Matterhorn Peak
Matterhorn Peak is located in the Sierra Nevada, in California, at the northern boundary of Yosemite National Park. At 12,285 feet (3,744 m) elevation, it is the tallest peak in the craggy Alps-like Sawtooth Ridge and the northernmost 12,000-foot (3,700 m) peak in the Sierra Nevada. The peak also supports the Sierra's northernmost glacier system. It was named after the Matterhorn in the Alps. Matterhorn Peak is near Twin Peaks, and just north of Whorl Mountain.
The peak can be ascended without climbing gear.
In popular culture
Jack Kerouac, in The Dharma Bums (1958), describes a hike up and a run down the mountain. This led to the classic observation, "You can't fall off a mountain."
Climate
| Climate data for Matterhorn Peak (CA) 38.0964 N, 119.3825 W, Elevation: 11,585 ft (3,531 m) (1991–2020 normals) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 31.3 (−0.4) |
29.5 (−1.4) |
32.2 (0.1) |
35.9 (2.2) |
43.5 (6.4) |
53.1 (11.7) |
61.0 (16.1) |
60.3 (15.7) |
55.0 (12.8) |
45.8 (7.7) |
36.7 (2.6) |
30.7 (−0.7) |
42.9 (6.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 21.3 (−5.9) |
19.5 (−6.9) |
21.8 (−5.7) |
24.7 (−4.1) |
31.8 (−0.1) |
41.1 (5.1) |
48.8 (9.3) |
48.1 (8.9) |
42.3 (5.7) |
34.3 (1.3) |
26.8 (−2.9) |
21.3 (−5.9) |
31.8 (−0.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 11.4 (−11.4) |
9.5 (−12.5) |
11.3 (−11.5) |
13.5 (−10.3) |
20.1 (−6.6) |
29.0 (−1.7) |
36.6 (2.6) |
35.8 (2.1) |
29.6 (−1.3) |
22.7 (−5.2) |
16.8 (−8.4) |
12.0 (−11.1) |
20.7 (−6.3) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 9.29 (236) |
8.06 (205) |
7.27 (185) |
3.97 (101) |
2.40 (61) |
0.69 (18) |
0.79 (20) |
0.69 (18) |
0.58 (15) |
2.54 (65) |
4.19 (106) |
8.11 (206) |
48.58 (1,236) |
| Source: PRISM Climate Group | |||||||||||||