2012 Map of Mount Lyell

About this map

Mount Lyell and the Cathedral Range dominate this high-elevation landscape in Madera County, where the headwaters of the Merced River begin their descent. This 2012 survey documents the state of the Lyell Glacier and Maclure Glacier at the beginning of the twenty-first century, providing a baseline for the shrinking ice fields that feed the surrounding alpine basins. The terrain is defined by a network of drainage forks including the Lyell Fork Merced River and Triple Peak Fork, which carve through granite heights named for notable figures like the peak dedicated to Mount Ansel Adams. High-altitude routes and crossings are marked by Isberg Pass and Post Peak Pass, which historically served as vital points for trans-Sierran movement. Dozens of alpine water bodies, from Turner Lake to the secluded Isberg Lakes, dot the basins between jagged landmarks like the Cony Crags.