Mount Gakona
{{Short description|Mountain in Alaska, United States}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Mount Gakona
| photo = Mount Gakona.jpg
| photo_caption = Southwest aspect centered at top
| elevation_ft = 9865
| elevation_ref ={{cite web|url=https://peakvisor.com/peak/mount-gakona.html|title=Mount Gakona, Peakvisor.com|access-date=2023-12-22}}
| prominence_ft = 2313
| isolation_mi = 7.73
| isolation_ref ={{cite web|url=https://listsofjohn.com/peak/190185|title=Gakona, Mount - 9,850' AK|website=listsofjohn.com|access-date=2023-12-22}}
| parent_peak = Mount Kimball (10,300 ft)
| country = United States
| state = Alaska
| region = Southeast Fairbanks
| region_type = Census Area
| range = Alaska Range
Delta Mountains{{cite peakbagger|pid=26267|name=Mount Gakona, Alaska|access-date=2023-12-22}}
| map = USA Alaska
| label_position = left
| map_caption = Location in Alaska
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 8
| mapframe-caption = Interactive map of Mount Gakona
| coordinates = {{coord|63.3225394|N|145.1807369|W|type:mountain_region:US-WY_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref ={{cite gnis|id=1402452|name=Mount Gakona|access-date=2023-12-22}}
| topo = USGS Mount Hayes B-3
| first_ascent = 1970[https://www.alaskaalpineclub.com/clubhistory Franz Mueter, Club History], Alaskaalpineclub.com, Retrieved 2023-12-22.
| easiest_route =
}}
Mount Gakona is a {{convert|9865|ft|meter|adj=mid|-elevation|abbr=off|sp=us}} mountain summit in Alaska.
Description
Mount Gakona is located {{convert|22|mi|km}} northeast of Paxson in the Delta Mountains which are a subrange of the Alaska Range. The heavily glaciated mountain ranks as the fourth-highest peak in the Delta Mountains. Precipitation runoff and glacial meltwater from the mountain's north slope drains to Johnson Glacier → Johnson River → Tanana River, whereas the south slope drains to the Gakona Glacier → Gakona River → Copper River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises {{convert|4865|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} above the Johnson Glacier in 1.3 mile (2.1 km). The first ascent of the summit was made on March 24, 1980, by Daniel Osborne, Steve O'Brien, Mark Hottman, and Toby Wheeler.[https://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12197133301/North-America-United-States-Alaska-Mount-Gakona-Eastern-Alaska-Range Daniel Osborne, North America, United States, Alaska, Mount Gakona, Eastern Alaska Range, 1971], publications.americanalpineclub.org, Retrieved 2023-12-22. The climbers reported that the mountain has two peaks separated one mile apart by a knife-edged ridge. The word "Gakona" {{IPAc-en|ɡ|ə|ˈ|k|oʊ|n|ə}} (Ggax Kuna' in Ahtna language) means "rabbit" or "rabbit river."[http://www.uaf.edu/anla/collections/map/names/ University of Alaska Fairbanks: Alaska Native Place Names], Retrieved 2023-12-22.Sandy Nestor, Indian Placenames in America, Volume 1, McFarland, 2015, {{ISBN|9780786493395}}, p. 11. The mountain's toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names.Donald J. Orth, Dictionary of Alaska Place Names, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1967, page 358.
Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Mount Gakona is located in a tundra climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and cool 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 | issn = 1027-5606}} Weather systems are forced upwards by the Delta Mountains (orographic lift), causing heavy precipitation in the form of rainfall and snowfall. Winter temperatures can drop below 0 °F with wind chill factors below −10 °F. This climate supports the Johnson Glacier, Gakona Glacier, and smaller unnamed glaciers surrounding the peak.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- Mount Gakona: [https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-table/2-5862651/United%20States/Alaska/Southeast%20Fairbanks/Mount%20Gakona weather forecast]
- Mount Gakona (photo): [https://www.flickr.com/photos/leepetersen/53155649255/in/dateposted/ Flickr]
{{Portal bar|Mountains|Geography|Alaska}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gakona, Mount}}
Category:Three-thousanders of the United States
Category:Landforms of Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska