The Sisters | |
---|---|
Highest point | |
Elevation | 3,838 ft (1,170 m) [1] |
Prominence | 459 ft (140 m) [1] |
Isolation | 1.67 mi (2.69 km) [1] |
Coordinates | 57°06′02″N135°13′12″W / 57.1004816°N 135.2199454°W [2] |
Geography | |
Interactive map of The Sisters | |
Location | Sitka city-borough |
Country | United States |
State | Alaska |
Protected area | Tongass National Forest |
Parent range | Alexander Archipelago [3] |
Topo map | USGS Sitka A-4 |
The Sisters are mountain summits in Alaska, United States.
The Sisters are located on the west coast of Baranof Island, approximately five miles (8.0 km) northeast of Sitka. [4] The highest peak reaches an elevation of 3,838 feet (1,170 m). This mountain group is part of the Alexander Archipelago and is set on land managed by Tongass National Forest. [3] Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains to the Indian River and Sitka Sound. Topographic relief is significant as the north slope rises over 3,400 feet (1,036 meters) above an unnamed creek in one mile (1.6 km). The landform's local name was published in 1916 by U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, [4] and the toponym has been officially adopted by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. [2]
Based on the Köppen climate classification, The Sisters is located in a subpolar oceanic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and cool summers. [5] Weather systems coming off the Gulf of Alaska are forced upwards by the mountains (orographic lift), causing heavy precipitation in the form of rainfall and snowfall. Winter temperatures can drop below 10 °F with wind chill factors below 0 °F.
Mount Moffit is a peak in the Alaska Range in central Alaska, United States, about 10 miles (16 km) east-southeast of Mount Hayes. It is notable for its steep faces and large relief above local terrain. For example, the north face drops 7,400 feet in approximately 1.2 miles (2 km) horizontal distance.
Horn Spire is a 6,700+ ft mountain summit located in the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains, in the U.S. state of Alaska. The peak is situated between the Thiel Glacier and Battle Glacier at the northwest extent of the Juneau Icefield, 31 mi (50 km) north-northwest of Juneau, Alaska, and 12 mi (19 km) east of Lynn Canal, on land managed by Tongass National Forest. Horn Spire is the highest point of the Icefall Spires, and although modest in elevation, relief is significant since the north face of the mountain rises over 4,700 feet above the Thiel Glacier in less than one mile. The peak's descriptive name was submitted in 1965 by Maynard Miller, director of the Juneau Icefield Research Project, and officially adopted that same year by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. The first ascent of the peak was made June 30, 1973, by Dick Benedict, Gerry Buckley, Craig Lingle, and Bruce Tickell.
Castle Mountain is a remote 8,620-foot (2,630-meter) mountain summit located at the southeastern edge of the Wrangell Mountains, in the U.S. state of Alaska. The peak is situated 35 mi (56 km) northeast of McCarthy at Skolai Pass in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. Although modest in elevation, relief is significant as the south face rises 4,000 feet above the terminus of the Russell Glacier in less than one mile. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains east via the White River, and west to the Nizina River via Skolai Creek. The mountain's descriptive name was reported in 1914 by the United States Geological Survey.
Taku Towers is a 6,653+ ft double summit mountain located in the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains, in the U.S. state of Alaska. The two north and south peaks, 0.2 mi apart with 6,653+ and 6,605-ft elevations respectively, are situated in the Taku Range of the Juneau Icefield, 21 mi (34 km) north of Juneau, Alaska, and 5.5 mi (9 km) east-southeast of The Snow Towers, on land managed by Tongass National Forest. The Taku Range is a north-south trending ridge on the edge of the Taku Glacier. The mountain's name was in local use when first published in 1960 by the U.S. Geological Survey. Several landforms in the vicinity bear this Taku name, which all ultimately derive from the Taku people. The first ascent was made in 1949 by Forbes, Merritt, and Schoeblen via the west ridge. Daniel Reid and party made the first ascent of the difficult east face of South Taku Tower in 1973.
Bullard Mountain is a 4,225-foot (1,288 m) mountain summit located in the Boundary Ranges, in the U.S. state of Alaska. The peak is situated immediately east of the terminus of Mendenhall Glacier, within Tongass National Forest, 9 mi (14 km) north-northwest of Juneau, and 6 mi (10 km) northeast of Juneau International Airport. McGinnis Mountain lies 3.7 mi (6 km) on the opposite side of the glacier, and Heintzleman Ridge lies 2.75 mi (4 km) to the south. Bullard Mountain is often seen and photographed with Mount Wrather, a 5,968-foot (1,819 m) summit 3.9 mi (6 km) to the north because they are together in the background behind Mendenhall Lake, a popular tourist and recreation area. Although modest in elevation, relief is significant since the mountain rises from this nearly sea-level lake in less than two miles. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into the lake via Nugget Creek and Nugget Falls. Bullard Mountain is named for Benjamin Bullard (1848-1933), a mining engineer who, in 1907, began mining on Nugget Creek where he later built a hydroelectric power plant.
Emperor Peak is a 6,805 ft (2,070 m) glaciated mountain summit located in the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains, in the U.S. state of Alaska. Emperor Peak is situated in the Taku Range of the Juneau Icefield, 20 mi (32 km) north of Juneau, and 1.2 mi (2 km) south-southwest of Taku Towers, on land managed by Tongass National Forest. The Taku Range is a north–south trending ridge on the edge of the Taku Glacier. This mountain was named in 1964 by members of the Juneau Icefield Research Project, and officially adopted in 1965 by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Lions Head Mountain is a 5,400+ ft mountain summit located in the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains, in the U.S. state of Alaska. The peak is situated in the Kakuhan Range, 46 mi (74 km) northwest of Juneau, and 3 mi (5 km) east of Lynn Canal, on land managed by Tongass National Forest. Although modest in elevation, relief is significant since Lions Head Mountain rises 5,400 feet above the Berners River Valley in less than three miles. The peak's descriptive name was applied in 1867 by George Davidson, geographer with the United States Coast Survey, because its serrated profile resembles a lion couchant. This name was published in the 1869 Coast Pilot, and officially adopted in 1929 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.
Rhino Peak is a 6,400+ ft mountain summit located in the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains, in the U.S. state of Alaska. The peak is situated on the Juneau Icefield, 18 mi (29 km) north of Juneau, and 2 mi (3 km) west of Princess Peak, on land managed by Tongass National Forest. Rhino Peak is set at the head of Mendenhall Glacier. This peak's descriptive name was published in 1960 by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Face Mountain is a 5,052 ft (1,540 m) mountain summit located in the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains, in the U.S. state of Alaska. The peak is situated 4.2 mi (7 km) west-northwest of Skagway, and 4.3 mi (7 km) north of Mount Harding, on land managed by Tongass National Forest. Although modest in elevation, relief is significant since Face Mountain rises above tidewater of Taiya Inlet in less than 2.5 miles. This geographic feature was named "Parsons Peak" in 1897 by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, and has had variant names "Gnome Mountain", and "The Sphinx" used locally to describe a face in the rock. The mountain's present name and summit location was officially adopted in 1985 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, however USGS maps still show the old name, Parsons Peak, as the summit. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of Taiya Inlet.
Nugget Towers is a mountain ridge with a series of peaks, two primarily, the highest of which is 5,378-ft elevation, and located on the southern periphery of the Juneau Icefield, in the Boundary Ranges of southeast Alaska. These peaks are situated east of Mendenhall Glacier, 10 mi (16 km) north of Juneau, and 1.9 mi (3 km) northeast of Bullard Mountain, on land managed by Tongass National Forest. Stroller White Mountain lies 4.5 mi (7 km) west-northwest on the opposite side of the glacier, and Heintzleman Ridge lies 3 mi (5 km) to the south. Although modest in elevation, relief is significant since the mountain rises 3,500 feet above Nugget Creek's upper basin in less than one mile. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into Mendenhall Lake via Nugget Creek and Nugget Falls. This geographic feature's local name was reported in 1965 by U.S. Geological Survey.
Mount Queena is a 7,620+ ft elevation mountain summit located in the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains, in the U.S. state of Alaska. This unofficially named peak is situated on the Juneau Icefield, 39 mi (63 km) north of Juneau, 2.7 mi (4 km) west of the Canada–United States border, and 5 mi (8 km) northeast of Mount Blachnitzky, on land managed by Tongass National Forest. Although modest in elevation, relief is significant since the east aspect of the mountain rises over 3,200 feet above the Gilkey Glacier in less than one mile. The nearest higher neighbor is Mount Ogilvie, 2.5 mi (4 km) to the east.
Pyramid Peak is a 2,136-foot-elevation (651-meter) summit in Alaska, United States.
Mount Silvertip is a 9,400-foot-elevation (2,865-meter) mountain summit in Alaska.
Mount Sumdum is a 6,666-foot-elevation (2,032-meter) mountain summit in Alaska, United States.
Mount Fellows is a 4,476-foot-elevation (1,364-meter) mountain summit in Alaska, United States.
Mount Burkett is a 9,730-foot-elevation (2,966-meter) mountain summit in Alaska, United States.
Mount Ada is a 4,528-foot-elevation (1,380-meter) mountain summit in Alaska, United States.
Mount Doonerak is a 7,457-foot-elevation (2,273-meter) mountain summit in 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.
Observation Peak is a 4,931-foot (1,503 m) mountain summit located in the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains, in the U.S. state of Alaska. The peak is situated 4.5 miles (7.2 km) northeast of Juneau along the southern periphery of the Juneau Icefield, on land managed by Tongass National Forest. Precipitation runoff and glacial meltwater from the mountain drains to Gastineau Channel via Lemon and Salmon creeks, whereas the southeast slope drains to Taku Inlet via Carlson Creek. Although modest in elevation, relief is significant as the summit rises over 3,700 feet (1,128 m) above Salmon Creek Reservoir in 1.6 miles (2.6 km). This peak's local name was published in 1962 by the U.S. Geological Survey and the toponym has been officially adopted by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.