge Ridge
* Donner Ski Ranch
* Heavenly
* Homewood
* June Mountain
* Kirkwood
* Mammoth Mountain
* Northstar
* Sierra at Tahoe
* Palisades Tahoe
* Sugar Bowl
* Tahoe Donner

Trails|

* High Sierra Trail
* John Muir Trail
* Pacific Crest Trail
* Sierra High Route

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