Gap Mountain (Alberta)
{{short description|Mountain in Alberta, Canada}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Gap Mountain
| photo = Gap Mountain Kananaskis country highway 40 heading to Highwood pass.jpg
| photo_caption = Gap Mountain from Highway 40 at Highwood Pass
| elevation_m = 2675
| elevation_ref = {{cite bivouac|id=5469|name= Gap Mountain |accessdate=2018-11-28}}
| prominence_m = 282
| range = Opal Range
Canadian Rockies
| parent_peak = Elpoca Mountain (3,036 m)
| listing = Mountains of Alberta
| location = Alberta, Canada
| map = Alberta#Canada
| map_caption = Location in Alberta##Location in Canada
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 8
| mapframe-caption = Interactive map of Gap Mountain
| coordinates = {{coord|50|39|22|N|115|03|15|W|type:mountain_region:CA-AB_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref = {{cite cgndb|id= IAFXJ |name= Gap Mountain |accessdate=2018-11-28}}
| topo = NTS {{Canada NTS Map Sheet|82|J|11}}
| rock = Limestone
| age = Cambrian
| first_ascent =
| easiest_route = Scramble on eastern side
}}
Gap Mountain is a {{Convert|2675|m|ft|abbr=off|adj=on}} mountain summit located at the southern end of the Opal Range in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. The nearest higher neighbor is Elpoca Mountain, {{convert|2|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} to the east. Gap Mountain is situated {{cvt|5|km|1}} south of Mount Wintour, within Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. Gap Mountain is a conspicuous peak seen from Alberta Highway 40 at Highwood Pass. It is a popular climbing destination because it offers exposed scrambling on its eastern flanks with excellent summit views of Kananaskis Country.{{cite peakbagger|pid=29548|name=Gap Mountain, Alberta|access-date=2019-09-08}}
History
George Pocaterra named it for its location at the gap between the Opal Range and Elk Range. The mountain's toponym was officially adopted in 1978 by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.
Geology
Gap Mountain is composed of limestone laid down during the Precambrian to Jurassic periods. 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}} Gap Mountain was created during the Lewis Overthrust. The steeply tilted strata are virtually the same in each peak of the Opal Range, with softer layers sandwiched between harder layers.
Climate
{{one source|section|date=October 2024}}
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Gap Mountain is located in a subarctic climate zone 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 | pages = 1633–1644 | issn = 1027-5606}} Temperatures can drop below {{cvt|−20|°C}} with wind chill factors below {{cvt|−30|°C}}.
June through September offer the most favorable weather to climb or view Gap Mountain.
Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into Pocaterra Creek, a tributary of the Kananaskis River.
Gallery
File:Gap Mountain.jpg|Southwest aspect in winter
File:Gap Mountain sw winter.jpg|Northwest aspect in winter
File:Kananaskis Park…Highwood Pass Gap Mountain.jpg|Highwood Pass and Gap Mountain
File:Elpoca Mountain and Gap Mountain.jpg|Gap Mountain (left) and Elpoca Mountain (right)
See also
References
{{Reflist|refs=
{{cite book | title=Scrambles in the Canadian Rockies | author=Kane, Alan | chapter = Gap Mountain
| publisher=Rocky Mountain Books|location = Calgary | year=1999|isbn=0-921102-67-4|pages=152-153}}
}}
External links
- Gap Mountain weather: [https://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Mount-Wintour/forecasts/2700 Mountain Forecast]
- Gap Mountain winter photo: [https://www.flickr.com/photos/24693457@N05/13971522734/in/album-72157610707013757/ Flickr]
{{Canadian Rockies|state=collapsed}}