Spire Peaks Explained

Spire Peaks
Elevation M:2279
Elevation Ref:[1] [2]
Prominence M:208
Prominence Ref:[3]
Parent Peak:Mamquam Mountain (2,588m)
Isolation Km:4.34
Region Type:Province
Region:British Columbia
Part Type:Protected area
Part:Garibaldi Provincial Park
District:New Westminster Land District
Range:Garibaldi Ranges
Coast Mountains
Listing:Mountains of British Columbia
Map:Canada British Columbia#Canada
Map Size:270
Label Position:right
Coordinates:49.8242°N -122.8875°W
Coordinates Ref:[4]
First Ascent:1913 Don Munday

Spire Peaks is a 2279abbr=offNaNabbr=off mountain located in British Columbia, Canada.[5]

Description

Spire Peaks is set within Garibaldi Provincial Park and is part of the Garibaldi Ranges of the Coast Mountains.[3] It is situated 550NaN0 north of Vancouver and 60NaN0 north-northwest of line parent Mamquam Mountain, with the Mamquam Icefield between the two. The southwest summit has an elevation of 2,279 meters and the northeast peak is 2,245 meters, and they are separated 500 meters apart.[6] Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises 1,280 meters (4,200 feet) in two kilometers (1.2 mile). Precipitation runoff and glacial meltwater from the north side of the peak drains to Pitt River, and the southern slope drains to Skookum Creek, thence Mamquam River.

History

The first ascent of the summit was made July 22, 1913, by Don Munday and Ben Hanafin.[7] Don would write a poem about the climb, Spire Peak—First Ascent, and recall that the rocks "were as hot as a stove." The toponym was officially adopted March 9, 1979, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.[4]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Spire Peaks is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[8] Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east toward the Coast Mountains where they are forced upward by the range (Orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall. As a result, the Coast Mountains experience high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. Winter temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. This climate supports the Spire Glacier on the northeast slope.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. BC Basemap topographic map
  2. -94186. Spire Peaks, British Columbia. 2023-01-18.
  3. Web site: Spire Peaks, Peakvisor.com. 2023-01-18.
  4. JBDKS. Spire Peaks. 2023-01-18.
  5. 16506. Spire Peaks. 2023-01-18.
  6. BC Basemap topographic map
  7. Kathryn Bridge (2006), A Passion for Mountains: The Lives of Don and Phyllis Munday, Rocky Mountain Books,, p. 36, 227.
  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 . 1027-5606.