Nicholas Clinch

Nicholas Bayard Clinch III (9 November 1930, Evanston, Illinois – 15 June 2016, California) was an American mountain climber, lawyer, author and environmentalist. Clinch Peak, in Antarctica, was named for him in 2006.

Education and personal life The son of Virginia Lee Clinch and Nicholas Bayard Clinch Jr., a colonel in the U.S. Air Force, He followed his father into the Air Force, but due to his asthma and poor eyesight, was unable to qualify as a pilot. Instead, he worked as legal consul at the American bases in Iceland and Long Beach. He has one younger sister, also named Virginia Lee. He married Elizabeth ("Betsy") Wallace Campbell in 1964. He was a member of the American-Pakistani team which made the first ascent of Masherbrum, the world's 22nd tallest peak, in 1960. He led the 10-man 1966–67 American Antarctic Mountaineering Expedition that made the first ascent of Mount Vinson, the summit of Antarctica, and other high mountains in the Sentinel Range. He also made the first ascent of Tibet's Ulugh Muztagh, in 1985. In addition to Antarctica, Pakistan and Tibet, he made numerous ascents and expeditions in the United States, British Columbia, Peru and China.

Legal career Clinch was trustee and then executive director of the Sierra Club Foundation from 1970 to 1981

Awards and recognition In 1967, National Geographic awarded Clinch their La Gorce Medal for his Antarctic ascent.

Clinch Peak, located at southeast of Antarctica's tallest peak, Mount Vinson, was named for Clinch in 2006.