The Thumb (California)
| The Thumb | |
|---|---|
| East Palisade | |
The Thumb centered, west aspect | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 13,356 ft (4,071 m) |
| Prominence | 594 ft (181 m) |
| Parent peak | Ed Lane Peak (13,577 ft) |
| Isolation | 0.93 mi (1.50 km) |
| Listing | Sierra Peaks Section |
| Coordinates | 37°04′17″N 118°26′46″W / 37.0714800°N 118.4459775°W |
| Geography | |
| Location | Inyo County, California, U.S. |
| Parent range | Sierra Nevada Palisades |
| Topo map | USGS Split Mountain |
| Geology | |
| Rock age | Cretaceous |
| Mountain type | Fault block |
| Rock type | granitic |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1921 |
| Easiest route | class 2 Southeast slope |
The Thumb is a 13,356-foot-elevation (4,071-meter) mountain summit located on the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Inyo County of northern California. It is situated in the Palisades area of the John Muir Wilderness, on land managed by Inyo National Forest. It is 1.3 miles (2.1 km) east of Middle Palisade, 1.6 miles (2.6 km) west-northwest of Birch Mountain, and 1.8 miles (2.9 km) north of Mount Bolton Brown. The Thumb ranks as the 83rd-highest summit in California. Topographic relief is significant as the east aspect rises over 2,500 feet (760 meters) above Birch Lake in approximately one mile. The John Muir Trail traverses below the southwest aspect of the mountain, providing an optional approach access.