Cirque Peak (Alberta) Explained

Cirque Peak
Elevation M:2993
Prominence M:341
Prominence Ref:[1]
Range:Canadian Rockies
Parent Peak:Observation Peak
Listing:Mountains of Alberta
Location:Alberta, Canada
Map:Canada Alberta
Label Position:right
Coordinates:51.6997°N -116.4178°W
First Ascent:1899
Easiest Route:Easy Scramble

Cirque Peak is a 2993abbr=offNaNabbr=off peak located directly west of Dolomite Pass in the Bow River valley of Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada.

The mountain forms a cirque, hence the name.[2]

Scrambling Route

The scrambling route (rated easy) begins just beyond Helen Lake which can be reached by following the Helen Lake/Dolomite Pass trail 6 km from the trail head beside the Icefields Parkway. From the lake, follow the trail into Dolomite Pass and then choose a line up the peak.

Geology

Like other mountains in Banff Park, Cirque Peak is composed of sedimentary rock laid down during the Precambrian to Jurassic periods. Formed in shallow seas, this sedimentary rock was pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny.

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Cirque Peak is located in a subarctic climate with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.[3] Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C.

Notes and References

  1. 1720. Cirque Peak. 2012-07-01.
  2. Book: Place-names of Alberta. 1928. Geographic Board of Canada. Ottawa. 34. 2019-06-08.
  3. Peel, M. C. . Finlayson, B. L. . McMahon, T. A. . amp . 2007 . Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification . Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. . 11 . 5 . 1633–1644 . 10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007 . free . 2007HESS...11.1633P . 1027-5606.