| Mount Ruskin | |
| Elevation Ft: | 12920 |
| Elevation Ref: | [1] |
| Prominence Ft: | 553 |
| Isolation Mi: | 1.40 |
| Isolation Ref: | [2] |
| Parent Peak: | Vennacher Needle (12,995 ft) |
| Etymology: | John Ruskin |
| Listing: | Sierra Peaks Section |
| Map: | California#USA |
| Map Size: | 250 |
| Label Position: | left |
| Location: | Kings Canyon National Park Fresno County California, U.S. |
| Range: | Sierra Nevada |
| Coordinates: | 36.9785°N -118.4734°W |
| Coordinates Ref: | [3] |
| Topo: | USGS Mount Pinchot |
| Rock: | granitic |
| First Ascent: | 1895 |
Mount Ruskin is a 12920feet mountain summit located in Kings Canyon National Park, in Fresno County of northern California, United States.[3] It is situated west of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, immediately east of Cartridge Pass, and south of Vennacher Needle, the nearest higher neighbor.[1] Topographic relief is significant as the south aspect rises over 3280abbr=offNaNabbr=off above South Fork Kings River in 1.5 mile.
The first ascent of the summit was made August 7, 1895, by Bolton Coit Brown via the northwest ridge from Cartridge Pass. The class 3 west slope was first climbed August 13, 1945, by Art Reyman.[4]
Mount Ruskin was named in 1895 by Professor Bolton Brown for John Ruskin (1819–1900), English writer and critic.[5] This mountain's name has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names.[3]
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Mount Ruskin is located in an alpine climate zone.[6] Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east toward the Sierra Nevada mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks, causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the range (orographic lift). Precipitation runoff from this mountain drains into tributaries of the Kings River.