Fin Dome

Fin Dome is an granite summit located 1.5 mile west of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in the southeast corner of Fresno County, in northern California. It is situated in the Rae Lakes area of Kings Canyon National Park, approximately west of the community of Independence. Nearby peaks include Black Mountain (Inyo and [Fresno counties, California)|Black Mountain] to the east, and Mount Rixford to the south-southeast. Topographic relief is significant as the east aspect rises above Rae Lakes in one-quarter mile. The John Muir Trail passes to the east of this landmark, providing an approach. This geographical feature was named by Bolton Brown in 1899 when he explored the lake basin in its vicinity, because it resembled the fin of a sea serpent. The first ascent of the summit was made in 1910 by James Rennie, one of the foremost mountaineers of the Sierra Club.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Fin Dome 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 this peak drains into tributaries of the South Fork Kings River.