| Sawmill Point | |
|---|---|
 Northeast aspect, centered | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 9,429 ft (2,874 m)[1] |
| Prominence | 591 ft (180 m)[2] |
| Parent peak | Colosseum Mountain (12,473 ft)[3] |
| Isolation | 2.58 mi (4.15 km)[3] |
| Coordinates | 36°55′01″N118°19′14″W / 36.9170122°N 118.3205805°W /36.9170122; -118.3205805[4] |
| Geography | |
  Sawmill Point Location in California Show map of California Sawmill Point Sawmill Point (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Location | John Muir Wilderness |
| Country | United States of America |
| State | California |
| County | Inyo County |
| Parent range | Sierra Nevada |
| Topo map | USGSAberdeen |
| Geology | |
| Rock age | Cretaceous |
| Mountain type | Fault block |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | < 1953 |
| Easiest route | class 3scrambling[5] |
Sawmill Point is a 9,429-foot-elevation (2,874-meter) mountainsummit located inInyo County,California. It is situated 2.6 miles east of thecrest of theSierra Nevada mountain range, in theJohn Muir Wilderness, on land managed byInyo National Forest. It is also 10.5 miles (16.9 km) northwest of the community ofIndependence, and 2.6 miles (4.2 km) east of proximate parentColosseum Mountain.Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 4,770 feet (1,450 meters) aboveOwens Valley in two miles. The Sawmill Pass Trail traverses the east and south slopes of the peak, providing an approach option, and access to theJohn Muir Trail.
The landform's toponym has been officially adopted by theUnited States Board on Geographic Names.[4] The peak is named in association with Sawmill Creek, which in turn was named for the sawmill that James W. Smith operated along the creek in the 1870s.[6] Thefirst recorded ascent of the summit was made by Art J. Reyman and Fred L. Jones on January 11, 1953, by ascending the northeast ridge.[5] The party was not the first on the summit however, because they found cairns, but no record.
According to theKöppen climate classification system, Sawmill Point is located in analpine climate zone.[7] 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 or snowfall onto the range. Precipitationrunoff from this mountain drains into Division and Sawmill creeks, thence Owens Valley.
