Relief Peak
Molo Mountain
Kennedy Peak

Wed, Aug 10, 2011 		Etymology
Relief Peak
Kennedy Peak
 Story Photos / Slideshow Maps: 1 2 GPX Profile

Relief Peak (10,808 ft.)

Named by Wheeler Survey in 1878

Also Upper Relief Valley, Lower Relief Valley, Creek, Reservoir

"This seeming complexity and profusion of names arises only because the named features cluster around the spot where four quadrangles have a common corner. The name 'Relief Valley' comes from an episode in 1852 when a party of emigrants were caught in an early snowstorm on the east side of the mountains. They abandoned their wagons, crossed the summit on foot to a sheltered spot on the west side, and sent some of their number for help. (Historic Spots, 566.)

'This valley takes its very appropriate name from the fact that it was here that relief was brought to the emigrants in their almost starving condition, from the generous-hearted citizens of Sonora and Columbia.' (Hutchings, Illustrated 2, May 1858: 494.)

'Relief Valley' is on Goddard's Map of Sonora Pass, 1853. Apparently this was what is now the site of 'Relief Reservoir.' It was called 'Lower Relief Valley' on the 1883 GLO plat and in the field notes of the surveyor. The creek was called 'Relief Valley Creek' in those same documents. The peak, creek, and 'Relief Valley' are on the Wheeler Survey atlas sheet 56D, 1878-79. The present array of names came into being on the four 15-minute quads in 1956."
- Peter Browning, Place Names of the Sierra Nevada

References to can also be found in these files:
    • More of Bob's Trip Reports

    For more information see these SummitPost pages: Relief Peak - Molo Mountain - Kennedy Peak

    This page last updated: Sat Apr 7 17:02:15 2007
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