Fossil Mountain (Alberta)

Last updated
Fossil Mountain
Mount St. Bride.jpg
Fossil Mountain to left in front
Highest point
Elevation 2,946 m (9,665 ft) [1] [2] [3]
Prominence 471 m (1,545 ft) [4]
Parent peak Mount Richardson [4]
Listing Mountains of Alberta
Coordinates 51°30′11″N116°02′46″W / 51.5030555°N 116.0461111°W / 51.5030555; -116.0461111 [5]
Geography
Canada Alberta relief location map - transverse mercator proj.svg
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Fossil Mountain
Location in Alberta
Location Alberta, Canada
Parent range Slate Range
Topo map NTS 82N9 Hector Lake [5]
Climbing
First ascent 1906
Easiest route Easy scramble

Fossil Mountain is a mountain located south of Skoki Mountain in Banff National Park, Canada. The mountain was named in 1906 by M.P. Bridgland, of the first ascent party, after the numerous fossils that can be found on its slopes. [1] [4]

Contents

Fossil Mountain is the site of the first known skiing fatality in the Canadian Rockies. On April 7, 1933, Raymond Paley died in a slab avalanche when he attempted to ski down the mountain after skiing almost to the top. [1]

In February 1988, cousins Dan and Wayne Hugo (29 and 27 respectively) were hiking and skiing on Fossil Mountain when an avalanche, which they may have triggered, occurred. They both died. [6]

Routes

The scrambling route ascends easy scree slopes from Deception Pass. Due to these easy slopes, the mountain is sometimes ascended in winter by skiers. [2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Fossil Mountain". cdnrockiesdatabases.ca. Retrieved 2004-10-14.
  2. 1 2 Kane, Alan (1999). "Fossil Mountain". Scrambles in the Canadian Rockies . Calgary: Rocky Mountain Books. p. 253. ISBN   0-921102-67-4.
  3. Banff & Mt. Assiniboine (Map). Cochrane, AB: GemTrek Publishing Ltd. 1997. § 6606. ISBN   1-895526-04-3.
  4. 1 2 3 "Fossil Mountain". Bivouac.com. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
  5. 1 2 "Fossil Mountain". Geographical Names Data Base . Natural Resources Canada . Retrieved 2024-12-22.
  6. "Newspaper Archives p.2". newspaperarchive.com. Medicine Hat News. February 22, 1988. Retrieved 2019-03-04.