Sunwapta Peak

Last updated
Sunwapta Peak
South Face of Sunwapta Peak from Tangle Ridge.jpg
South Face of Sunwapta Peak seen from Tangle Ridge
Highest point
Elevation 3,315 m (10,876 ft) [1] [2]
Prominence 1,014 m (3,327 ft) [1]
Listing Mountains of Alberta
Coordinates 52°20′55″N117°16′30″W / 52.34861°N 117.27500°W / 52.34861; -117.27500 Coordinates: 52°20′55″N117°16′30″W / 52.34861°N 117.27500°W / 52.34861; -117.27500 [3]
Geography
Canada Alberta relief location map - transverse mercator proj.svg
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Sunwapta Peak
Alberta, Canada
Parent range Canadian Rockies
Topo map NTS 83C/06 [3]
Climbing
First ascent 1906 by Jimmy Simpson [1]
Easiest route Easy scramble [4]
Sunwapta Peak from southbound on the Icefields Parkway Sunwapta Peak from Icefields Parkway.jpg
Sunwapta Peak from southbound on the Icefields Parkway

Sunwapta Peak is a peak located in the Sunwapta River valley of Jasper National Park, just north of the Columbia Icefield in Alberta, Canada. The peak was named in 1892 after the Stoney language word sunwapta meaning "turbulent river". [4] The mountain can be seen from the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93).

Contents

Routes

The normal climbing route (an easy scramble) is via the southwest slopes, requiring an elevation gain of 1,735 m (5,692 ft) to the summit from the trail head located beside the Icefields Parkway. [4]

Geology

Sunwapta Peak is composed of sedimentary rock laid down from the Precambrian to Jurassic periods that was pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny. [5]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Sunwapta Peak is located in a subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers. [6] Temperatures can drop below -20 °C with wind chill factors below -30 °C. Precipitation runoff from Sunwapta Peak drains into the Sunwapta River which is a tributary of the Athabasca River.

Related Research Articles

Mount Kitchener

Mount Kitchener is a mountain located within the Columbia Icefield of Jasper National Park, which is part of the Canadian Rockies. The mountain can be seen from the Icefields Parkway near Sunwapta Pass.

Mushroom Peak

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Mount Wilcox (Alberta) Mountain in Jasper NP, Alberta, Canada

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Mount Sarbach Mountain in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

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Mount Kerkeslin

Mount Kerkeslin is a 2,956 m (9,698 ft) mountain summit located in the Athabasca River valley of Jasper National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. It is the highest peak of the Maligne Range. It is located in the south part of the Maligne Range, east of the Icefields Parkway and is visible from the Athabasca Falls lookout. Mount Kerkeslin is composed of sedimentary rock laid down during the Cambrian period and pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny.

Mount Fryatt Mountain in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

Mount Fryatt is Alberta's 26th highest peak. In 1920, it was named after Captain Charles Fryatt, a British merchant seaman who was executed by the Germans during World War I. It lies within peaks that are between the Athabasca and Whirlpool Rivers in Jasper National Park.

Observation Peak (Alberta) Mountain in Banff NP, Alberta, Canada

Observation Peak is a 3,174-metre (10,413-foot) mountain summit located in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. The mountain can be seen from the Icefields Parkway near the Bow Summit.

Cirque Peak (Alberta)

Cirque Peak is a 2,993-metre (9,820-foot) peak located directly west of Dolomite Pass in the Bow River valley of Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada.

Mount Coleman (Alberta) Mountain in Banff NP, Alberta, Canada

Mount Coleman is a 3,135-metre (10,285 ft) mountain summit located in the upper North Saskatchewan River valley in Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Its nearest higher peak is Cirrus Mountain, 4.46 km (2.77 mi) to the north. Mount Coleman is situated along the east side the Icefields Parkway midway between Saskatchewan Crossing and Sunwapta Pass.

Dragon Peak

Dragon Peak is a 2,880 metres (9,450 ft) mountain summit located in the Athabasca River valley of Jasper National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Situated southeast of Mount Christie and Brussels Peak, Dragon Peak can be seen from the Icefields Parkway. The first ascent of the mountain was made in 1979 by D. Waterman. Dragon Peak was named in 1921 by Arthur O. Wheeler on account of a dragon-shaped rock formation. The mountain's name was officially adopted in 1935 by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.

Nigel Peak

Nigel Peak is a 3,211-metre (10,535-foot) mountain summit located on the shared border of Banff National Park and Jasper National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Nigel has two peaks, the north summit is the highest point. The nearest higher peak is Mount Athabasca, 6.4 km (4.0 mi) to the south-southwest. Nigel Peak is situated immediately north of Sunwapta Pass and can be seen from the Icefields Parkway and from Athabasca Glacier.

Tangle Ridge Mountain ridge in Jasper NP, Alberta, Canada

Tangle Ridge is a 3,000-metre (9,800 ft) mountain summit located in Jasper National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Tangle Ridge is situated south of Beauty Creek and north of Tangle Creek, in the Sunwapta River valley. Views from the top of Tangle Ridge provide photographers with an opportunity to capture the peaks surrounding the Columbia Icefield, some of which, such as Mount Columbia and Mount Alberta, are otherwise hidden from view along the Icefields Parkway.

Dolomite Peak Mountain in Banff NP, Alberta, Canada

Dolomite Peak is a 2,998-metre (9,836-foot) mountain summit located in the Bow River valley of Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Its nearest higher peak is Cirque Peak, 3.98 km (2.47 mi) to the northwest. Dolomite Peak can be seen from the Icefields Parkway with its distinctive crags and colorful towers that are a mixture of dolomite and limestone. Dolomite is rare in the Rockies and is stronger than limestone.

Mount Hardisty

Mount Hardisty is a 2,716 m (8,911 ft) mountain summit located in the Athabasca River valley of Jasper National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Its nearest higher peak is Mount Kerkeslin, 6.0 km (3.7 mi) to the south. Both mountains are part of the Maligne Range and are visible from the Icefields Parkway.

Endless Chain Ridge

Endless Chain Ridge is a 16 kilometre long, 2,867-metre (9,406-foot) high, mountainous ridge located in Jasper National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. The ridge is situated at the southern end of the Maligne Range, and east of the confluence of the Sunwapta River with the Athabasca River. Seen from the Icefields Parkway, the ridge is relatively unimpressive, but from the east side it appears as a rugged chain of peaks, all quite difficult to climb.

Karpathos Peak (Mount Olympus) Mountain in the Canadian Rockies

Karpathos Peak, also previously known as Mount Olympus, is a 2,987 metres (9,800 ft) mountain summit located in the Athabasca River valley of Jasper National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. It is situated at the head of Fryatt Creek Valley on the same high ridge as Mount Christie, Brussels Peak, Mount Lowell, and Xerxes Peak. The nearest higher peak is Mount Belanger, 3.0 km (1.9 mi) to the north, and Kleodora Peak lies to the immediate northwest. Karpathos Peak can be seen from the Icefields Parkway, weather permitting.

Mount Lowell

Mount Lowell is a 3,150-metre (10,330 ft) mountain summit located in the Athabasca River valley of Jasper National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. The name has not been officially adopted yet for this peak. It is situated at the head of Fryatt Creek Valley on the same high ridge as Mount Christie, Xerxes Peak, and Brussels Peak which is the nearest higher peak, 2.0 km (1.2 mi) to the north. Mount Lowell can be seen from the Icefields Parkway.

Hilda Peak Mountain peak in Banff NP, Alberta, Canada

Hilda Peak is a 3,058-metre (10,033-foot) mountain summit located at the northern extreme of Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. The nearest higher peak is Mount Athabasca, 2.0 km (1.2 mi) to the southwest. Hilda Peak is situated south of Sunwapta Pass and can be prominently seen from the Icefields Parkway. The Hilda Glacier lies to the south side of the peak, and the Boundary Glacier lies to the west.

Parker Ridge Mountain ridge in Banff NP, Alberta, Canada

Parker Ridge is a 2,255-metre (7,398-foot) mountain ridge located in the upper North Saskatchewan River valley in Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Its nearest higher peak is Mount Athabasca, 7.7 km (4.8 mi) to the west. Parker Ridge is situated along the west side of the Icefields Parkway and southeast of Sunwapta Pass. Parker Ridge is a ski-touring destination in the winter and popular hiking destination in the summer because it is situated beside the Icefields Parkway allowing easy access, and is nearly entirely above treeline allowing good views of the surrounding mountain landscape. A 2.2 km (1.4 mi) trail gains 275 metres (900 ft) of elevation from the highway to the top of the ridge. Wandering east or west along the ridge provides views of Cirrus Mountain, the north face of Mount Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Glacier, Mount Athabasca, Hilda Peak, and Nigel Peak among others.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Sunwapta Peak". Bivouac.com. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
  2. "Sunwapta Peak". PeakFinder.com. Retrieved 2019-06-08.
  3. 1 2 "Sunwapta Peak". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada . Retrieved 2019-06-08.
  4. 1 2 3 Kane, Alan (1999). "Sunwapta Peak". Scrambles in the Canadian Rockies . Calgary: Rocky Mountain Books. pp. 312–313. ISBN   0-921102-67-4.
  5. Gadd, Ben (2008), Geology of the Rocky Mountains and Columbias
  6. Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11: 1633–1644. ISSN   1027-5606.