Mount Fairweather

For the mountain in Antarctica, see Mount Fairweather (Antarctica).
Mount Fairweather
Tsalxhaan

Mount Fairweather from Glacier Bay, September 2004
Highest point
Elevation 4671 m (15,325 ft) [1] NAVD88
Prominence 3961 m (12,995 ft) [1]
Isolation 200 km (124.4 mi) [1]
Listing
Coordinates 58°54′23″N 137°31′36″W / 58.90639°N 137.52667°W / 58.90639; -137.52667Coordinates: 58°54′23″N 137°31′36″W / 58.90639°N 137.52667°W / 58.90639; -137.52667 [2]
Geography
Mount Fairweather

Location on Alaska/B.C. border

Location Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska / Stikine Region, British Columbia
Parent range Fairweather Range
Topo map NTS 114I/13
Climbing
First ascent June 8, 1931 by Allen Carpé and Terris Moore
Easiest route glacier/snow/ice climb

Mount Fairweather (officially gazetted as Fairweather Mountain in Canada[2] but referred to as Mount Fairweather), is one of the world's highest coastal mountains at 4,671 metres (15,325 feet.) It is located 20 km (12 mi) east of the Pacific Ocean on the border of Alaska, United States and western British Columbia, Canada. Most of the mountain lies within Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in the City and Borough of Yakutat, Alaska (USA), though the summit borders Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park, British Columbia (Canada), making it the highest point in that province. It is also designated as Boundary Peak 164 or as US/Canada Boundary Point #164.[3][4]

The mountain was named on May 3, 1778 by Captain James Cook,[5] apparently for the unusually good weather encountered at the time. The name has been translated into many languages. It was called "Mt. Beautemps" by La Perouse (1786, atlas), "Mte. Buen-tiempo" by Galiano (1802, map 3), "Gor[a]-Khoroshy-pogody" on Russian Hydrographic Dept. Chart 1378 in 1847, and "G[ora] Fayerveder" by Captain Tebenkov (1852, map 7), Imperial Russian Navy. It was called "Schönwetterberg" by Constantin Grewingk in 1850 and "Schönwetter Berg" by Justus Perthes in 1882.[6]

Fairweather was first climbed in 1931 by Allen Carpé and Terris Moore.[6]

Geography

Mount Fairweather is located right above Glacier Bay in the Fairweather Range of the Saint Elias Mountains. Mount Fairweather also marks the northwest extremity of the Alaska Panhandle.

Like many peaks in the St. Elias Mountains, Mount Fairweather has great vertical relief due to its dramatic rise from Glacier Bay. However, due to poor weather in the area, this effect is usually obscured with the clouds which often hides the summit from view.

Known in the Tlingit language as Tsalxhaan, it is said this mountain and Yaas'éit'aa Shaa (Mt. St. Elias) were originally next to each other but had an argument and separated. Their children, the mountains in between the two peaks, are called Tsalxhaan Yatx'i (Children of Tsalxaan.)

Weather

Despite its name, Mount Fairweather has generally harsh weather conditions. It receives over 100 inches (254 cm) of precipitation each year (mostly snow) and sees temperatures of around -50 °F (-46 °C).

Dixon Harbor with Mt. Fairweather in the centre, 1925

Climbing history

Further reading

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Mount Fairweather, Alaska-British Columbia". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Fairweather Mountain". BC Geographical Names. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  3. ↑ "Mount Fairweather, British Columbia/Alaska". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  4. ↑ "Mount Fairweather-Northeast Peak, British Columbia". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  5. ↑ Terris Moore, "Mount Fairweather, Correction", American Alpine Journal 1982, p. 139. He cites Cook and King Voyage to the Pacific Ocean, Volume II, Admiralty, London, 1784, p. 345.
  6. 1 2 3 "Mount Fairweather". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2004-07-09.
  7. ↑ Metcalf, Peter (1974). "The Southwest Ridge of Fairweather". American Alpine Journal. New York, NY, USA: American Alpine Club. 19 (48): 19. ISBN 978-0-930410-71-1.
  8. ↑ Gove, Walter; Adkins, Loren (1969). "The West Ridge of Mount Fairweather". American Alpine Journal. Philadelphia, PA, USA: American Alpine Club. 16 (43): 390.
  9. ↑ Metcalf, Peter (1974). "The Southwest Ridge of Fairweather". American Alpine Journal. New York, NY, USA: American Alpine Club. 19 (48): 19–22. ISBN 978-0-930410-71-1.
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