| Hess Mountain | |
| Elevation Ft: | 11940. |
| Elevation Ref: | [1] |
| Prominence Ft: | 2440. |
| Isolation Mi: | 2.7 |
| Parent Peak: | Mount Deborah (12,339 ft)[2] |
| Range: | Alaska Range Hayes Range |
| Map: | USA Alaska |
| Map Size: | 270 |
| Label Position: | left |
| Location: | Denali Borough Alaska, United States |
| Coordinates: | 63.6383°N -147.1483°W |
| Topo: | USGS Healy C-1 |
| First Ascent: | 1951 [3] |
Hess Mountain, also known as Mount Hess, is an 11940feet elevation glaciated summit located on the crest of the Alaska Range, in Alaska, United States.[4] It is the seventh-highest peak in the Hayes Range which is a subrange of the Alaska Range.[1] This remote peak is situated 13.30NaN0 west of Mount Hayes, and 900NaN0 south of Fairbanks. Mount Deborah, the nearest higher neighbor, is positioned 2.80NaN0 to the west. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the Susitna and Tanana River drainage basins. The mountain's name was reported in 1912 by the United States Geological Survey.[5] The first ascent was made May 24, 1951, by Alston Paige, Dick Holdren, Ed Huizer, Howard Bowman, and Elton Thayer.[6] The first ascent via the North Ridge was made May 23, 1976, by Steven Hackett and Thomas Hillis.[7]
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Hess Mountain is located in a subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.[8] Winter temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. This climate supports the Gillam and West Fork Glaciers surrounding this peak. The months May through June offer the most favorable weather for climbing or viewing.