Mount Gandalf
{{Short description|Mountain in the country of Canada}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Mount Gandalf
| photo = Mount Gandalf.jpg
| photo_caption = Mount Gandalf, southeast aspect
| elevation_m = 2391
| elevation_ref = {{cite bivouac|id=1023|name=Mount Gandalf|accessdate=2019-11-26}}
| prominence_m = 106
| range = Cadwallader Range
Coast Mountains
| parent_peak = Mount Aragorn (2435 m)
| listing = Mountains of British Columbia
| location = Birkenhead Lake Provincial Park
British Columbia, Canada
| district = Lillooet Land District
| map = British Columbia#Canada
| map_caption = Location in British Columbia##Location in Canada
| label_position = right
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 8
| mapframe-caption = Interactive map of Mount Gandalf
| coordinates = {{coord|50|37|54|N|122|42|07|W|type:mountain_region:CA-BC|display=inline,title}}
| topo = NTS {{Canada NTS Map Sheet|92|J|10}}
| rock = granite
| age =
| first_ascent = 1972 by Fred Thiessen, Eric White, Peter Jordan
| easiest_route = Scramble {{YDS|2}} via South Face
}}
Mount Gandalf is a {{Convert|2391|m|ft|abbr=off|adj=on}} mountain summit in the Cadwallader Range in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is at the northeast corner of Birkenhead Lake Provincial Park, {{convert|35|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} north of Pemberton, {{convert|56|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} west of Lillooet, {{convert|2.9|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} north of Tolkien Peak, and immediately south of Mount Aragorn, which is its nearest higher peak.{{cite peakbagger|66033|Mount Gandalf, British Columbia|access-date=2019-11-26}} Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into tributaries of the Fraser River.
History
The first ascent of the mountain was made on May 8, 1972, by Peter Jordan, Fred Thiessen, and Eric White.UBC Varsity Outdoor Club Journal, vol 15, 1972, pp 52-55 This climbing party also made the first ascents of nearby Mount Aragorn and Mount Shadowfax. The names for Mounts Aragorn, Gandalf, and Shadowfax were taken from fictional characters in the novels The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien, which were read while waiting out stormy weather during the 1972 outing. However, Mount Gandalf became incorrectly identified on maps as Shadowfax, and vice versa, as originally proposed in 1978 by Karl Ricker of the Alpine Club of Canada.{{cite bcgnis|id=58340|name=Mount Gandalf|access-date=2021-05-06}} The mountains' names were corrected as recommended in March 2006 by Scott Nelson and endorsed by the BC Mountaineering Club. The correction was officially adopted December 4, 2006, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.{{cite cgndb|id=JDHZO|name=Mount Gandalf|access-date=2019-11-26}}
Climate
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Gandalf is in a subarctic climate zone of western North America.{{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}} Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east toward the Coast Mountains where they are forced upward by the range (Orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall. As a result, the Coast Mountains experience high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. The months July through September offer the most favorable weather for climbing Mount Gandalf.
Climbing Routes
Gallery
Summit Mount Gandalf.jpg|The granite spire that is the summit of Gandalf
Mount Gandalf from north.jpg|Mount Gandalf, north aspect
Gandolf and Aragorn.jpg|Gandalf (left) and Aragorn (right) seen from Mount Shadowfax
See also
- Geography of British Columbia
- Geology of British Columbia
- {{Portal-inline|Mountains|size=tiny}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- Weather forecast: [https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-table/2-6080851/Canada/British%20Columbia/Mount%20Gandalf Mount Gandalf]
{{Pacific Ranges}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gandalf}}