Mount Gakona

Last updated
Mount Gakona
Mount Gakona.jpg
Southwest aspect centered at top
Highest point
Elevation 9,865 ft (3,007 m) [1]
Prominence 2,313 ft (705 m) [1]
Parent peak Mount Kimball (10,300 ft) [2]
Isolation 7.73 mi (12.44 km) [2]
Coordinates 63°19′21″N145°10′51″W / 63.3225394°N 145.1807369°W / 63.3225394; -145.1807369 [3]
Geography
Relief map of USA Alaska.png
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Mount Gakona
Location in Alaska
CountryUnited States
State Alaska
Census Area Southeast Fairbanks [3]
Parent range Alaska Range
Delta Mountains [4]
Topo map USGS Mount Hayes B-3
Climbing
First ascent 1970 [5]

Mount Gakona is a 9,865-foot-elevation (3,007-meter) mountain summit in Alaska.

Contents

Description

Mount Gakona is located 22 miles (35 km) northeast of Paxson in the Delta Mountains which are a subrange of the Alaska Range. [3] The heavily glaciated mountain ranks as the fourth-highest peak in the Delta Mountains. [4] Precipitation runoff and glacial meltwater from the mountain's north slope drains to Johnson Glacier → Johnson River → Tanana River, whereas the south slope drains to the Gakona Glacier → Gakona RiverCopper River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 4,865 feet (1,483 meters) above the Johnson Glacier in 1.3 mile (2.1 km). The first ascent of the summit was made on March 24, 1980, by Daniel Osborne, Steve O'Brien, Mark Hottman, and Toby Wheeler. [6] The climbers reported that the mountain has two peaks separated one mile apart by a knife-edged ridge. The word "Gakona" /ɡəˈknə/ (Ggax Kuna' in Ahtna language) means "rabbit" or "rabbit river." [7] [8] The mountain's toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names. [9]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Mount Gakona is located in a tundra climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and cool summers. [10] Weather systems are forced upwards by the Delta Mountains (orographic lift), causing heavy precipitation in the form of rainfall and snowfall. Winter temperatures can drop below 0 °F with wind chill factors below −10 °F. This climate supports the Johnson Glacier, Gakona Glacier, and smaller unnamed glaciers surrounding the peak.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Forde (Fairweather Range)</span> Mountain on the United States-Canada border

Mount Forde, also known as Boundary Peak 161, is a 6,883-foot (2,098 m) mountain summit located in the Fairweather Range of the Saint Elias Mountains, on the Canada–United States border between southeast Alaska and British Columbia. The peak is situated on the boundary of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, near the head of Tarr Inlet, 109 mi (175 km) northwest of Juneau, and 4.4 mi (7 km) northeast of Mount Turner, which is the nearest higher peak. Although modest in elevation, relief is significant since the mountain rises up from tidewater in less than four miles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount La Perouse</span> Glaciated mountain summit in Alaska, US

Mount La Perouse is a 10,728-foot glaciated mountain summit located in the Fairweather Range of the Saint Elias Mountains, in southeast Alaska, United States. The peak is situated in Glacier Bay National Park, 4 mi (6 km) southeast of Mount Dagelet, 7.6 mi (12 km) south-southeast of Mount Crillon which is the nearest higher peak, and 28.6 mi (46 km) southeast of Mount Fairweather, which is the highest peak in the Fairweather Range. Topographic relief is significant as the mountain rises up from tidewater in less than nine miles. The mountain was named in 1874 by William Healey Dall of the U.S. Geological Survey, for Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse (1741–1788), a French navigator who explored this coastal area in 1786. The first ascent of the peak was made in 1953 by USGS party consisting of James Seitz, Karl Stauffer, Rowland Tabor, Rolland Reid, and Paul Bowen. On February 16, 2014, a colossal 68 million ton landslide broke free from the flanks of Mt. La Perouse and flowed nearly 4.6 miles from where it originated. The months May through June offer the most favorable weather for climbing and viewing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Bertha</span> Mountain in Alaska

Mount Bertha is a 10,204-foot glaciated mountain summit located in the Fairweather Range of the Saint Elias Mountains, in southeast Alaska, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Merriam</span> Mountain in Alaska

Mount Merriam is a prominent 5,083-foot (1,549-meter) mountain summit located in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, in the Alsek Ranges of the Saint Elias Mountains, in southeast Alaska. The mountain is situated 75 mi (121 km) northwest of Juneau, 3.1 mi (5 km) south of Mount Wordie, 3.5 mi (6 km) north of Black Cap Mountain, and 13.4 mi (22 km) southeast of Mount Abdallah which is the nearest higher peak. Although modest in elevation, relief is significant as the mountain rises up from tidewater in less than three miles, and it ranks 85th in prominence for all peaks in Alaska.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porphyry Mountain</span> Mountain in Alaska

Porphyry Mountain is a prominent 6,375-foot mountain summit located in the Wrangell Mountains, in the U.S. state of Alaska. The peak is situated in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, immediately southeast of Kennecott, 4 mi (6 km) northeast of McCarthy, and, 5 mi (8 km) northwest of Sourdough Peak. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the Nizina River, which in turn is part of the Copper River drainage basin. The peak is notable for a rock glacier on its north slope. The mountain was so named because it is largely composed of porphyry, which is a very hard igneous rock. The mountain's local name was reported in 1908 by the U.S. Geological Survey. On a clear day the summit of Porphyry Mountain offers views of Donoho Peak, Kennicott Glacier, and Mount Blackburn to the northwest, and Fireweed Mountain to the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Chitina</span> Mountain in Alaska

Mount Chitina is an 8,424-foot (2,568-meter) mountain summit located in the Saint Elias Mountains of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, in the U.S. state of Alaska. The remote peak is situated 113 mi (182 km) northwest of Yakutat, and 40 mi (64 km) northwest of Mount Logan. Mount Chitina rises 5,000+ ft above the confluence of the Chitina Glacier and the Logan Glacier. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into the Chitina River, which in turn is part of the Copper River drainage basin. The first ascent of the peak was made September 24, 1988, by Danny Kost and Donnie Hunton via the west ridge. The mountain's name is derived from the Chitina Glacier located at the base of the north slope, and was first published on a Canadian topographic map in 1958.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Carmack</span> Mountain in Alaska, United States

Mount Carmack is a prominent 6,808-foot-elevation (2,075-meter) mountain summit located in the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains, in the U.S. state of Alaska. The peak is situated 7 mi (11 km) north-northeast of Skagway, and 3.5 mi (6 km) south of Mount Cleveland, on land managed by Tongass National Forest. As the highpoint on the divide between the Taiya River and the Skagway River, precipitation runoff from the mountain drains east into the Skagway River and west into Taiya River, both of which empty into Taiya Inlet. Although modest in elevation, relief is significant since Mount Carmack rises 6,800 feet above the Taiya valley in less than 2 mi (3 km), and 5,800 feet above Skagway valley in about 2 miles. Mount Carmack has a lower subsidiary summit, elevation 6,621 ft (2,020 m), about 0.5 mi (1 km) to the northeast of the true summit. The USGS map has this lower northeast peak labelled as Mount Carmack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otter Mountain</span> Mountain in British Columbia, Canada

Otter Mountain is a prominent 2,693-metre (8,835-foot) glaciated summit located in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, Canada. It is situated 16 kilometers northeast of Stewart, British Columbia, and the nearest higher peak is Mount Pattullo, 25.4 km (15.8 mi) to the north. Otter ranks as the 23rd most topographically prominent summit of Canada. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 2,380 meters above Bitter Creek Valley in 5 kilometers. This mountain's toponym was adopted as "Mount Otter" on 24 July 1945, and officially renamed Otter Mountain on 5 November 1953 by the Geographical Names Board of Canada. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains west into Bitter Creek which is a tributary of the Bear River, or east to Nelson Creek which is part of the Nass River drainage basin, and all ultimately finds its way to the Inside Passage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Grant (Montana)</span> Mountain in the American state of Montana

Mount Grant is an 8,590-foot-elevation (2,618 meter) mountain summit located in Flathead County in the U.S. state of Montana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chiefs Head Peak</span>

Chiefs Head Peak is a 13,577-foot-elevation (4,138-meter) mountain summit in Boulder County, Colorado, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McHenrys Peak</span> Mountain in the state of Colorado

McHenrys Peak is a 13,327-foot-elevation (4,062-meter) mountain summit on the boundary shared by Grand County and Larimer County in Colorado, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pagoda Mountain</span> Mountains in United States

Pagoda Mountain is a 13,497-foot-elevation (4,114-meter) mountain summit in Boulder County, Colorado, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Kiev</span>

Mount Kiev is a 7,775-foot-elevation (2,370-meter) mountain summit located in Alaska, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Remote Mountain</span>

Remote Mountain is a 3,038-metre (9,967-foot) summit located in British Columbia, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Shouplina</span>

Mount Shouplina is an 8,531-foot-elevation (2,600-meter) mountain summit located 18 miles (29 km) north-northwest of Valdez in the U.S. state of Alaska. This remote glaciated mountain is set in the Chugach Mountains on land managed by Chugach National Forest. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains south to Prince William Sound and north to Tazlina Lake → Tazlina River → Copper River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 2,100 feet (640 m) above the East Branch Columbia Glacier in 0.4 mile (0.64 km). The first ascent of the summit was made in 1985 by John Weiland, Matt Kinney, and Bob Shelton. The mountain was named in 1959 by mountaineer Lawrence E. Nielsen and the toponym was officially adopted in 1965 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. The word "Shouplina" is a portmanteau blending the names of the Shoup Glacier and Tazlina Glacier which flow from this mountain's south and north slopes respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tazcol Peak</span>

Tazcol Peak is a 7,850-foot-elevation (2,393-meter) mountain summit located 18 miles (29 km) north-northwest of Valdez in the U.S. state of Alaska. This remote glaciated mountain is set in the Chugach Mountains on land managed by Chugach National Forest. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains south to Prince William Sound and north to Tazlina Lake → Tazlina River → Copper River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 4,350 feet (1,326 m) above the East Branch of the Columbia Glacier in 1.4 mile (2.25 km). The peak's name was applied in 1959 by mountaineer and glaciologist Lawrence E. Nielsen (1917–1992), and the toponym was officially adopted in 1965 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. The word "Tazcol" is a portmanteau blending the names of the Tazlina Glacier and Columbia Glacier which flow from this mountain's north and south slopes respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Allen (Alaska)</span>

Mount Allen is a 9,512-foot-elevation (2,899-meter) mountain summit in Alaska, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Icy Peak (Alaska)</span> Summit in Alaska, United States

Icy Peak is a 4,550-foot-elevation (1,390-meter) mountain summit in Alaska, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Stepo</span>

Mount Stepo is a 3,828-foot-elevation (1,167-meter) mountain summit in Alaska.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telaquana Mountain</span>

Telaquana Mountain is an 8,070-foot-elevation (2,460-meter) mountain summit in Alaska.

References

  1. 1 2 "Mount Gakona, Peakvisor.com" . Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  2. 1 2 "Gakona, Mount - 9,850' AK". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  3. 1 2 3 "Mount Gakona". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  4. 1 2 "Mount Gakona, Alaska". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  5. Franz Mueter, Club History, Alaskaalpineclub.com, Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  6. Daniel Osborne, North America, United States, Alaska, Mount Gakona, Eastern Alaska Range, 1971, publications.americanalpineclub.org, Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  7. University of Alaska Fairbanks: Alaska Native Place Names, Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  8. Sandy Nestor, Indian Placenames in America, Volume 1, McFarland, 2015, ISBN   9780786493395, p. 11.
  9. Donald J. Orth, Dictionary of Alaska Place Names, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1967, page 358.
  10. Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11. ISSN   1027-5606.