James S. Hutchinson
Encyclopedia
James Sather Hutchinson was a lawyer in San Francisco
, California
, a mountaineer
and an environmentalist
. He was most noted for being an explorer of the Sierra Nevada.
Born in San Francisco, Hutchinson attended the University of California, Berkeley
and then transferred to Harvard University
where he received an A.B. degree in 1897. He attended the Hastings College of Law and received his LL.B. in 1899.
Along with Joseph N. LeConte and Duncan McDuffie
, he pioneered a high mountain route in 1908 from Yosemite National Park
to Kings Canyon, roughly along the route of the modern John Muir Trail
. In 28 days, they completed a trip of 228 miles through the high mountains, including several previously unexplored sections. In 1920, he led an expedition from the Giant Forest
to the Roaring River country, including the first trip over Colby Pass.
His first ascents included Mount Sill
and North Palisade
in 1903, Mount Humphreys
in 1904, Mount Mills and Mount Abbot
in 1908 and Black Kaweah
in 1920. Of remote Black Kaweah on the Great Western Divide
which he climbed at age 52, Stephenson wrote, "The way those ragged rocks were broken, splintered, massed and piled together, helter-skelter, would have rejoiced the heart of a cubist artist. Again and again, I was reminded of The Nude Descending the Stairs
."
California mountaineering historian Steve Roper
called Stephenson a "prominent figure in the history of Sierra mountaineering" and that "he compiled the most enviable first-ascent record any Sierra climber will ever have."
Hutchinson became a charter member of the Sierra Club
as a college student, and was active in the Club throughout his life, including serving as a director from 1903 through 1908. He served as editor of the Sierra Club Bulletin in 1903 - 1904 and also in 1925.
An avid participant in cross country skiing and snow-shoeing, he established the Sierra Ski Club in the early 1920s with his brother Lincoln Hutchinson and William Colby
, Joseph N. LeConte, Duncan McDuffie
and others. They built a lodge at Norden
near Donner Pass
, which that small club used for nearly 30 years. In 1955, its members all elderly, the Sierra Ski Club was disbanded, and its lodge and land holdings were donated to the Sierra Club. The lodge was renamed Hutchinson Lodge after the brothers, and is still in operation as of 2010.
His career as an attorney in San Francisco lasted 60 years, and he appeared in court on his 90th birthday.
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, a mountaineer
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
and an environmentalist
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
. He was most noted for being an explorer of the Sierra Nevada.
Born in San Francisco, Hutchinson attended the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
and then transferred to Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
where he received an A.B. degree in 1897. He attended the Hastings College of Law and received his LL.B. in 1899.
Along with Joseph N. LeConte and Duncan McDuffie
Duncan McDuffie
Duncan McDuffie was a real estate developer, conservationist, and mountaineer based in Berkeley, California, USA.-Visionary developer:...
, he pioneered a high mountain route in 1908 from Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is a United States National Park spanning eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in east central California, United States. The park covers an area of and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain...
to Kings Canyon, roughly along the route of the modern John Muir Trail
John Muir Trail
The John Muir Trail is a long-distance trail in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California, running between the northern terminus at Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley and the southern terminus located on the summit of Mount Whitney . For almost all of its length, the trail is in the High Sierra...
. In 28 days, they completed a trip of 228 miles through the high mountains, including several previously unexplored sections. In 1920, he led an expedition from the Giant Forest
Giant Forest
The Giant Forest, famed for its giant sequoia trees, is within Sequoia National Park. This montane forest, situated at over above mean sea level in the western Sierra Nevada of California, covers an area of...
to the Roaring River country, including the first trip over Colby Pass.
His first ascents included Mount Sill
Mount Sill
Mount Sill is one of the fourteeners of the Sierra Nevada in California. It is located in the Palisades, a group of striking rock peaks with a few small glaciers on their flanks. Mount Sill is located 0.6 miles east of North Palisade, the high point of the group. The two peaks are connected by a...
and North Palisade
North Palisade
North Palisade is the third highest mountain in the Sierra Nevada range of California. It is the highest peak of the Palisades group of peaks in the central part of the range. It sports a small glacier and several highly prized rock climbing routes on its northeast side.- History :North Palisade...
in 1903, Mount Humphreys
Mount Humphreys
Mount Humphreys is a mountain peak in the Sierra Nevada on the Fresno-Inyo county line in the U.S. state of California. It is the highest peak in the Bishop area. The mountain was named by the California Geological Survey of 1873 for Andrew A...
in 1904, Mount Mills and Mount Abbot
Mount Abbot
Mount Abbot is a mountain in California's Sierra Nevada, in John Muir Wilderness.It is located between Mount Mills and Mount Dade along the Sierra Crest and straddles the border between Fresno and Inyo counties....
in 1908 and Black Kaweah
Black Kaweah
Black Kaweah is a mountain of the Kaweah Peaks Ridge of the California's Sierra Nevada, in Sequoia National Park. The peak has a local magnetic disturbance that has caused compasses in the vicinity to vary by up to eight degrees....
in 1920. Of remote Black Kaweah on the Great Western Divide
Great Western Divide
The Great Western Divide is a Sierra Nevada mountain range that forms part of the border between the Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. The High Sierra Trail crosses the range at Kaweah Gap from Sequoia National Park.- References :...
which he climbed at age 52, Stephenson wrote, "The way those ragged rocks were broken, splintered, massed and piled together, helter-skelter, would have rejoiced the heart of a cubist artist. Again and again, I was reminded of The Nude Descending the Stairs
Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2
-External links:* at the Philadelphia Museum of Art* from Life magazine...
."
California mountaineering historian Steve Roper
Steve Roper
Steve Roper is a noted climber and historian of the Sierra Nevada in the United States. He along with Allen Steck are the founding editors of the Sierra Club journal Ascent.Roper is the winner of the Sierra Club's Francis P...
called Stephenson a "prominent figure in the history of Sierra mountaineering" and that "he compiled the most enviable first-ascent record any Sierra climber will ever have."
Hutchinson became a charter member of the Sierra Club
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
as a college student, and was active in the Club throughout his life, including serving as a director from 1903 through 1908. He served as editor of the Sierra Club Bulletin in 1903 - 1904 and also in 1925.
An avid participant in cross country skiing and snow-shoeing, he established the Sierra Ski Club in the early 1920s with his brother Lincoln Hutchinson and William Colby
William Edward Colby
right|225pxWilliam Edward Colby was an American lawyer, conservationist, and first Secretary of the Sierra Club.-Early life and education:...
, Joseph N. LeConte, Duncan McDuffie
Duncan McDuffie
Duncan McDuffie was a real estate developer, conservationist, and mountaineer based in Berkeley, California, USA.-Visionary developer:...
and others. They built a lodge at Norden
Norden, California
Norden is a small unincorporated community in Nevada County, California, United States, about west of Truckee. The community is located on a former portion of U.S...
near Donner Pass
Donner Pass
Donner Pass is a mountain pass in the northern Sierra Nevada, located above Donner Lake about nine miles west of Truckee, California. It has a steep approach from the east and a gradual approach from the west....
, which that small club used for nearly 30 years. In 1955, its members all elderly, the Sierra Ski Club was disbanded, and its lodge and land holdings were donated to the Sierra Club. The lodge was renamed Hutchinson Lodge after the brothers, and is still in operation as of 2010.
His career as an attorney in San Francisco lasted 60 years, and he appeared in court on his 90th birthday.