Hurd Peak

Hurd Peak is a mountain summit located one mile east of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Inyo County of northern California, United States. Surrounded by lakes, it is situated in the John Muir Wilderness, on land managed by Inyo National Forest. It is approximately west of the community of Big Pine, west of Picture Puzzle, and north of parent Mount Goode. Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises nearly above South Lake in approximately one mile.

Etymology

This mountain's toponym was officially adopted in 1920 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names based on a recommendation by the Sierra Club. It honors the memory of Hurd Clarence Hurd, who made the first ascent in 1906 while connected with development work in the vicinity. H. C. Hurd was a civil engineer who received his degree from Princeton University in 1893. He was elected as a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1913, but the following year met an untimely death by accidental drowning in Chesapeake Bay.

Climbing

Established climbing routes on Hurd Peak:

West Face via Treasure Lakes –
East Face – class 3
South Ridge – class 4
Northeast Arete – class 5.5
North Ridge – class 5.7

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Hurd Peak 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 mountain drains into the South Fork of Bishop Creek.