Mount Smuts

Last updated
Mount Smuts
Mount Smuts West Aspect.jpg
West aspect of Mount Smuts
Highest point
Elevation 2,938 m (9,639 ft) [1]
Prominence 591 m (1,939 ft) [1]
Parent peak Mount Birdwood (3,097 m) [1]
Isolation 2.8 km (1.7 mi) [2]
Listing Mountains of Alberta
Coordinates 50°48′28″N115°23′13″W / 50.80778°N 115.38694°W / 50.80778; -115.38694 [3]
Geography
Canada Alberta relief location map - transverse mercator proj.svg
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Mount Smuts
Location in Alberta
Canada relief map 2.svg
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Mount Smuts
Mount Smuts (Canada)
Mount Smuts
Interactive map of Mount Smuts
Location Alberta, Canada
Parent range Spray Mountains
Canadian Rockies
Topo map NTS   82J14 Spray Lakes Reservoir [3]
Geology
Rock age Cambrian
Rock type Limestone
Climbing
First ascent 1926 M. Crosby, M. Kennard, H. S. Crosby, C. A. Willard, Rudolph Aemmer [1]
Easiest route Scrambling [4]

Mount Smuts is a 2,938-metre (9,639-foot) mountain summit located in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. It is set in the Spray Valley near the northern end of the Spray Mountains range. It is situated on the common boundary shared by Peter Lougheed Provincial Park with Banff National Park. Mount Smuts is not visible from any road in Banff Park, however it can be seen from Alberta Highway 742, also known as Smith-Dorrien/Spray Trail in Kananaskis Country. Mount Smuts' nearest higher neighbor is Mount Birdwood, 2.8 km (1.7 mi) to the south-southeast. [1]

Contents

History

Mount Smuts was named by the Interprovincial Boundary Commission in 1918 for General (later Field Marshal) Jan Smuts (1870–1950), a noted South African and Imperial statesman and mountaineer. [5] During World War I, he led the armies of South Africa against Germany, capturing German South-West Africa and commanding the British Army in East Africa in 1916-1917. [6] [7]

The mountain's toponym was officially adopted in 1924 by the Geographical Names Board of Canada. [3]

The first ascent of the peak was made in 1926 by M. Crosby, M. Kennard, H. S. Crosby, C. A. Willard, with guide Rudolph Aemmer. [7]

Geology

Mount Smuts is composed of sedimentary rock laid down during the Precambrian to Jurassic periods. [8] Formed in shallow seas, this sedimentary rock was pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny. [9]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Smuts is located in a subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers. [10] Winter temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. In terms of favorable weather, July through September are the best months to climb. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains west into Spray River, or east to Smuts Creek, both of which empty into Spray Lakes Reservoir.

Climbing

Mount Smuts is a difficult and exposed scramble on limestone slabs via the south ridge, and very few parties successfully summit each year. [4] Rope is recommended for anything less than ideal conditions.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Galatea</span> Mountain in Alberta, Canada

Mount Galatea is the highest peak of the Kananaskis Range, a subrange of the Canadian Rockies in the province of Alberta. It is located in the upper Spray Lakes Valley of the Kananaskis Country system of provincial parks. The mountain was named after the Royal Navy cruiser HMS Galatea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Whyte</span> Mountain in Banff NP, Alberta, Canada

Mount Whyte is a mountain in Alberta, Canada located in Banff National Park, near Lake Louise. The mountain can be seen from the Trans-Canada Highway, and offers views of the Valley of the Ten Peaks, including the Chateau Lake Louise. The mountain is also visible from the hiking trail that skirts the northern shore of Lake Agnes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pilot Mountain (Alberta)</span> Mountain in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Pilot Mountain is a mountain in the Bow River valley of Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. It is located southeast of Redearth Creek and directly west of the Trans-Canada Highway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East End of Rundle</span> Mountain in Alberta, Canada

East End of Rundle (EEOR) is a mountain located immediately west of the town of Canmore, Alberta and immediately west of the Spray Lakes road in the Canadian Rockies. Mount Rundle occupies the space between Canmore and Banff on the southwest side of the Trans-Canada Highway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Engadine</span> Mountain in the Spray River Valley, Alberta, Canada

Mount Engadine is a 2,972-metre (9,751-foot) mountain summit located in the Spray River Valley of Kananaskis Country, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. It was named in 1917 after HMS Engadine, a seaplane tender of the Royal Navy present at the Battle of Jutland during World War I. The mountain is located in the Kananaskis Range in Alberta.

Mount Allenby is a mountain summit in Alberta, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Birdwood</span> Mountain in the country of Canada

Mount Birdwood is a 3,097-metre (10,161-foot) summit in the Spray Mountains range of the Canadian Rockies in Alberta, Canada. The mountain is situated on the east boundary of Banff National Park in the upper Spray Lakes River Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Black Prince (Alberta)</span> Mountain in Alberta, Canada

Mount Black Prince is a 2,939-metre (9,642-foot) mountain summit located in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Its nearest higher peak is Mount Smith Dorrien, 5.8 km (3.6 mi) to the northwest. The mountain can be seen from Highway 742, also known as Smith-Dorrien/Spray Trail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Buller (Alberta)</span> Mountain in Alberta, Canada

Mount Buller was named in 1922 after Lieutenant Colonel H.C. Buller DSO, a casualty of World War I. It is located in the Kananaskis Range in Alberta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Byng</span> Mountain in Banff NP, Alberta, Canada

Mount Byng is a 2,965-metre (9,728-foot) mountain summit located in the upper Spray River Valley of southern Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. It is the second-highest point in the Blue Range. Mount Byng's nearest higher peak is Mount Alcantara, 6.5 km (4.0 mi) to the west-southwest. The mighty Mount Assiniboine is situated 10.0 km (6.2 mi) to the northwest of Byng.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windtower (Alberta)</span> Mountain in Alerta, Canada

Windtower is a 2,695-metre (8,842-foot) tower-like summit located in the Wind Valley of Kananaskis Country in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Its nearest higher peak is Mount Lougheed, 3.0 km (1.9 mi) to the southeast. Windtower is a conspicuous landmark that can be seen from Highway 1, the Trans-Canada Highway in the Canmore area. Although not of remarkable elevation, the mountain has an imposing, overhanging north face with an appearance similar to peaks in The Bugaboos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Nestor (Alberta)</span> Mountain in Alberta, Canada

Mount Nestor is a 2,970-metre (9,740 ft) mountain summit located in Kananaskis Country in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. It is named after HMS Nestor, a destroyer sunk in the Battle of Jutland during World War I. Mount Nestor is situated at the south end of the Goat Range along the west shore of Spray Lakes Reservoir. Nestor's east flank is within Spray Valley Provincial Park, while the west aspect is within Banff National Park, with the boundary line between the two parks running roughly north-to-south over its summit. The nearest higher peak is Old Goat Mountain, 2.0 km (1.2 mi) to the north. Mount Nestor can be seen from Alberta Highway 742, the Smith-Dorrien/Spray Trail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Goat Mountain</span> Mountain in the Canadian Rockies

Old Goat Mountain is a 3,120-metre (10,240 ft) mountain summit located in Kananaskis Country of Alberta, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount French (Alberta)</span> Mountain in the country of Canada

Mount French is a 3,244-metre (10,643-foot) summit in the Spray Mountains range of the Canadian Rockies in Alberta, Canada. The mountain is situated in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park of Kananaskis Country. French is the second highest point in the Spray Mountains Range. Its nearest higher peak, and highest in the Spray Range, is Mount Sir Douglas, 3.0 km (1.9 mi) to the west. Mount French can be seen from Alberta Highway 742, the Smith-Dorrien/Spray Trail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Turner (Alberta)</span> Mountain in Banff NP, Alberta, Canada

Mount Turner is a 2,806-metre (9,206-foot) mountain summit located in the upper Spray River Valley of southern Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Mount Turner in not visible from any road in Banff Park, however, it can be seen from Alberta Highway 742, also known as the Smith-Dorrien/Spray Trail in Kananaskis Country. Mount Turner's nearest higher peak is Cone Mountain, 2.91 km (1.81 mi) to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Shark</span> Mountain in Alberta, Canada

Mount Shark is a 2,786-metre (9,140-foot) mountain summit located in the Spray Valley of Kananaskis Country at the northern tip of the Spray Mountains range. It is situated on the southern boundary of Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Mount Shark in not visible from any road in Banff Park, however, it can be seen from Alberta Highway 742, also known as the Smith-Dorrien/Spray Trail. Mount Shark's nearest higher peak is Mount Smuts, 3.0 km (1.9 mi) to the southeast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Morrison (Alberta)</span> Mountain in Banff NP, Alberta, Canada

Mount Morrison is a 2,765-metre (9,072-foot) mountain summit located in the upper Spray River Valley of southern Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Mount Morrison in not visible from any road in Banff Park, however, it can be seen from Alberta Highway 742, also known as the Smith-Dorrien/Spray Trail in Kananaskis Country. Mount Morrison's nearest higher peak is Mount Turner, 1.8 km (1.1 mi) to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commonwealth Peak</span> Mountain in the country of Canada

Commonwealth Peak is a 2,775-metre (9,104-foot) mountain summit in the Spray Mountains, a sub-range of the Canadian Rockies in Alberta, Canada. The mountain is situated in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. Its nearest higher peak is Mount Birdwood, 1.0 km (0.62 mi) to the west. Both can be seen from Alberta Highway 742, also known as Smith-Dorrien/Spray Trail in Kananaskis Country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Murray (Alberta)</span> Mountain in the Canadian Rockies

Mount Murray is a 3,026-metre (9,928-foot) mountain summit in the Spray Mountains range of the Canadian Rockies in Alberta, Canada. The mountain is situated in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park of Kananaskis Country. Its nearest higher peak is Mount French, 2.0 km (1.2 mi) to the south-southwest. Mount Murray can be seen from Alberta Highway 742, the Smith-Dorrien/Spray Trail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Andromache</span> Mountain in Canada

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Mount Smuts". Bivouac.com. Retrieved 2018-12-31.
  2. ↑ "Mount Smuts, Alberta". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
  3. 1 2 3 "Mount Smuts". Geographical Names Data Base . Natural Resources Canada . Retrieved 2018-12-31.
  4. 1 2 Alan Kane (1999). "Mount Smuts". Scrambles in the Canadian Rockies . Rocky Mountain Books. p. 128. ISBN   0-921102-67-4.
  5. ↑ Imperial ecology: environmental order in the British Empire, 1895–1945, Peder Anker Publisher: Harvard University Press, 2001 ISBN   0-674-00595-3
  6. ↑ Place-names of Alberta. Ottawa: Geographic Board of Canada. 1928. p. 117.
  7. 1 2 "Mount Smuts". cdnrockiesdatabases.ca. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  8. ↑ Belyea, Helen R. (1960). The Story of the Mountains in Banff National Park (PDF). parkscanadahistory.com (Report). Ottawa: Geological Survey of Canada. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-10-02. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
  9. ↑ Gadd, Ben (2008). Geology of the Rocky Mountains and Columbias.
  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 (5): 1633–1644. Bibcode:2007HESS...11.1633P. doi: 10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007 . ISSN   1027-5606.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.