Sunwapta Peak Explained

Sunwapta Peak
Elevation M:3315
Elevation Ref:[1]
Prominence M:1014
Range:Canadian Rockies
Listing:Mountains of Alberta
Location:Alberta, Canada
Map:Canada Alberta
Map Size:200
Label Position:right
Coordinates:52.3486°N -117.275°W
Coordinates Ref:[2]
First Ascent:1906 by Jimmy Simpson
Easiest Route:Easy scramble

Sunwapta Peak is a peak in the Sunwapta River valley of Jasper National Park, just north of the Columbia Icefield in Alberta, Canada. The peak was named in 1892 after the Stoney language word sunwapta meaning "turbulent river". The mountain can be seen from the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93).

Routes

The normal climbing route (an easy scramble) is via the southwest slopes, requiring an elevation gain of 17350NaN0 to the summit from the trail head beside the Icefields Parkway.

Geology

Sunwapta Peak is composed of sedimentary rock laid down from the Precambrian to Jurassic periods that was pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny.

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Sunwapta Peak is in a subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.[3] Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. Precipitation runoff from Sunwapta Peak drains into the Sunwapta River which is a tributary of the Athabasca River.

External links

Notes and References

  1. 439. Sunwapta Peak. 2009-01-02.
  2. IAMPG. Sunwapta Peak. 2019-06-08.
  3. 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.