Phalanx Mountain | |
---|---|
Highest point | |
Elevation | 2,441 m (8,009 ft) [1] [2] |
Prominence | 151 m (495 ft) [1] |
Parent peak | The Spearhead (2,457 m) [2] |
Isolation | 1.38 km (0.86 mi) [1] |
Listing | Mountains of British Columbia |
Coordinates | 50°05′53″N122°51′30″W / 50.09806°N 122.85833°W [3] |
Naming | |
Etymology | Phalanx |
Geography | |
Interactive map of Phalanx Mountain | |
Country | Canada |
Province | British Columbia |
District | New Westminster Land District |
Protected area | Garibaldi Provincial Park |
Parent range | Spearhead Range Garibaldi Ranges Coast Mountains |
Topo map | NTS 92J2 Whistler [3] |
Phalanx Mountain is a 2,441-metre (8,009-foot) summit located in Garibaldi Provincial Park of southwest British Columbia, Canada.
Phalanx Mountain is the northernmost peak in the Spearhead Range, which is a subset of the Garibaldi Ranges of the Coast Mountains. [1] The peak is situated 7 km (4 mi) east-southeast of Whistler and 1.4 km (1 mi) north-northeast of The Spearhead, which is the nearest higher neighbor. [1] Precipitation runoff and glacial meltwater from the east side of the peak drains to Wedge Creek, whereas the west slope drains to Blackcomb Creek, with both then eventually finding the Green River. Phalanx is more notable for its steep rise above local terrain than for its absolute elevation as topographic relief is significant with the summit rising 1,240 meters (4,068 ft) above Wedge Creek in approximately 3 km (1.9 mi).
The descriptive name for the mountain refers to the mountain resembling a Greek flying wedge of soldiers when viewed from the southwest or southeast, and this wedge formation is termed a phalanx. [4] The mountain's toponym was officially adopted August 27, 1965, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada. [3]
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Phalanx Mountain is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America. [5] Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east toward the Coast Mountains where they are forced upward by the range (Orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall. As a result, the Coast Mountains experience high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. Winter temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. This climate supports the Blackcomb Glacier below the west slope, Spearhead Glacier on the southeast slope, and the Phalanx Glacier on the north slope. The months July through September offer the most favorable weather for climbing Phalanx Mountain.
Wedge Mountain, 2,895 m (9,498 ft) prominence: 2,249 m (7,379 ft), often locally referred to as The Wedge or simply "Wedge", is the highest summit in the Garibaldi Ranges and therefore also Garibaldi Provincial Park, and is among the nearest of the many peaks visible from the Whistler Blackcomb Ski Area, lying north across the valley of Billygoat Pass from the Spearhead Range, which includes one of that resort's two flagship mountains, Blackcomb. It was named for its distinctive wedge shape by the Garibaldi Park Board in 1932 in preference to Mount Vancouver, which had been submitted earlier. It is part of an unnamed range forming the most northerly group of peaks in the Garibaldi Ranges, the other two most notable being Mount Weart, known as the Armchair because of its shape, and Mount Currie, which overlooks the First Nations Reserve of the same name and the neighbouring town of Pemberton. Wedge's very high prominence is defined by the divide between the Green and Cheakamus Rivers at a locality at the south end of Alta Lake known as Tokum Corners.
Blackcomb Peak is a mountain located east of Whistler, British Columbia that forms the boundary between the Whistler Blackcomb ski resort and Garibaldi Provincial Park. Like Whistler Mountain, it is located on the edge of Garibaldi Provincial Park and the ski lifts are often used to access the park, particularly for the Spearhead Traverse.
The Spearhead is a 2,457 m (8,061 ft) peak in the Garibaldi Ranges of British Columbia, Canada, and is one of the main summits of the Blackcomb Mountain portion of the Whistler Blackcomb ski resort, located at the apex of the Blackcomb and Spearhead Glaciers, which is named for it. It also is the namesake of the Spearhead Range, which is the short range flanking the north side of Fitzsimmons Creek and ending on its northwest end at Blackcomb Mountain. The mountain's name was officially adopted on August 27, 1965, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.
Mount Weart is a 2,835-metre (9,301-foot) triple-summit mountain located in the Garibaldi Ranges of the Coast Mountains, in northwestern Garibaldi Provincial Park of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is situated 14 km (9 mi) northeast of Whistler, and its nearest higher peak is Wedge Mountain, 3.7 km (2 mi) to the south, which is the only peak within the park higher than Weart. The Armchair Glacier rests below the west aspect of the summit, and the massive Weart Glacier spans the northern and eastern aspects of the mountain. Precipitation runoff from the peak and meltwater from the glaciers drains into Wedgemount Lake and tributaries of the Lillooet River.
Parkhurst Mountain is a 2,494-metre (8,182-foot) mountain summit located in the Garibaldi Ranges of the Coast Mountains, in northwestern Garibaldi Provincial Park of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is situated 11 km (7 mi) east-northeast of Whistler, south of Wedgemount Lake, and on the west side of Wedgemount Glacier. Parkhurst's nearest neighbor is Rethel Mountain, 0.89 km (1 mi) to the northwest, and its nearest higher peak is Wedge Mountain, 1.8 km (1 mi) to the southeast. Mount Weart, the second-highest peak in the park, rises 2.6 km (2 mi) northeast of Parkhurst. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into Wedge Creek, Wedgemount Creek, and Rethel Creek, which are all tributaries of the Green River, which in turn is a tributary of the Lillooet River. The present day ghost town of Parkhurst was an old logging town in the 1920s and 1930s set on the edge of Green Lake, 9 km (6 mi) west of Parkhurst Mountain. The site was named for Mr. and Mrs. Parkhurst who preempted the land on Green Lake in 1902 and built a small house where they lived with their family. The mountain's name was officially adopted on June 25, 1975, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.
Rethel Mountain is a 2,408-metre (7,900-foot) mountain summit located in the Garibaldi Ranges of the Coast Mountains, in northwestern Garibaldi Provincial Park of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is situated 11 km (7 mi) northeast of Whistler, on the south side of Wedgemount Lake and west side of Wedgemount Glacier. Its nearest higher peak is Parkhurst Mountain, 1.3 km (1 mi) to the southeast. Rethel is set 3.2 km (2 mi) northwest of Wedge Mountain, the highest peak in Garibaldi Park, and 2.9 km (2 mi) southwest of Mount Weart, the second-highest in the park. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into Wedgemount Creek and Rethel Creek, both tributaries of the Green River, which in turn is a tributary of the Lillooet River. It was named in association from Rethel station on the Pacific Great Eastern Railway route. The mountain's name was officially adopted on February 27, 1978, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.
Overlord Mountain is a 2,625-metre (8,612-foot) glacier-clad peak located in the Garibaldi Ranges of the Coast Mountains, in Garibaldi Provincial Park of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is the highest point of the Fitzsimmons Range, which is a subset of the Garibaldi Ranges, and can be readily seen from the Whistler Blackcomb ski area. It is situated 15 km (9 mi) southeast of Whistler, and its nearest higher peak is Mount Macbeth, 3 km (2 mi) to the north-northeast. The Benvolio Glacier rests below the south aspect of the summit, the Fitzsimmons Glacier on the east aspect, and the expansive Overlord Glacier spans the northern and western aspects of the mountain. Precipitation runoff from the peak and meltwater from its glaciers drains into tributaries of the Cheakamus River. The first ascent of the mountain was made in 1923 by Phyllis Munday and Don Munday via the Benvolio Glacier. The mountain's descriptive name was recommended by the Garibaldi Park Board and officially adopted on September 2, 1930, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.
Mount Fitzsimmons is a 2,603-metre (8,540-foot) glacier-clad peak located in the Garibaldi Ranges of the Coast Mountains, in Garibaldi Provincial Park of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is the third-highest point of the Fitzsimmons Range, which is a subset of the Garibaldi Ranges. It is situated 15 km (9 mi) southeast of Whistler, and its nearest higher peak is Mount Benvolio, 0.5 km (0 mi) to the west-southwest. The Diavolo Glacier spreads out below the southeast aspect of the summit, and the Fitzsimmons Glacier descends the northwest slopes. Precipitation runoff from the peak and meltwater from its glaciers drains into tributaries of the Cheakamus River. The first ascent of the mountain was made on August 19, 1924, by a party of the British Columbia Mountaineering Club. The peak was named for prospector James Fitzsimmons, who built a trail along Fitzsimmons Creek in an effort to haul supplies to a small copper mine he staked and worked. The mountain's name was officially adopted on September 2, 1930, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.
Mount Macbeth is a 2,639-metre (8,658-foot) glacier-clad peak located in the Garibaldi Ranges of the Coast Mountains, in Garibaldi Provincial Park of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is part of the Spearhead Range, which is a subset of the Garibaldi Ranges. It is situated 14 km (9 mi) southeast of Whistler, and 2 km (1 mi) south of Tremor Mountain, which is the highest point in the Spearhead Range. The Naden Glacier spreads out below the eastern aspect of the summit, the Macbeth Glacier lies below the south aspect, and the Curtain Glacier descends the northern slope. Precipitation runoff from the peak and meltwater from its glaciers drains into Fitzsimmons Creek which is a tributary of the Cheakamus River. Macbeth is most often climbed as part of the Spearhead Traverse. The first ascent of the mountain was made in 1969 by P. Starr, E. Bass, B. Ellis, and P. Macec via the northeast ridge. The peak was named in 1964 by an Alpine Club of Canada climbing party, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's birth. The mountain's name was officially adopted on August 27, 1965, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.
Decker Mountain is a 2,421-metre (7,943-foot) flat-topped peak located in the Garibaldi Ranges of the Coast Mountains, in Garibaldi Provincial Park of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is part of the Spearhead Range, which is a subset of the Garibaldi Ranges. It is situated 9 km (6 mi) southeast of Whistler, and 3.9 km (2 mi) west-northwest of Tremor Mountain, which is the highest point in the Spearhead Range. Precipitation runoff from the south side of the peak drains into Fitzsimmons Creek which is a tributary of the Cheakamus River, and meltwater from the Decker Glacier on the northeastern slope drains to Wedge Creek.
Tremor Mountain is a prominent 2,691-metre (8,829-foot) summit located in the Garibaldi Ranges of the Coast Mountains, in Garibaldi Provincial Park of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is the highest point of the Spearhead Range, which is a subset of the Garibaldi Ranges. It is situated 13 km (8 mi) southeast of Whistler, and 8.7 km (5 mi) south of Wedge Mountain, its nearest higher peak. Precipitation runoff from the south side of the peak as well as meltwater from the Platform Glacier drains into Fitzsimmons Creek which is a tributary of the Green River. Meltwater from the Tremor Glacier on the northwestern slope drains to Wedge Creek, and meltwater from the Shudder Glacier on the northeast slope drains into Billygoat Creek, a tributary of the Lillooet River. Tremor Mountain is often climbed as part of the Spearhead Traverse. The first ascent of the mountain was made in 1928 by A.J. Campbell Garibaldi survey party. The mountain's name origin refers to unexplained earth tremors when the first ascent party was on the summit. The mountain's toponym was officially adopted on September 6, 1951, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.
Mount Cook is a 2,676-metre (8,780-foot) mountain located in the Garibaldi Ranges of the Coast Mountains, in northwestern Garibaldi Provincial Park of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is situated above the north shore of Wedgemount Lake, 13 km (8 mi) northeast of Whistler, and its nearest higher peak is Mount Weart, 1.2 km (1 mi) to the southeast. The Armchair Glacier is set between Cook and Weart, and the Weart Glacier rests on the northern slope of Cook. Precipitation runoff from the peak and meltwater from the glaciers drains into Wedgemount Lake and Green River.
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