| Mainmast Peak | |
| Elevation M: | 2863 |
| Elevation Ref: | [1] [2] |
| Prominence M: | 428 |
| Prominence Ref: | [3] |
| Isolation Km: | 4.83 |
| Range: | Selkirk Mountains Battle Range |
| Parent Peak: | Mount Proteus (3,198 m) |
| Listing: | Mountains of British Columbia |
| Etymology: | Main-mast |
| Region Type: | Province |
| Region: | British Columbia |
| District: | Kootenay Land District[4] |
| Map: | Canada British Columbia#Canada |
| Coordinates: | 50.9831°N -117.3208°W |
| Coordinates Ref: | [5] |
| Easiest Route: | Technical climb[6] |
Mainmast Peak is a 2863abbr=offNaNabbr=off mountain summit in British Columbia, Canada.
Mainmast Peak is located in the Battle Range of the Selkirk Mountains and it is the highest peak on Schooner Ridge.[1] The remote peak is set immediately northeast of Foremast Peak, southwest of Mizzenmast Peak, and approximately 6km (04miles) south of Glacier National Park. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains north into Butters Creek and south into Houston Creek which are both tributaries of the Duncan River. Mainmast Peak is more notable for its steep rise above local terrain than for its absolute elevation. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,660 meters (5,446 ft) above Houston Creek in 2.5km (01.6miles) and 1,200 meters (3,937 ft) above Butters Creek in 1.5km (00.9miles). The nearest higher neighbor is Mount Butters, 4.83km (03miles) to the west.[3] The first ascent of Mainmast's summit was made in 1972 by Andrew J. Kauffman II, Judge David Michael, Arnold Wexler, and John Markel.[7] [8]
The landform was named by Andrew J. Kauffman II who imagined the peaks on Schooner Ridge as resembling sails on a four-masted ship.[1] The name follows the nautical naming theme for individual peaks on Schooner Ridge. The mountain's toponym was officially adopted on October 3, 1973, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.[5]
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mainmast Peak is located in a subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.[9] Winter temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C.