Is Marion Mountain "Wrong" on the USGS Topo?

I believe that the summit of Marion Mountain (10,362'/3158m) is "wrong" on the USGS topo map, or, more precisely, I believe that the spot elevation shown on the map is not the highest point of Marion Mountain.

Take a look at the below snippet of the USGS topographic map (San Jacinto Peak, 1:24,000).  Click to enlarge.

The spot elevation of 10,362' is positioned on the eastern portion of Marion Mountain's summit ridge.
The manually drawn in black dot is the approximate position of the actual highest point on Marion Mountain on the western portion of the summit ridge.

Note that the summit ridge of Marion Mountain has an east-west orientation and that the spot elevation is positioned on the eastern portion of the summit ridge.

Now look at this photo of Marion Mountain, taken from Folly Peak.  Note that the highest point appears to be on the western portion of the summit ridge.

Marion Mountain with directions indicated as shown

Now, have I got that right or is there some oddity in the camera angle or similar that might make the western end of the summit ridge of Marion Mountain look higher?  How can we verify where the high point is?

Well, fortunately, I've climbed Marion Mountain a couple of times.  The summit of Marion Mountain is quite obviously the highest point when you're standing atop it.

Summit bloc of Marion Mountain. 
Note climbing route arrows at bottom right of summit bloc.

Now, note also the arrows I've drawn in that indicate the standard climbing route (class three) by which one attains the summit.  One ascends the slab at the base of the summit bloc and then traverses right in the large diagonal crack as shown, gaining this large vertical crack by which the final summit is reached.

This vertical crack affords one a good class three route to the summit of Marion Mountain

These cracks (the traversing crack and the vertical crack) will allow us to identify the summit of Marion Mountain from a distance.  Here, for example, is a photo of the summit of Marion Mountain taken from the flanks of nearby Shirley Peak (10,388'/3166m).  I have drawn in arrows indicating the route.  Note a) the traversing crack and b) the vertical crack.

The summit of Marion Mountain.
Final ascent route shown in red.

On the very summit of Marion Mountain is the traditional summit register.  In that summit register are may signatures from Sierra Club Hundred Peaks Section (HPS) and Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit (RMRU) trips.

Summit register signatures from several RMRU members.

I believe that I have reasonably established that I have correctly identified the highest point on Marion Mountain because

1. I have personally climbed Marion Mountain.  The highest point is distinctive and is unmistakably higher than any other point on the summit ridge.
2. The highly distinctive summit cracks positively identify the high point.
3. The summit register is positioned on the point I identify as the highest point.
4. The HPS and RMRU accept the point I identify as the highest point.

So, we can clearly tell the highest point.

Now, let's return to the question of the first photograph of the ridge I displayed, taken from Folly Peak which lies to the north.  Does my first photo show the summit?  My camera has a 20X optical zoom with another 20X in electronic zoom.  Let's take a look at another photo shot from the vicinity of Folly Peak.  In the photo, we can see once again the distinctive crack system on the summit bloc. 

Zoom photo of summit bloc of Marion Mountain as seen from Folly Peak.
The distinctive cracks of Marion Mountain's summit are shown in red.

My photo does in fact show the highest point on Marion Mountain.

So, what have I established?

1. The spot elevation of 10,362' is NOT positioned on the highest point of Marion Mountain.
2. Marion Mountain's summit is on the western portion of the summit ridge.
3. Marion Mountain is clearly higher than 10,362'.

The last point above is interesting.  I've always said to myself when in the summit region of the San Jacintos, "Marion Mountain (10,362' on the map) sure looks higher than Shirley Peak (10,388')."  According to the map, only twenty six vertical feet separate the two.  If Marion Mountain is higher than the elevation indicated on the map (clearly it is), then Marion Mountain might well be taller than Shirley Peak.  I suspect that Marion Mountain is the higher of the two, but I lack the means to precisely establish the height of either peak.  At this juncture, I can only establish the three points listed above.  I leave it to others to determine the exact height of Marion Mountain.

HJ

Appendix -- Further Photos of Marion Mountain

San Jacinto High Country from the highest point of Marion Mountain.
It sure looks like Shirley Peak is lower than Marion Mountain.

Marion Mountain from the flanks of Shirley Peak.
Note that the highest point is the distinctive rock bloc and is on the western end of the summit ridge

Another photo of Marion Mountain from Shirley Peak. 
Note that you can make out the large vertical crack in the summit bloc.

Marion Mountain from Jean Peak.
Note crack system in summit bloc and that summit bloc is clearly on the western end of the summit ridge.

Part one of two parts.
Snow Creek from west of the summit of San Jacinto Peak.
Note large white dot down in the drainage to the left.

Part two of two parts.
Snow Creek from west of the summit of San Jacinto Peak.
The white dot happens to be a sizeable water tank.
My zoom really is good.

San Jacinto high country as seen from vicinity the summit of Folly Peak.
Note that the western portion of Marion Mountain is clearly higher that the eastern.

Marion Mountain from Folly Peak

Marion Mountain (horizon, slightly right of center) from Newton Drury Peak.
Clearly, the western portion is higher than the eastern.