White Mountain Peak

Fri, Jul 19, 2002

With: Ron Burd

 Etymology Story Photos / Slideshow

White Mountain Peak (14,246 ft.)

"White Mountains [Mono Co.], were named for what was once called White Mountain Peak: 'White Mountain peak is named from the appearance of its summit which seems to be composed of this rock [dolomite], often mistaken for snow, and which is found in great quantities at its base.' (Hanks, Report, p. 178). Whitney believed in 1864 that snow actually had given the name to the mountain: 'There is a high peak called "White Mountain," which is doubtless 14,000 feet or more in elevation, as it has ... snow on its southern side, ... [which] never entirely disappears.' In 1917 the USGS transferred the name to Montgomery Peak."
- Erwin G. Gudde, Californian Place Names

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This page last updated: Thu Jun 12 10:49:42 2008
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