- Pilot Peak (Nevada)
Infobox Mountain
Name = Pilot Peak
Photo = PilotPeakNV2.jpg
Caption = Pilot Peak, looking northwest from I-80
Location = Elko County,Nevada , USA
Elevation = convert|10720|ft|m [ cite web
url = http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/ds_mark.prl?PidBox=MT0738
title = NGS Data Sheet for PILOT PEAK
publisher =U.S. National Geodetic Survey
accessdate = 2008-04-04 ]
Range =Pilot Range
Coordinates = coord|41.0210370|-114.0777894|format=dms|region:US_type:mountain [GNIS|842815|Pilot Peakaccessdate|2008-04-04]
Prominence = convert|5726|ft|m|0 [ cite web
url = http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=3441
title = Pilot Peak, Nevada
publisher = Peakbagger.com
accessdate = 2008-04-04 ]
TopographicUSGS Pilot Peak
First ascent =
Easiest route =Pilot Peak is the highest point and the predominant mountain of the
Pilot Range , in far eastern Elko County,Nevada , in the westernUnited States . It rises over convert|6400|ft|m above theGreat Salt Lake Desert to the east, making it one of the largest mountains in terms of local relief in thecontiguous United States .Pilot Peak was named in 1845 for its use as an easily recognized landmark.
John C. Fremont saw the peak from the east during his third expedition, mapping theGreat Basin . Wondering whether his entire party could cross the desert, he sentKit Carson ahead to scout for water sources. Finding a perennial spring just east of the peak, Carson lit a large bonfire, the smoke from which signalled Fremont that the crossing was possible.In 1846 the
Donner Party also used the peak as a landmark for their crossing of theBonneville Salt Flats , part of theHastings Cutoff emigrant route. Running out of water, they had to temporarily abandon their wagons and oxen in order to reach the springs (now called Donner Springs) at the base of the peak. They eventually recovered their stock animals and most of their wagons, and continued their journey to theCalifornia Trail and the Sierra Nevada mountains.References
External links
* cite web
url = http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/153161/pilot-peak.html
title = Pilot Peak
publisher = SummitPost.org
accessdate = 2008-04-04
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