Cirrus Mountain
{{Short description|Mountain summit in Alberta, Canada}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Cirrus Mountain
| photo = Cirrus Mountain from Parker Ridge.jpg
| photo_caption = Cirrus Mountain with summit to left.
(Viewed from Parker Ridge)
| elevation_m = 3270
| elevation_ref = {{cite bivouac|id=342|name=Cirrus Mountain|accessdate=2018-10-16}}
| prominence_m = 890
| isolation_km = 5.92
| range = Front Ranges
| parent_peak = Mount Stewart (3,312 m)
| listing = Mountains of Alberta
| country = Canada | region_type = Province | region = Alberta
| part_type = Protected area | part = Banff National Park
White Goat Wilderness Area
| map = Canada Alberta#Canada
| map_caption = Location in Alberta##Location in Canada
| coordinates = {{coord|52|10|10|N|116|58|38|W|type:mountain_region:CA-AB_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref = {{cite cgndb|id=IAMMG|name=Cirrus Mountain|access-date=2018-10-14}}
| topo = NTS {{Canada NTS Map Sheet|83|C|2}}
| rock = Sedimentary
| first_ascent = 1939 C.B. Sissons, H.J. Sissons{{cite crdb|id=272|name=Cirrus Mountain|access-date=2019-10-09}}
| easiest_route = technical climb
}}
Cirrus Mountain is a {{Convert|3270|m|ft|lk=off|abbr=off|adj=on}} mountain summit located in the upper North Saskatchewan River valley on the shared boundary between Banff National Park and White Goat Wilderness Area, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Cirrus Mountain is situated along the east side the Icefields Parkway midway between Saskatchewan Crossing and Sunwapta Pass. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises {{cvt|1740|m}} above the parkway in {{cvt|3|km}}. The nearest higher peak is Mount Stewart, {{cvt|5.92|km}} to the north-northeast.{{cite peakbagger|4579|Cirrus Mountain, Alberta|access-date=2019-10-09}}
History
In 1928, Morrison P. Bridgland suggested the name Mount Huntington for the mountain, but it was not adopted. However, the Huntington name endures as the name of the Huntington Glacier below the eastern aspect of the summit. The mountain was instead named Cirrus Mountain, and that toponym was officially adopted in 1935 by the Geographical Names Board of Canada. The first ascent of the mountain was accomplished in 1939 by C.B. Sissons and H.J. Sissons.
Geology
Like other mountains in Banff Park, Cirrus Mountain is composed of sedimentary rock laid down from the Precambrian to Jurassic periods.{{Belyea-Banff-NP}} Formed in shallow seas, this sedimentary rock was pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny.{{cite book|title=Geology of the Rocky Mountains and Columbias |author=Gadd, Ben |year=2008}} The east aspect of Cirrus Mountain is covered by expansive glacial ice known as the Huntington Glacier.
Climate
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Cirrus Mountain is located in a subarctic climate with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.{{cite journal | author = Peel, M. C. |author2=Finlayson, B. L. |author3=McMahon, T. A. | year = 2007 | title = Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification | journal = Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. | volume = 11 |issue=5 | pages = 1633–1644 |doi=10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2007HESS...11.1633P | issn = 1027-5606}} Winter temperatures can drop below -20 °C with wind chill factors below -30 °C. Weather conditions during winter make the Weeping Wall at the base of Cirrus Mountain's west face the premier place for ice climbing in the Canadian Rockies. Precipitation runoff from Cirrus Mountain drains into tributaries of the North Saskatchewan River.
Ice Climbing Routes
Ice Climbing Routes with grades on Cirrus Mountain:
- Polar Circus - WI5{{cite web|url=https://www.mountainproject.com/route/106942711/lower-weeping-wall|title=Lower Weeping Wall|publisher=MountainProject|access-date=2019-10-09}}
- Snivelling Gully - WI3{{cite summitpost|id=275440|name=Cirrus Mountain|access-date=2018-10-16}}
- Weeping Wall - WI3-6
- Weeping Pillar - WI6
Gallery
File:Panoramic of Cirrus Mountain.jpg|Cirrus Mountain
File:Mountain Ridge, Icefields Parkway (5829663240).jpg|The south peak of Cirrus (3,160+ m)
File:Weeping Wall and Athabasca River Jasper.jpg|Weeping Wall
File:Cirrus Mountain viewed from Parker Ridge.jpg|Cirrus Mountain viewed from Parker Ridge
File:Cirrus Mountain, south peak.jpg|Cirrus Mountain (south peak) and the Weeping Wall
See also
- List of mountains in the Canadian Rockies
- Geography of Alberta
- {{Portal-inline|Mountains|size=tiny}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- Weather forecast: [https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-table/2-5922829/Canada/Alberta/Cirrus%20Mountain Cirrus Mountain]
- Parks Canada web site:[https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/banff Banff National Park]
- Cirrus Mountain (photo): [https://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelkerick/50348473696/in/dateposted/ Flickr]
- 2023 fatality at Polar Circus: [https://www.climbing.com/news/remembering-yosemite-climber-zach-milligan/ Climbing.com]
{{Geographic Location 2
| Center = Cirrus Mountain
| North = Mount Stewart
| Northeast = White Goat Wilderness Area
| East = Huntington Glacier
| ESE = Mount Coleman
| Southeast = Mount Wilson
| South = Icefields Parkway
| Southwest = Mount Saskatchewan
| WSW = North Saskatchewan River
| West = Mount Athabasca
| WNW = Parker Ridge
| Northwest = Nigel Peak
}}
{{Canadian Rockies|state=collapsed}}
Category:Three-thousanders of Alberta