Mount Deborah

{{Short description|Mountain in Alaska, United States}}

{{Infobox mountain

| name = Mount Deborah

| photo = Mount Deborah.jpg

| elevation_ft = 12,339

| elevation_ref = {{ngvd29}}{{cite peakbagger |pid=304 |name=Mount Deborah, Alaska |accessdate=2013-01-17}}

| prominence_ft = 5139

| prominence_ref =

| listing = {{unbulleted list

|US most prominent peaks 114th

}}

| map = Alaska

| map_caption = Location in Alaska

| label_position = left

| mapframe = yes

| mapframe-zoom = 8

| mapframe-caption = Interactive map of Mount Deborah

| location = Denali Borough, Alaska, U.S.

| range = Eastern Alaska Range

| coordinates = {{coord|63.6375|N|147.2372222|W|type:mountain_region:US-AK_scale:100000_source:GNIS|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| range_coordinates =

| coordinates_ref = {{cite gnis |id=1401052 |name=Mount Deborah |accessdate=2013-01-17}}

| topo = USGS Healy C-1

| first_ascent = 1954 by Fred Beckey, Henry Meybohm, Heinrich Harrer

| easiest_route = snow/ice climb

}}

Mount Deborah is a mountain in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is one of the major peaks of the eastern Alaska Range. Despite its low absolute elevation (compared to other major peaks in North America), it is a particularly large and steep peak in terms of its quick rise over local terrain. For example, the Northeast Face rises {{convert|7000|ft|m}} in approximately {{convert|1.5|mi|km}}. This steepness, combined with difficult access, harsh weather, and classic Alaskan ice and snow features, make this a challenging peak to climb.{{cite book|last1=Orth|first1=Donald J.|title=Dictionary of Alaska Place Names|year=1967|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|location=Washington|page=262}}

Mount Deborah was named in 1907 by James Wickersham for his first wife, Deborah Susan (Bell) Wickersham.{{cite book|last1=Atwood|first1=Evangeline|last2=DeArmond|first2=Robert N.|author-link2=R. N. DeArmond|title=Who's Who in Alaskan Politics|year=1977|publisher=Binford & Mort for the Alaska Historical Commission|location=Portland|page=106}}

First ascent

Mount Deborah was first climbed in 1954 by Fred Beckey, Henry Meybohm, Heinrich Harrer, via the South Ridge.

Notable attempts and ascents

  • 1953 South Ridge (attempt) by Al Paige, Howard Bowman, Brooke Marston, Doctor McFarland.
  • 1964 East Ridge (attempt) by David Roberts and Don Jensen.{{Cite book | last = Roberts | first = David | title = Deborah; and, The Mountain of my fear: the early climbs | publisher = The Mountaineers | year = 1991 | location = Seattle, WA, USA | isbn = 978-0-89886-270-6 }}
  • 1975 West Buttress and South Ridge FA of route, 2nd of summit by Pat Condran, Mark Hottman, Brian Okonek, Dave Pettigrew, Pat Stuart and Toby Wheeler. Summit reached May 8 after 36 days of effort.{{Cite journal | last = Okonek | first = Brian | title = Deborah | journal = American Alpine Journal | volume = 20 | issue = 50 | pages = 294–301 | publisher = American Alpine Club | location = New York, NY, USA | year = 1976 }}
  • 1976 Northwest Ridge FA of route, 3rd of summit by Rick Nolting, Barry Nash, John Cady, and Ray Watts, summit reached July 26.{{Cite journal|title=Northwest Ridge of Deborah|journal=American Alpine Journal|location=New York, NY, USA|publisher=American Alpine Club|volume=21 |issue=51|page=116}}
  • 1977 North Face FA of route by Dakers Gowans and Charles Macquarrie, summit reached May 8.{{Cite journal | last = Gowans | first = Dakers | title = Deborah's North Face | journal = American Alpine Journal | volume = 21 | issue = 52 | pages = 337–343 | publisher = American Alpine Club | location = New York, NY, USA | year = 1978 }}

Today's standard route is the West Face; the Northwest Ridge is also a recommended route.

Mount Deborah is the subject of one of the classics of mountaineering literature, Deborah: A Wilderness Narrative, by David Roberts, which describes a failed attempt on the peak in 1964.

Deborah Avenue in College, Alaska is named for the mountain. Parallel to the street in the same subdivision is Hayes Avenue.

See also

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

  • Michael Wood and Colby Coombs, Alaska: A Climbing Guide, The Mountaineers, 2001.

Further reading

{{Cite book | last = Roberts | first = David | title = Deborah; and, The Mountain of my fear: the early climbs | publisher = The Mountaineers | year = 1991 | location = Seattle, WA, USA | isbn = 978-0-89886-270-6 }}