| Mount Muir | |
|---|---|
 The East Face of Mount Muir | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 14,018 ft (4,273 m) NAVD 88[1] |
| Prominence | 298 ft (91 m)[1] |
| Parent peak | Mount Whitney[2] |
| Listing |
|
| Coordinates | 36°33′53″N118°17′29″W / 36.5647386°N 118.2913288°W /36.5647386; -118.2913288[7] |
| Geography | |
  Mount Muir | |
| Location | Inyo / Tulare counties,California,U.S. |
| Parent range | Sierra Nevada |
| Topo map | USGS Mount Whitney |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1919 by LeRoy Jeffers[8] |
| Easiest route | Hike and scramble from the west,class 3[9] |
Mount Muir is a peak in theSierra Nevada ofCalifornia, 0.95 miles (1.5 km) south ofMount Whitney. This 14,018-foot (4,273 m) peak is named in honor ofJohn Muir, ageologist,conservationist and founder of theSierra Club. The southernmost section of theJohn Muir Trailcontours along the west side of Mount Muir near its summit and ends on the summit of Mount Whitney.
Among mountain climbers, a peak needs to meet certain criteria in order to be included in some lists. To be listed as an independent peak a summit must have 300 feet (91 m) ofclean prominence. A reliable source gives Mount Muir'sclean prominence as 298 feet,[1] and so the peak does not qualify for lists offourteeners based on elevation and prominence.[10] It is included in other lists which do not depend on prominence. Some lists are based on more subjective criteria, and Mount Muir is included in the Sierra Peaks Section list,[3] the Western States Climbers list,[4] and the Vulgarian Ramblers 13,800-Footers of the Contiguous USA list.[5][11]
The easiest approach is from theJohn Muir Trail just north of its junction with theMount Whitney Trail inSequoia National Park. The trail passes very near the summit and the climb involves a short stretch of difficult scrambling and/or easy rock climbing up the steep western slope to the summit block, (class 3). A dayhike permit or a backcountry permit with a Whitney Zone stamp is required to hike the Mount Whitney Trail.[12]
The east side of Mount Muir, which is in theJohn Muir Wilderness, is a near-vertical cliff about 1,400 feet (430 m) high. The route on this side (the north side of the east buttress) was first climbed on July 11, 1935, by Nelson P. Nies and John D. Mendenhall. It is a roped climb, (class 4). The south side of the east buttress, also class 4, was first climbed on September 1, 1935, by Arthur B. Johnson and William Rice.[9]
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