| Volcanic Ridge | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Northwest aspect | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 11,486 ft (3,501 m)[1][2] |
| Prominence | 1,232 ft (376 m)[3] |
| Parent peak | Clyde Minaret (12,263 ft)[1] |
| Isolation | 1.06 mi (1.71 km) |
| Coordinates | 37°40′16″N119°09′37″W / 37.6712082°N 119.1601810°W /37.6712082; -119.1601810[4] |
| Geography | |
  Volcanic Ridge Location in California Show map of California Volcanic Ridge Volcanic Ridge (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Location | Madera County,California, U.S. |
| Parent range | Sierra Nevada Ritter Range[3] |
| Topo map | USGSMount Ritter |
| Geology | |
| Rock age | Mesozoic[5] |
| Rock type | Metavolcanic rock[6] |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1933 |
| Easiest route | class 2[1] |
Volcanic Ridge is an 11,486-foot-elevation (3,501-meter)ridge located in theSierra Nevada mountain range inMadera County of northernCalifornia, United States.[4] It is situated in theAnsel Adams Wilderness on land managed byInyo National Forest. It is set in theRitter Range, 1.9 miles (3.1 km) southeast ofMount Ritter, and approximately 10 miles (16 km) west of the community ofMammoth Lakes. TheMinarets are one mile to the west andDevils Postpile National Monument is five miles to the southeast.Topographic relief is significant as the west aspect rises over 1,700 feet (520 meters) above Iceberg Lake in approximately one-half mile.
The descriptive toponym was likely applied during an 1898–99 survey by theUSGS,[7] and has been officially adopted by theU.S. Board on Geographic Names.[4]
Thefirst ascent of the summit was recorded August 13, 1933, by Craig Barbash and Howard Gates.[8]
The Minaret Mine was located on the south aspect of the ridge.Lead was mined there, but the remote location made mining unprofitable, and the mine ceased operations in the early 1930s.[9]
Volcanic Ridge is the site of the fatal 2007 airplane crash ofSteve Fossett.[10]
According to theKöppen climate classification system, Volcanic Ridge is located in analpine climate zone.[11] Mostweather fronts originate in thePacific Ocean, and travel east toward the Sierra Nevada mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks (orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain orsnowfall onto the range. Precipitationrunoff from this landform drains to the Middle ForkSan Joaquin River.
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