Twin Peaks
Kettle Peak

Sun, May 24, 2009

With: Tom Becht

 Etymology
Twin Peaks
Kettle Peak
 Story Photos / Slideshow Map Profile

Kettle Peak (10,004 ft.)

Named by Whitney Survey in 1864

"'From this camp, and the next (No. 169) two miles farther up the divide, an examination was made of an interesting and characteristic feature in the topography of this granitic region, and to which the name of "The Kettle" was given. This is a rocky amphitheater at the head of a stream [Sugarloaf Creek] which flows back directly northeast from its source towards the axis of the chain, for a distance of twelve miles, and then turns and enters King's River, a peculiar and almost unique course for a stream in the Sierra Nevada.' (Whitney, Geology, 374.)

'Just east of that camp [June 26, 1864] we climbed a steep hill, and came suddenly to a precipice. Beyond was a great basin, or valley, the head of which is an immense rocky amphitheater.... There is a little lake in this basin, about 1,600 feet below the brinks of the cliffs.' (Brewer, Up and Down, 522.)"
- Peter Browning, Place Names of the Sierra Nevada

More of Bob's Trip Reports

For more information see these SummitPost pages: Twin Peaks

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