The Rowel

Last updated
The Rowel
The Rowel.jpg
East aspect
Highest point
Elevation 9,806 ft (2,989 m) [1] [2]
Prominence 1,056 ft (322 m) [3]
Parent peak Mount Spurr [3]
Isolation 2.13 mi (3.43 km) [3]
Coordinates 61°18′49″N152°11′41″W / 61.3136111°N 152.1947222°W / 61.3136111; -152.1947222 [4]
Naming
Etymology Rowel
Geography
Relief map of USA Alaska.png
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
The Rowel
Location in Alaska
The Rowel
Interactive map of The Rowel
CountryUnited States
State Alaska
Borough Kenai Peninsula
Parent range Alaska Range
Tordrillo Mountains [5]
Topo map USGS Tyonek B-6
Climbing
Easiest route Expedition climbing

The Rowel is a 9,806-foot-elevation (2,989-meter) mountain summit in Alaska.

Contents

Description

The Rowel is located 77 miles (124 km) west of Anchorage in the Tordrillo Mountains which are a subrange of the Alaska Range. The remote glaciated peak ranks as the 10th-highest peak in the Tordrillo Mountains, [5] and 598th-highest summit in Alaska. [3] It is set 2.1 mi (3 km) northeast of Mount Spurr which is the nearest higher summit. [5] Precipitation runoff from the peak's north slope drains to the Chichantna River, whereas the south and east slopes drain to the Chakachatna River. Topographic relief is significant as the east face rises over 4,800 feet (1,463 meters) in one mile (1.6 km). The mountain's descriptive name "rowel" refers to the sharp-toothed wheel on the end of a spur and the toponym was officially adopted in 1999 by the United States Board on Geographic Names. [4] The name is a pun as this sharp peak is situated around the perimeter of Mt. Spurr. [2]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, The Rowel is located in a tundra climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and cool summers. [6] Weather systems are forced upwards by the Alaska Range (orographic lift), causing heavy precipitation in the form of snowfall. Winter temperatures can drop below −10 °F with wind chill factors below −20 °F. This climate supports glaciers surrounding the peak including the Capps Glacier to the northeast. The months May through June offer the most favorable weather for viewing or climbing. [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goat Mountain (Alaska)</span> Mountain in Alaska, U.S.

Goat Mountain is a 6,450-foot (1,966 m) mountain summit located in the Chugach Mountains, in Anchorage Municipality in the U.S. state of Alaska. The peak is situated in Chugach National Forest at the head of Glacier Creek Valley, 30 mi (48 km) east-southeast of downtown Anchorage, and 8 mi (13 km) north-northeast of the Alyeska Resort and Girdwood area. The mountain's name was officially adopted in 1932. On August 4, 2019, a small airplane crashed on the mountain claiming all four lives on board.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">O'Malley Peak</span> Mountain summit

O'Malley Peak is a 5,150+ ft mountain summit located in the Chugach Mountains, in Anchorage Municipality in the U.S. state of Alaska. O'Malley Peak is situated in Chugach State Park, 12 mi (19 km) southeast of downtown Anchorage, 2.3 mi (4 km) west of Mount Williwaw, and 1.45 mi (2 km) northwest of The Ramp, which is its nearest higher peak. Access is via the Powerline Trail with several scramble routes to the summit.

<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">Andy Simons Mountain</span> Double summit mountain in Alaska, United States

Andy Simons Mountain is a prominent 6,407-foot (1,953 m) double summit mountain located in the Kenai Mountains, and the fourth-highest peak on the Kenai Peninsula in the state of Alaska. The true summit is 1.3 mile west of the 5,300+ foot subsidiary east peak on this five-mile-long northwest-to-southeast trending mountain. The mountain is situated in Chugach National Forest, 7.2 mi (12 km) east of Mount Adair, and 17 mi (27 km) north of Seward, Alaska. The Seward Highway and Alaska Railroad traverse its western foot. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into Kenai Lake.

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

Mount Nagishlamina is an 11,068-foot glaciated mountain summit located in the Tordrillo Mountains of the Alaska Range, in the US state of Alaska. The mountain is situated 90 mi (145 km) west of Anchorage, 7.4 mi (12 km) northwest of Mount Spurr, and 1.9 mi (3 km) southeast of Mount Torbert, which is the nearest higher neighbor. It is the fifth-highest peak in the Tordrillo Mountains, a subset of the Alaska Range. The mountain takes its Denaʼina language name from the Nagishlamina River which drains the west side of the peak. Mount Nagishlamina's name was in use by local mountaineers since the 1970s, and was officially adopted in 1999 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. This geographic feature was likely the highest unclimbed peak in the United States at the time of its first ascent in 1989 by Dave Johnston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Mitre (Alaska)</span> Mountain in Alaska

The Mitre is a 6,651-foot (2,027 m) mountain summit located in the western Chugach Mountains, in Anchorage Municipality in the U.S. state of Alaska. The mountain is situated in Chugach State Park, 30 mi (48 km) east of Anchorage, three miles (4.8 km) northeast of Bellicose Peak, and 5.5 mi (9 km) south-southeast of Eklutna Lake. The nearest higher peak is Benign Peak, 2.4 mi (4 km) to the west-northwest, on the opposite side of the Eklutna Glacier. Although modest in elevation, relief is significant since the western aspect of the mountain rises 4,000 feet above this glacier in approximately half a mile. In Europe, "mitre" is the term used for a sharp, symmetrical rocky peak such as this one. The Mitre's descriptive name was submitted for consideration by the Mountaineering Club of Alaska as suggested by Dr. Rodman Wilson (1921–2003) of Anchorage after he returned from a European vacation. The Mitre name was officially adopted in 1966 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. In the Denaʼina language, this mountain is known as Idlu Bena Dghelaya, meaning Mountain of Plural Objects Lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benign Peak</span> Mountain in Alaska, U.S.

Benign Peak is a 7,235 ft (2,210 m) elevation mountain summit located in the western Chugach Mountains, in Anchorage Municipality in the U.S. state of Alaska. The mountain is situated in Chugach State Park, 28 mi (45 km) east of Anchorage, and 4.5 mi (7 km) south of Eklutna Lake. The nearest higher peak is Mount Rumble, 2.2 mi (4 km) to the southwest, and The Mitre is set 2.4 mi (4 km) east-southeast, on the opposite side of the Eklutna Glacier. Although modest in elevation, relief is significant since the eastern aspect of the mountain rises over 5,000 feet above this glacier in approximately one mile. This peak belongs to a group of peaks in the Eklutna River drainage which start with the letter "B", such as Bold Peak, Bashful Peak, Baleful Peak, and Mt. Beelzebub. Benign Peak was so named in 1965 by the Mountaineering Club of Alaska because "nearby Bellicose Peak was a much harder climb, while this one's nature was quite benign since the rock was not too rotten and the weather wasn't too bad." Benign Peak's name was officially adopted in 1966 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. The first ascent of this mountain was made in August 1965 by Art Davidson and John Vincent Hoeman by ascending the East Face, and descending the South Gully.

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

Calliope Mountain is a 6,821-foot (2,079 m) mountain summit located in the Chugach Mountains, in Anchorage Municipality in the U.S. state of Alaska. Calliope Mountain is situated in Chugach State Park, 20 mi (32 km) east-southeast of downtown Anchorage, and 2.1 mi (3 km) southwest of Eagle Peak, which is its nearest higher neighbor. The first ascent of the peak was made June 24, 1967, by W.E. Hauser and B.P. Hansen, who proposed naming it "Icy Peak", but their fellow members at the Mountaineering Club of Alaska persuaded them to adopt a more distinctive name that would be in keeping with the music theme of the immediate area. Within three miles of the peak there is a Symphony Lake, Concerto Peak, Flute Peak, Triangle Peak, Organ Mountain, Cantata Peak, and Hurdygurdy Mountain. The mountain's calliope name was officially adopted in 1969 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.

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

Mount Emmerich is a 6,877-foot-elevation (2,096-meter) mountain summit in Alaska.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Eva</span> Mountain in Alaska, U.S.

Mount Eva is a 5,019-foot-elevation (1,530-meter) mountain summit in Alaska, United States.

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

Mount Burkett is a 9,730-foot-elevation (2,966-meter) mountain summit in Alaska, United States.

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

Mount Gerdine is an 11,258-foot-elevation (3,431-meter) mountain summit in Alaska.

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

Mount Chichantna is a 10,893-foot-elevation (3,320-meter) mountain summit in Alaska.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paradise Peak (Kenai Mountains)</span> Mountain in Alaska, United States

Paradise Peak is a 6,050-foot-elevation (1,844-meter) mountain summit in Alaska, United States.

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

Mount Ada is a 4,528-foot-elevation (1,380-meter) mountain summit in Alaska, United States.

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

Haydon Peak is an 11,924-foot-elevation (3,634-meter) mountain summit in Alaska, United States.

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

Finland Peak is a 9,405-foot (2,867 m) elevation mountain summit in the U.S. state of Alaska.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alabaster Peak</span> Mountain summit in Alaska, United States

Alabaster Peak is an 8,065-foot-elevation (2,458-meter) mountain summit located 35 miles (56 km) east of Palmer, in the northern Chugach Mountains of Alaska. This peak of the Matanuska Valley is set midway between Anchorage and Glennallen, and can be seen from the Glenn Highway. It is situated 15 miles (24 km) west of Matanuska Glacier and 1.8 miles (2.9 km) south of Awesome Peak. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into Coal, Monument, and Gravel creeks, which are tributaries of the Matanuska River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 3,065 feet along the west slope in one mile (1.6 km). The first ascent of the summit was made on July 4, 1970, by Robert Spurr, Bob Pelz, and Royce Purinton via the Spectrum Glacier and North Ridge. This mountain's toponym has not been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names, so it is only marked as "8065" on USGS maps.

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

Mount Bagot is a 2,181-metre (7,156-foot) mountain summit located on, and in part defining, the international border between British Columbia, Canada, and Alaska, United States.

Mount Ogilvie is a 7,867-foot-elevation (2,398-meter) mountain summit located on, and in part defining, the international border between Alaska, United States, and British Columbia, Canada.

References

  1. United States Board on Geographic Names, Decisions on Geographic Names in the United States, Decision List 1999, (1999), page 2.
  2. 1 2 Stephen Josiah Spurr, In Search of the Kuskokwim and Other Great Endeavors: The Life and Times of J. Edward Spurr, Epicenter Press, 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Rowel, The - 9,806' AK". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  4. 1 2 "The Rowel". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  5. 1 2 3 "The Rowel, Alaska". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  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 (5): 1633. Bibcode:2007HESS...11.1633P. doi: 10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007 . ISSN   1027-5606.
  7. Denali FAQ, American Alpine Institute, alpineinstitute.com, Retrieved 2024-01-08.