Mount Spencer

Mount Spencer is a mountain summit within Kings Canyon National Park in the Sierra Nevada range, rising to approximately 12,431 feet in elevation. From the top, views extend across Evolution Basin and toward the surrounding peaks of the mountain range.

The first recorded ascent took place on August 20, 1921, when Robert Prince, George Young, H.W. Hill, and Peter Frandsen reached the summit. This early exploration was part of mapping and studying the remote peaks of the Sierra Nevada.

The mountain takes its name from Herbert Spencer, an English philosopher whose theories about evolution circulated before Darwin made his work public. This naming reflects how 19th-century thinkers were honored through the peaks of this range.

Visitors require wilderness permits from the White Mountain Ranger Station in Bishop for eastern approaches or from Sierra National Forest for western routes. Access depends on the season, as snow and mountain conditions affect which trails are passable.

The summit is part of a special group of neighboring peaks named after major scientists, including Darwin, Mendel, Fiske, Haeckel, Huxley, Wallace, and Lamarck. This naming scheme turns the region into a tribute to the natural scientists of the 19th century.