Mount Tom

Mount Tom is a striking Sierra Nevada peak above Bishop in eastern California that, with Basin Mountain, dominates the western skyline of the upper Owens Valley. Its earliest recorded name, Winuba, came from the Owens Valley Paiute and meant “Standing Tall.” The present name honors Thomas Clark of Owensville, credited as the first white settler to reach the summit in the 1860s. Mount Tom and nearby Mount Morgan were also tied to the Pine Creek mining operation, a major tungsten source for much of the 20th century. Its nearly 10,000 feet of relief, demanding climbing routes, and notable ski descents have made it both prominent and hazardous.

California · United States