title: Vennacher Needle
text: # Vennacher Needle
  
  Vennacher Needle is a 12,995-foot-elevation (3,961-meter) mountain summit located in Kings Canyon National Park, in Fresno County of northern California, United States. It is situated west of the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, and 1.4 miles (2.3 km) north of Mount Ruskin. Topographic relief is significant as the east aspect rises nearly 2,300 feet (700 meters) above the Upper Basin of South Fork Kings River in one mile. The John Muir Trail, which passes one mile to the east of this mountain, provides one possible approach option. This mountain's name has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names.
  
  ## Climate
  
  According to the Köppen climate classification system, Vennacher Needle is located in an alpine climate zone. 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 (orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the range. Precipitation runoff from this mountain drains into tributaries of the Kings River.
  
  ## Gallery
  
  * Vennacher Needle
  * Vennacher Needle seen from Split Mountain
  * Vennacher Needle from southwest
  