Olancha Peak, California, USA
Photo by Craig Adkins, 2001, used by permission. (fair use policy)
Olancha Peak is a great sentinel at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada. Its craggy east face and the steep but smooth western face give Olancha Peak a contrasting appearance. It's a strenuous climb with a fantastic view from its summit that includes Death Valley, Mount Whitney and huge tracts of California and Nevada. Bring along some of the local water, bottled under the Crystal Geyser label.
Olancha was named on the map by the Wheeler expedition in the early 1900s, although the name was around long before that. A tiny village, plus a creek and a pass, are also called Olancha. It may have been the name of a local tribe, although it's also reported to mean "sleeping beauty."
