Alpine County Points of Interest

Point of Historic Interest: Reynolds Peak 5 November 2012
(Click Photos to Zoom)
Reynolds Peak
State Route 4
Near Ebbetts Pass
Toiyabe National Forest

The plaque reads:

Reynolds Peak
Elevation 9300 Feet

Named in memory of
G. Elmer Reynolds
Stockton California
Conservationist and lover of nature

October 1929

Reynolds Peak is a prominent peak in the Mokelumne Wilderness which straddles the Pacific Crest between State Route 4 (Ebbetts Pass) and State Route 88 (Carson Pass).

The 105,165 acre wilderness takes in portions of the Toiyabe, Stanislaus, and El Dorado National Forests, and lies in the mid-Sierra region between Lake Tahoe to the north and the High Sierra to the south. The peak lies on the Sierra Crest, about four miles north of Ebbetts Pass.

Like most of the peaks in the region, Reynolds Peak is composed of dark volcanic rock. Millions of years ago, volcanic activity covered much of the region in layers of lava, ash, and mudfloes. Over time, erosion and glacial activity removed much of the covering layers from all but the more prominent peaks and ridges.

Reynolds Peak is the remains of one of these active composite volcanoes.

The resulting geology left some impressive peaks, most of which have poor rock-climbing qualities. Because of the poor adhesion in the metamorphosed rocks, protection is difficult and generally unsafe. There is little rock climbing in the region.

Source: summitpost.org

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