Thor Peak is a mountain summit located east of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Inyo County, California. It is situated in the John Muir Wilderness on land managed by Inyo National Forest. It is west of the community of Lone Pine, and east of Mount Whitney. Topographic relief is significant as it rises above Whitney Portal in 1.5 mile. Hikers on the Mount Whitney Trail pass below the impressive south face of the peak.
Climate According to the Köppen climate classification system, Thor Peak has an alpine climate. 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 this mountain drains east to Owens Valley via Lone Pine Creek.
Climbing The first ascent of the summit was made by Norman Clyde, date unknown.Norman Clyde - Mountaineer, Owensvalleyhistory.com
Established rock climbing routes:John D. and Ruth Mendenhall, Arthur B. Johnson, Braeme Gigas, Howard Koster, A Climber’s Guide to the High Sierra, (1954)
Southwest side – – First ascent by Norman Clyde West Arête – class 2 Southeast chimney, aka Stemwinder – class 5.4 – FA 1936, by Glen Dawson, Robert K. Brinton, William Rice South face – class 5 – FA 1937, by Howard Koster, Arthur B. Johnson, James N. Smith Odin’s Wrath – class 5.10dPat Brennan, Thor Peak, South Face, Odin's Wrath, American Alpine Journal, 1997
Gallery
See also
List of mountain peaks of California
References
External links Weather forecast: Thor Peak Thor Peak climbing: Mountainproject.com