Matthes Crest, Mountain arête in Yosemite National Park, United States

Matthes Crest is a mile-long granite fin that rises to about 10,923 feet in the Sierra Nevada and features two summits divided by a deep central notch. The narrow ridge offers dramatic views and presents serious challenges to climbers attempting the traverse.

The first documented ascent took place on June 16, 1931, when Jules Eichorn, Glen Dawson, and Walter Brem reached the summit. This early climb established the crest as a classic technical climbing destination in the region.

Matthes Crest was first named Echo Ridge for its proximity to the Echo Peaks. It now honors François E. Matthes, a cartographer and author who described the geology of the region where the crest lies. The name shift reflects his written work on Sierra Nevada geology.

The crest is reached from Tuolumne Meadows; the popular route traverses the ridge from south to north, the direction of the 1931 first ascent. The rock is exposed and the ridge narrow, so parties need technical climbing experience and settled weather. The formation lies within the Yosemite Wilderness, in the Cathedral Range of the Sierra Nevada.

Before it was called Matthes Crest, the fin appeared on maps as Echo Ridge, a name taken from the nearby Echo Peaks. The crest itself is roughly a mile long and carries two summits split by a deep notch, so climbers crossing it drop into and climb back out of the gap.