Spearhead Range

Last updated
Spearhead Range
Highest point
Coordinates 50°04′00″N122°50′00″W / 50.06667°N 122.83333°W / 50.06667; -122.83333
Dimensions
Area83 km2 (32 sq mi)
Geography
CountryCanada
RegionBritish Columbia
Parent range Garibaldi Ranges

The Spearhead Range is a short subrange of the Garibaldi Ranges of southwestern British Columbia, Canada, adjacent to the resort town of Whistler, British Columbia and ending at its northwestern apex in Blackcomb Mountain, one of two mountains forming the Whistler Blackcomb ski resort. Other notable summits are Tremor Mountain (highest point of the range), The Spearhead, Mount Macbeth, Decker Mountain, Mount Trorey, Phalanx Mountain and Shatter, Shudder, Quiver and other similarly named peaks and glaciers. The range was named by Don and Phyllis Munday as the range's peaks resembled spearheads rising from the alpine fog. To the north of the range is Lone Goat Pass, formed by Wedge Creek and Lone Goat Creek, which is fed by the Spearhead Glacier, the largest glacier in the range. The valley of Fitzsimmons Creek is on the range's south side, and is the location of the Whistler Sliding Centre, which was built for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

The Spearhead Range's counterpart on the south side of Fitzsimmons Creek is the Fitzsimmons Range, which runs east from Whistler Mountain.

Related Research Articles

Whistler Blackcomb is a ski resort located in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. By many measures it is the largest ski resort in North America and has the greatest uphill lift capacity. It features the Peak 2 Peak Gondola for moving between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains at the top. With all of this capacity, Whistler Blackcomb is also often the busiest ski resort, often surpassing 2 million visitors a year.

Whistler is a resort municipality in Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, British Columbia, Canada. It is located in the southern Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains, approximately 125 km (78 mi) north of Vancouver and 36 km (22 mi) south of Pemberton. It has a permanent population of approximately 13,982 (2021), as well as a larger but rotating population of seasonal workers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Garibaldi</span> Stratovolcano in British Columbia, Canada

Mount Garibaldi is a dormant stratovolcano in the Garibaldi Ranges of the Pacific Ranges in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It has a maximum elevation of 2,678 metres and rises above the surrounding landscape on the east side of the Cheakamus River in New Westminster Land District. In addition to the main peak, Mount Garibaldi has two named sub-peaks. Atwell Peak is a sharp, conical peak slightly higher than the more rounded peak of Dalton Dome. Both were volcanically active at different times throughout Mount Garibaldi's eruptive history. The northern and eastern flanks of Mount Garibaldi are obscured by the Garibaldi Névé, a large snowfield containing several radiating glaciers. Flowing from the steep western face of Mount Garibaldi is the Cheekye River, a tributary of the Cheakamus River. Opal Cone on the southeastern flank is a small volcanic cone from which a lengthy lava flow descends. The western face is a landslide feature that formed in a series of collapses between 12,800 and 11,500 years ago. These collapses resulted in the formation of a large debris flow deposit that fans out into the Squamish Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garibaldi Provincial Park</span> Wilderness park in British Columbia, Canada

Garibaldi Provincial Park, also called Garibaldi Park, is a wilderness park located on the coastal mainland of British Columbia, Canada, 70 kilometres (43.5 mi) north of Vancouver. It was established in 1920 and named a Class A Provincial Park of British Columbia in 1927. The park is a popular destination for outdoor recreation, with over 30,000 overnight campers and over 106,000 day users in the 2017/2018 season.

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

The Garibaldi Ranges are the next-to-southwesternmost subdivision of the Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains; only the North Shore Mountains are farther southwest. They lie between the valley formed by the pass between the Cheakamus River and Green River on the west and the valley of the Lillooet River on the east, and extend south into Maple Ridge, an eastern suburb of Vancouver, and the northern District of Mission. To their south are the North Shore Mountains overlooking Vancouver while to their southeast are the Douglas Ranges.

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

Whistler Mountain is a mountain in the Fitzsimmons Range of the Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains, located on the northwestern edge of Garibaldi Provincial Park. It is the location of the Whistler-Blackcomb ski resort and the town of Whistler, British Columbia, Canada.

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

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.

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

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fitzsimmons Creek</span>

Fitzsimmons Creek is a large creek in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, having its origins at the Fitzsimmons Glacier in the Garibaldi Ranges of the Coast Mountains. For half its length of approximately 10 kilometres, the creek courses a U-shaped glacial valley which separates two ski mountains of the Whistler Blackcomb resort, Blackcomb to the north and Whistler to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Spearhead</span> Peak in the Garibaldi Ranges of British Columbia, Canada

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.

The Spearhead Glacier is the largest glacier on the Spearhead Range, located on the opposite, northeast side of that range from the resort town of Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, and is serviced in part by the lift system of the Whistler Blackcomb ski resort. The glacier's apex is at the peak known as The Spearhead, which also lies at the head of the Blackcomb Glacier.

The Fitzsimmons Range is a small mountain range on the northwestern edge of the Garibaldi Ranges in southwestern British Columbia, Canada, located between the valleys of Cheakamus Lake (SW) and Fitzsimmons Creek (NE). Its most famous summit is Whistler Mountain, which overlooks the resort town of Whistler and is one of the two mountains forming the Whistler Blackcomb ski resort. Most of the range is within Garibaldi Provincial Park, while its northeastern extremity is part of the resort municipality, and of the lands associated with the ski resort operation. Other summits in the range include Oboe Summit, Piccolo Summit and Flute Summit, which are hillocks along the ridge running southeast from Whistler Mountain and were named in association with the renaming of Whistler. Beyond them is Singing Pass and Mount Fitzsimmons 2603 m (8540 ft) which is at the opposite end of the range from Whistler Mountain and the location of Fitzsimmons Glacier, which is the source of Fitzsimmons Creek.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Overlord Mountain</span> Mountain in the country 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Fitzsimmons (British Columbia)</span> Mountain in the country 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Macbeth</span> Mountain in British Columbia, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Decker Mountain</span> Mountain in the country 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.

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

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.

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

Mount Trorey is a 2,461-metre (8,074-foot) mountain summit located in British Columbia, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phalanx Mountain</span> Summit in Garibaldi Provincial Park of British Columbia, Canada

Phalanx Mountain is a 2,441-metre (8,009-foot) summit located in Garibaldi Provincial Park of southwest British Columbia, Canada.

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

Shudder Mountain is a 2,671-metre (8,763-foot) summit in British Columbia, Canada.

References