Northpost Spire Explained

Northpost Spire
Elevation M:2911
Elevation Ref:[1]
Prominence M:119
Prominence Ref:[2]
Isolation Km:1.01
Parent Peak:Brenta Spire (2,958 m)[3]
Listing:Mountains of British Columbia
Region Type:Province
Region:British Columbia
District:Kootenay Land District
Part Type:Protected area
Part:Bugaboo Provincial Park
Range:Purcell Mountains
The Bugaboos
Map:Canada British Columbia#Canada
Label Position:left
Coordinates:50.7686°N -116.7681°W
Coordinates Ref:[4]
Age:135 Million years ago[5]
Rock:Granodiorite
First Ascent:August 1938

Northpost Spire is a 2911abbr=offNaNabbr=off peak in British Columbia, Canada.

Description

Northpost Spire is located in The Bugaboos, along the east side of the Vowell Glacier at the south end of Bugaboo Provincial Park.[6] Precipitation runoff from Northpost's north slope drains into the headwaters of Vowell Creek → Bobbie Burns Creek → Spillimacheen RiverColumbia River; and from the south slope to Cobalt Lake → Bugaboo Creek → Columbia River. Northpost Spire is more notable for its steep rise above local terrain than for its absolute elevation as topographic relief is significant with the summit rising 1,100 meters (3,309 ft) above Vowell Creek in 2km (01miles). The nearest higher neighbor is Brenta Spire, 1km (01miles) to the south.[2]

History

The peak's name was applied by James Monroe Thorington in 1930,[1] and the toponym was officially adopted on November 15, 1962, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.[4] The first ascent of the summit was accomplished in 1938 by Dr. I. A. Richards and his wife Dorothy Pilley Richards.[7] The first ascent of the north face was made on August 20, 1966, by Fred Beckey and Jerry Fuller.[7]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Northpost Spire is located in a subarctic climate zone with 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 Vowell Glacier below the peak's west slope.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Glen W. Boles, William Lowell Putnam, Roger W. Laurilla (2006), Canadian Mountain Place Names: The Rockies and Columbia Mountains, Rocky Mountain Books,, p. 185.
  2. 2023-02-20.
  3. Web site: Northpost Spire, Peakvisor.com. 2023-02-20.
  4. JBEOH. Northpost Spire. 2023-02-20.
  5. Mary Caperton Morton (2017), Aerial Geology; A High-Altitude Tour of North America's Spectacular Volcanoes, Canyons, Glaciers, Lakes, Craters, and Peaks, Timber Press,, p. 42
  6. 17119. Northpost Spire. 2023-02-20.
  7. Robert Kruszyna, William Lowell Putnam (III) (1977), A Climber's Guide to the Interior Ranges of British Columbia, south, American Alpine Club, p. 64.
  8. Peel, M. C. . Finlayson, B. L. . McMahon, T. A. . 2007 . Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification . Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. . 11 . 1633–1644 . 1027-5606.