Whirlwind Peak

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Whirlwind Peak
Whirlwind Peak from Cowboy Ridge.jpg
Northwest aspect in winter
Highest point
Elevation 2,427 m (7,963 ft) [1]
Prominence 97 m (318 ft) [1]
Parent peak Overlord Mountain (2,625 m) [2]
Isolation 0.86 km (0.53 mi) [1]
Listing Mountains of British Columbia
Coordinates 50°0′32″N122°50′30″W / 50.00889°N 122.84167°W / 50.00889; -122.84167 [3]
Naming
Etymology Whirlwind
Geography
Canada British Columbia relief location map.jpg
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Whirlwind Peak
Location in British Columbia
Canada relief map 2.svg
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Whirlwind Peak
Whirlwind Peak (Canada)
Country Canada
Province British Columbia
District New Westminster Land District
Protected area Garibaldi Provincial Park
Parent range Fitzsimmons Range
Garibaldi Ranges
Coast Ranges
Topo map NTS   92J2 Whistler [3]
Climbing
First ascent 1923 Neal Carter, Charles Townsend [4]
Easiest route class 2

Whirlwind Peak is a 2,427-metre (7,963-foot) mountain summit in southwestern British Columbia, Canada.

Contents

Description

Whirlwind Peak is located in Garibaldi Provincial Park, in the Garibaldi Ranges of the Coast Mountains. It is the eighth-highest point of the Fitzsimmons Range, which is a subset of the Garibaldi Ranges. [1] It is situated 14 km (9 mi) southeast of Whistler, 1.31 km south-southeast of Fissile Peak, 1.76 km southwest of Overlord Mountain, and the nearest higher neighbor is Refuse Pinnacle, 0.94 km to the east-northeast. [1] Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into tributaries of the Cheakamus River. Whirlwind is more notable for its steep rise above local terrain than for its absolute elevation as topographic relief is significant with the summit rising 1,525 meters (5,003 ft) above the river in 2.5 km (1.6 mi).

History

The peak was so named by the Garibaldi Park Board because of evidence that a destructive windstorm had levelled an area of trees on the peak's slopes. [5] The mountain's toponym was officially adopted on September 2, 1930, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada. [3] The first ascent of the summit was made in 1923 by Neal Carter and Charles Townsend. [4]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Whirlwind Peak is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America. [6] 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 Overlord Glacier on the north slope of the peak. The months July through September offer the most favorable weather for climbing Whirlwind Peak.

See also

Related Research Articles

<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 Davidson (British Columbia)</span> Mountain in the country of Canada

Mount Davidson is a 2,516-metre (8,255-foot) mountain summit located in the Garibaldi Ranges of the Coast Mountains, in Garibaldi Provincial Park of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. Visible from the Whistler Blackcomb ski area, it is situated 18 km (11 mi) south of Whistler, and its nearest higher peak is Castle Towers Mountain, 3 km (2 mi) to the west. The Cheakamus Glacier lies between these two summits, and precipitation runoff from the peak and meltwater from the glacier drains into tributaries of the Cheakamus River. The first ascent of the mountain was made in 1929 by Neal M. Carter and Emmy Milledge. The mountain is named after Professor John Davidson, who contributed a large amount of botanical knowledge about Garibaldi Park. 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 Benvolio</span> Mountain in the country of Canada

Mount Benvolio is a 2,613-metre (8,573-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 second-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 Overlord Mountain, 0.7 km (0 mi) to the northwest. The Benvolio Glacier is set on the western slope of the peak, the Diavolo Glacier spreads out below the eastern aspect of the summit, and the Fitzsimmons Glacier descends the north slope. Precipitation runoff from the peak and meltwater from its glaciers drains into tributaries of the Cheakamus River.

<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 Cook (British Columbia)</span> Mountain in the country 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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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Whirlwind Peak, British Columbia". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  2. "Whirlwind Peak, Peakvisor.com" . Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  3. 1 2 3 "Whirlwind Peak". Geographical Names Data Base . Natural Resources Canada . Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  4. 1 2 Neal Carter, Hikeinwhistler.com, Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  5. "Whirlwind Peak". BC Geographical Names . Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  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. ISSN   1027-5606.