East Vidette


East Vidette is a mountain summit located two miles west of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in the northeast corner of Tulare County in northern California. It is situated in Kings Canyon National Park, west-southwest of the community of Independence, and one mile southwest of the Kearsarge Pinnacles. Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises nearly above Vidette Meadow in less than one mile. The John Muir Trail traverses below the north and east aspects of this remote peak. The first ascent of the summit was made in 1910 by a Sierra Club party via the East Ridge.

Etymology

Vidette is an alternative spelling of vedette, which is a mounted sentry for bringing information, giving signals, or warnings of danger, to a main body of troops. The pyramid-shaped East Vidette appears to stand guard above a valley, which inspired
members of the Sierra Club to name it: "Two of these promontories, standing guard, as it were, the one at the entrance to the valley and the other just within it, form a striking pair, and we named them the Videttes."

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, East Vidette is located in an alpine climate zone. 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. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into Bubbs Creek, a tributary of the South Fork Kings River.