Cirrus Mountain | |
---|---|
Highest point | |
Elevation | 3,270 m (10,730 ft) [1] |
Prominence | 890 m (2,920 ft) [1] |
Parent peak | Mount Stewart (3,312 m) [1] |
Isolation | 5.92 km (3.68 mi) [2] |
Listing | Mountains of Alberta |
Coordinates | 52°10′10″N116°58′38″W / 52.16944°N 116.97722°W [3] |
Geography | |
Location | Alberta, Canada |
Protected area | Banff National Park White Goat Wilderness Area |
Parent range | Canadian Rockies |
Topo map | NTS 83C2 Cline River [3] |
Geology | |
Rock type | Sedimentary |
Climbing | |
First ascent | 1939 C.B. Sissons, H.J. Sissons [4] |
Easiest route | technical climb |
Cirrus Mountain is a 3,270-metre (10,730-foot) mountain summit located in the upper North Saskatchewan River valley on the shared boundary between Banff National Park and White Goat Wilderness Area, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Cirrus Mountain is situated along the east side the Icefields Parkway midway between Saskatchewan Crossing and Sunwapta Pass. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,740 meters (5,708 ft) above the parkway in 3 km (1.9 mi). The nearest higher peak is Mount Stewart, 5.92 km (3.68 mi) to the north-northeast. [2]
In 1928, Morrison P. Bridgland suggested the name Mount Huntington for the mountain, but it was not adopted. [4] However, the Huntington name endures as the name of the Huntington Glacier below the eastern aspect of the summit. The mountain was instead named Cirrus Mountain, and that toponym was officially adopted in 1935 by the Geographical Names Board of Canada. [3] The first ascent of the mountain was accomplished in 1939 by C.B. Sissons and H.J. Sissons. [4]
Like other mountains in Banff Park, Cirrus Mountain is composed of sedimentary rock laid down from the Precambrian to Jurassic periods. [5] Formed in shallow seas, this sedimentary rock was pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny. [6] The east aspect of Cirrus Mountain is covered by expansive glacial ice known as the Huntington Glacier.
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Cirrus Mountain is located in a subarctic climate with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers. [7] Winter temperatures can drop below -20 °C with wind chill factors below -30 °C. Weather conditions during winter make the Weeping Wall at the base of Cirrus Mountain's west face the premier place for ice climbing in the Canadian Rockies. Precipitation runoff from Cirrus Mountain drains into tributaries of the North Saskatchewan River.
Ice Climbing Routes with grades on Cirrus Mountain
Mount Saskatchewan is a mountain located in the North Saskatchewan River valley of Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada.
Howse Peak is the highest mountain in the Waputik Mountains, a subrange of the Canadian Rockies. It is located 5 km (3 mi) west of the Icefields Parkway, above Chephren Lake, on the continental divide between Alberta and British Columbia. At 3,295 m (10,810 ft), it is the 46th highest peak in Alberta, and the 59th highest in British Columbia.
Observation Peak is a 3,174-metre (10,413-foot) mountain summit located in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. The mountain can be seen from the Icefields Parkway near the Bow Summit.
Mount Coleman is a 3,135-metre (10,285 ft) mountain summit located in the upper North Saskatchewan River valley in Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Its nearest higher peak is Cirrus Mountain, 4.46 km (2.77 mi) to the north. Mount Coleman is situated along the east side the Icefields Parkway midway between Saskatchewan Crossing and Sunwapta Pass.
Mount Wilson is a 3,260-metre (10,696 ft) mountain summit located in the North Saskatchewan River valley of Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Its nearest higher peak is Mount Cline, 9.81 km (6.10 mi) to the northeast. Mount Wilson is situated immediately north of the confluence of the North Saskatchewan River, Mistaya River, and Howse River near Saskatchewan Crossing, where the Icefields Parkway intersects with the David Thompson Highway.
Mount Murchison is a 3,348-metre (10,984 ft) mountain summit located at the convergence of the North Saskatchewan River valley and Mistaya River valley of Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. The main summit has two high points: the Southeast Peak is 3,348 m, whereas the Northwest Peak is 3,333 m and separated by 700 m distance. Its nearest higher peak is Mount Cline, 15.71 km (9.76 mi) to the north. Mount Murchison is situated immediately southeast of the confluence of the North Saskatchewan River, Mistaya River, and Howse River near Saskatchewan Crossing, where the Icefields Parkway intersects with the David Thompson Highway.
Nigel Peak is a 3,211-metre (10,535-foot) mountain summit located on the shared border of Banff National Park and Jasper National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Nigel has two peaks, the north summit is the highest point. The nearest higher peak is Mount Athabasca, 6.4 km (4.0 mi) to the south-southwest. Nigel Peak is situated immediately north of Sunwapta Pass and can be seen from the Icefields Parkway and from Athabasca Glacier. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,100 metres (3,609 ft) above the parkway in two kilometres (1.2 mile).
Mount Thompson is a 3,089-metre (10,135-foot) mountain summit located four kilometres west of Bow Lake in Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Its nearest higher peak is Mount Baker, 5.0 km (3.1 mi) to the west. Mount Thompson is situated east of the Wapta Icefield, and is a member of the Waputik Mountains. Mount Thompson can be seen from the Icefields Parkway at Bow Lake.
Tangle Ridge is a 3,001-metre (9,846 ft) mountain summit located in Jasper National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Tangle Ridge is situated south of Beauty Creek and north of Tangle Creek, in the Sunwapta River valley. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,200 metres (3,937 ft) above Beauty Creek in 2 km (1.2 mi). Views from the top of Tangle Ridge provide photographers with an opportunity to capture the peaks surrounding the Columbia Icefield, some of which, such as Mount Columbia and Mount Alberta, are otherwise hidden from view along the Icefields Parkway.
Dolomite Peak is a 2,998-metre (9,836-foot) mountain summit located in the Bow River valley of Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Its nearest higher peak is Cirque Peak, 3.98 km (2.47 mi) to the northwest. Dolomite Peak can be seen from the Icefields Parkway with its distinctive crags and colorful towers that are a mixture of dolomite and limestone. Dolomite is rare in the Rockies and is stronger than limestone.
Bow Peak is a 2,840-metre (9,320-foot) mountain summit located in the Bow River valley of Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Its nearest higher peak is Crowfoot Mountain, 2.11 km (1.31 mi) to the east. Bow Peak is situated north of Hector Lake, southeast of Bow Lake, and can be seen from the Icefields Parkway. Although not of remarkable elevation, the mountain is a conspicuous landmark and visible from as far away as the Lake Louise area. Its position in the Waputik Mountains provides magnificent views from the summit.
Mount Andromache is a 3,033-metre (9,951-foot) mountain summit located in the Bow River valley of Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. The nearest higher neighbor is Mount Hector, 4.00 km (2.49 mi) to the south. Mount Andromache can be seen from the Icefields Parkway as the road traverses the western base of the peak. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,180 m (3,870 ft) above the parkway in 1.5 km (0.93 mi). The Molar Glacier is situated on the northeast aspect of the mountain. Precipitation runoff from Mount Andromache drains into tributaries of the Bow River.
White Pyramid is a 3,219-metre (10,561 ft) mountain summit located between the Howse River valley and Mistaya River valley of Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Its nearest higher peak is Howse Peak, 3.00 km (1.86 mi) to the south. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,460 meters (4,790 ft) above Chephren Lake in 2.5 km. White Pyramid is visible from the Icefields Parkway in the vicinity of Waterfowl Lakes.
Mount Outram is a 3,245-metre (10,646-foot) mountain summit located in the Howse River Valley of Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Its nearest higher peak is Mount Forbes, 4.37 km (2.72 mi) to the southwest. Glacier Lake is situated 4.0 km (2.5 mi) to the north, and the Sir James Glacier lies below the south aspect of the peak. Mount Outram can be seen from the Icefields Parkway southwest of Saskatchewan Crossing, with optimum photography conditions in morning light.
Hilda Peak is a 3,058-metre (10,033-foot) mountain summit located at the northern extreme of Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. The nearest higher peak is Mount Athabasca, 2.0 km (1.2 mi) to the southwest. Hilda Peak is situated south of Sunwapta Pass and can be prominently seen from the Icefields Parkway. The Hilda Glacier lies to the south side of the peak, and the Boundary Glacier lies to the west.
Portal Peak is a 2,926-metre (9,600-foot) mountain summit located four kilometers west of Bow Lake in Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Its nearest higher peak is Mount Thompson, 1.0 km (0.62 mi) to the northwest. Portal Peak is situated east of the Wapta Icefield, and is a member of the Waputik Mountains. Portal Peak can be seen from the Icefields Parkway at Bow Lake.
Pulpit Peak is a 2,720-metre (8,920-foot) mountain summit located one km south of Hector Lake in Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Its nearest higher peak is Lilliput Mountain, 3.6 km (2.2 mi) to the southwest. Pulpit Peak is situated east of the Waputik Icefield, and is a member of the Waputik Mountains. Pulpit Peak can be seen from the Icefields Parkway towering 900 metres (2,950 ft) above Hector Lake.
Parker Ridge is a 2,255-metre (7,398-foot) mountain ridge located in the upper North Saskatchewan River valley in Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Its nearest higher peak is Mount Athabasca, 7.7 km (4.8 mi) to the west. Parker Ridge is situated along the west side of the Icefields Parkway and southeast of Sunwapta Pass. Parker Ridge is a ski-touring destination in the winter and popular hiking destination in the summer because it is situated beside the Icefields Parkway allowing easy access, and is nearly entirely above treeline allowing good views of the surrounding mountain landscape. A 2.2 km (1.4 mi) trail gains 275 metres (900 ft) of elevation from the highway to the top of the ridge. Wandering east or west along the ridge provides views of Cirrus Mountain, the north face of Mount Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Glacier, Mount Athabasca, Hilda Peak, and Nigel Peak among others.
Big Bend Peak is a 2,804-metre (9,199-foot) mountain summit located in the upper North Saskatchewan River valley in Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Its nearest higher peak is Mount Saskatchewan, 5.5 km (3.4 mi) to the south. Big Bend Peak is situated on the west side of the Icefields Parkway four kilometres southwest of the "big bend" in the road, hence the peak's name origin.
Survey Peak is a 2,667-metre (8,750-foot) mountain summit in Alberta, Canada.