Birch Mountain, or Paokrung (Northern Paiute for "Mountain of Stone"[4]), is one of the fifty highest peaks of California. Of the major peaks of the Palisades, it stands farthest from the Sierra Crest.
| Birch Mountain | |
|---|---|
 Birch Mountain's east side from route 395, May 2009. | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 13,608 ft (4,148 m) NAVD 88[1] |
| Prominence | 938 ft (286 m)[1] |
| Listing |
|
| Coordinates | 37°03′46″N 118°25′07″W / 37.0627115°N 118.4187135°W[4] |
| Geography | |
  Birch Mountain  Birch Mountain | |
| Location | Inyo County, California, U.S. |
| Parent range | Sierra Nevada |
| Topo map | USGS Split Mountain |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1887 by J.W. Bledsoe[5] |
| Easiest route | Scramble by southwest ridge or south slope, class 2[5] |
Judging by its few summit register entries, it is climbed far less than its nearby fourteener neighbors on the crest.[6]But its placement on the Sierra Peaks Section list[2] adds to its appeal to peak baggers, and its low technical demand makes it a rewarding ski mountaineering destination.[7]
See also
