Jakes Peak

Jakes Peak is a mountain summit located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in El Dorado County, California, United States. It is set within the Desolation Wilderness, on land managed by Eldorado National Forest. This iconic peak is situated above the southwest shore of Lake Tahoe, and approximately northwest of the community of South [Lake Tahoe, California|South Lake Tahoe]. Topographic relief is significant as the east aspect rises above the lake in.

Etymology

This mountain's name remembers ski patroller Jeffery James Smith, commonly known as "Jake", and in honor of the other six persons who also died in an avalanche at the Alpine [Meadows (ski resort)|Alpine Meadows Ski Area] on March 31, 1982. This landform's toponym was officially adopted in 1985 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Jakes 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 the mountain drains to Lake Tahoe.