Kesler Peak (Wasatch Range) Explained

Kesler Peak
Elevation Ft:10403
Elevation Ref:[1]
Prominence Ft:443
Prominence Ref:[2]
Isolation Mi:1.89
Isolation Ref:[3]
Parent Peak:Superior Peak (11,132 ft)
Etymology:Frederick Kesler
Map:Utah#USA
Label Position:left
Map Size:240
Location:Big Cottonwood Canyon
Country:United States of America
State:Utah
Region:Salt Lake
Region Type:County
Coordinates:40.6251°N -111.6689°W
Coordinates Ref:[4]
Range:Wasatch Range
Rocky Mountains
Rock:Sedimentary rock[5]
Age:Carboniferous[6]
Topo:USGS Mount Aire
Easiest Route: hiking

Kesler Peak is a 10403adj=midNaNadj=mid mountain summit located in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States.

Description

Kesler Peak is set in the Wasatch Range which is a subset of the Rocky Mountains. It is situated in Big Cottonwood Canyon, on land managed by Wasatch National Forest. Salt Lake City is 13 miles to the northwest and Solitude Mountain Resort is four miles to the east. Neighbors include Mount Raymond three miles to the northwest and Gobblers Knob is 3.2 miles to the north. Precipitation runoff from the mountain's slopes drains to Big Cottonwood Creek. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 3400abbr=offNaNabbr=off above Big Cottonwood Canyon in 1.5 mile.

History

The spelling of this mountain's toponym was officially changed in 2008 by the United States Board on Geographic Names.[4] Prior to that it was spelled "Kessler Peak" which appears on older maps, and was also known as "Kessler's Peak" in the early 1900s. This landform is named after Frederick Kesler (1816–1899), Mormon bishop, mill architect, justice of the peace and school warden.[4] There is another Kesler Peak (elevation 8,747 ft) located in the Oquirrh Mountains of Tooele County, Utah, which is also named after this same person.[7]

Kesler Peak is centrally located in the Big Cottonwood Mining District. From 1867 to 1976, the Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood mining districts combined to produce 30,600 ounces of gold, 17.5 million ounces of silver, 4.7 million pounds of zinc, 18.1 million pounds of copper, and 252 million pounds of lead. The Carbonate Mine, situated high on the east slope of Kesler Peak, was a major producer.[8]

External links

Notes and References

  1. United States Geological Survey topographical map - Mount Aire
  2. 25221. Kessler Peak, Utah. 2022-08-14.
  3. Web site: Kessler Peak - 10,403' UT. listsofjohn.com. 2022-08-14.
  4. 1442305. Kesler Peak. 2022-08-14.
  5. William T. Parry (2016), Geology of Utah's Mountains, Peaks, and Plateaus, FriesenPress,
  6. Francis C. Nicholas (1907), The Re-Opening of the Carbonate Mine, Utah, Mining and Engineering World, Volume 26, p. 9
  7. 1429334. Kesler Peak. 2022-08-14.
  8. Carl L. Ege (2005), Selected Mining Districts of Utah, Utah Geological Survey,, p. 22