Sierra Skyline from Central Valley
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 10:22 pm
I hesitated as to where to post this, please re-direct me if needed.
As a Fresno resident I covet the clear days when I can see deep into the range from the valley floor. I'm frankly surprised I haven't yet crashed my truck while studying the view when it's there with particular clarity.
I have a pretty good idea of what I'm looking at: Moving my eyes from north to south, I can make out Shuteye Ridge (and the Clark Range behind on a clearer day) the notch of the San Joaquin canyon, Kaiser ridge and peak rising from the San Joaquin to the south, Dinkey Wilderness high peaks (this is more of a guess based on my raised relief map) with the unmistakable Goddard rising behind (positive on that one). Further south it seems that you can see into the back of the Kings River drainage, this is probably the most dramatic to see on a clear day as those peaks rise in such dramatic fashion from Kings Canyon to the peaks above and behind. Further south I'm a little weaker, probably because I am less familiar with the Kings drainage compared to the San Joaquin. I believe the Kaweahs are visible down there, though.
So two questions come to mind:
I'm almost positive that Mammoth Mountain is visible up the San Joaquin "notch" on a clear day, I believe I saw it from 180 right after exiting 99 the other day. I found a local news article that claims it is visible, I just want to confirm that is indeed what I see. According to my raised relief map it pretty much has to be, and I have seen the unmistakable flat of the central valley many times from the top of Mammoth (I'd like to night hike that at some point on a clear night and see if the lights of Fresno are visible from the top).
My second question is does anyone know of a photo or sketch of the Sierra as seen from Fresno (or some other point in the valley) that identifies all of the peaks and ridges in view? Seems like someone must have put that together.
Thanks for any input you all have. In the mean time I will hope for many more winter storms with clear days to follow.
As a Fresno resident I covet the clear days when I can see deep into the range from the valley floor. I'm frankly surprised I haven't yet crashed my truck while studying the view when it's there with particular clarity.
I have a pretty good idea of what I'm looking at: Moving my eyes from north to south, I can make out Shuteye Ridge (and the Clark Range behind on a clearer day) the notch of the San Joaquin canyon, Kaiser ridge and peak rising from the San Joaquin to the south, Dinkey Wilderness high peaks (this is more of a guess based on my raised relief map) with the unmistakable Goddard rising behind (positive on that one). Further south it seems that you can see into the back of the Kings River drainage, this is probably the most dramatic to see on a clear day as those peaks rise in such dramatic fashion from Kings Canyon to the peaks above and behind. Further south I'm a little weaker, probably because I am less familiar with the Kings drainage compared to the San Joaquin. I believe the Kaweahs are visible down there, though.
So two questions come to mind:
I'm almost positive that Mammoth Mountain is visible up the San Joaquin "notch" on a clear day, I believe I saw it from 180 right after exiting 99 the other day. I found a local news article that claims it is visible, I just want to confirm that is indeed what I see. According to my raised relief map it pretty much has to be, and I have seen the unmistakable flat of the central valley many times from the top of Mammoth (I'd like to night hike that at some point on a clear night and see if the lights of Fresno are visible from the top).
My second question is does anyone know of a photo or sketch of the Sierra as seen from Fresno (or some other point in the valley) that identifies all of the peaks and ridges in view? Seems like someone must have put that together.
Thanks for any input you all have. In the mean time I will hope for many more winter storms with clear days to follow.