Mount Head (Alberta)
{{short description|Mountain in Alberta, Canada}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Mount Head
| photo = File:TSL 2752 (14971256307).jpg
| photo_caption = West aspect at sunset
| elevation_m = 2782
| prominence_m = 403
| prominence_ref ={{cite web|url=https://peakvisor.com/peak/mount-head-canada.html|title=Mount Head, Peakvisor.com|access-date=November 25, 2022}}
| isolation_km = 10.94
| range = Highwood Range
Canadian Rockies
| listing = Mountains of Alberta
| etymology = Edmund Walker Head
| country = Canada
| region_type = Province
| region = Alberta
| part_type = Protected area
| part = Don Getty Wildland Provincial Park
| map = Alberta#Canada
| map_caption = Location in Alberta##Location in Canada
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 8
| mapframe-caption = Interactive map of Mount Head
| coordinates = {{coord|50|26|25|N|114|39|00|W|type:mountain_region:CA-AB_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref = {{cite cgndb|id=IAISE|name=Mount Head|access-date=2022-11-25}}
| topo = NTS {{Canada NTS Map Sheet|82|J|7}}
| rock = Sedimentary rock
| type = Fault block
| first_ascent = 1934 by Raymond M. Patterson
| easiest_route = ScramblingAndrew Nugara (2014), More Scrambles in the Canadian Rockies, Rocky Mountain Books, {{ISBN|9781771600163}}, p. 204
}}
Mount Head is a {{Convert|2782|m|ft|abbr=off|adj=on}} mountain summit located in Alberta, Canada.
Description
Mount Head is situated {{convert|83|km|mi|abbr=on}} southwest of Calgary near the southern end of the Highwood Range which is a subrange of the Canadian Rockies.Dave Birrell, Ron Ellis (2000), Calgary's Mountain Panorama, Rocky Mountain Books, {{ISBN|9780921102120}}, p. 20 The peak is set {{convert|14|km|mi|abbr=on}} east of the Continental Divide, in Don Getty Wildland Provincial Park. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the Highwood River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,200 meters (3,937 ft) above the Highwood Valley in {{convert|5|km|mi|abbr=on}}. The mountain can be seen from Highway 40 and Highway 541.
History
The mountain was named in 1859 by John Palliser to honor Edmund Walker Head (1805–1868), the Governor General of the Province of Canada who had provided support for the Palliser expedition. The mountain's toponym was officially adopted March 31, 1924, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.
The first ascent of the summit was made in 1934 by Raymond M. Patterson.{{cite peakfinder|id=618|name=Mount Head|access-date=2022-11-25}} The peak immediately northwest of Mt. Head on the opposite side of Head Creek is officially named "Patterson's Peak" in his honor.David Finch (2011), R.M. Patterson: A Life of Great Adventure, Touchwood Editions, {{ISBN|9781926971292}}]
Geology
Mount Head was created during the Lewis Overthrust. The peak is underlain by folded and thrust-faulted sedimentary rock laid down during the Mesozoic and Paleozoic eras. 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 Mount Head Formation formed during the Viséan age.
Climate
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Head 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}} Winter temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. The months June through September offer the most favorable weather to climb or view Mount Head.
Gallery
File:Mount Head.jpg|West aspect
File:TSL 2664 (14969461120).jpg|West aspect
File:Mt. Head, se.jpg|Southeast aspect
File:Mt. Head and Holy Cross Mountain.jpg|Mt. Head (left) with Holy Cross Mountain (right) from Highwood Valley
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- Mount Head: [https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-table/2-6081098/Canada/Alberta/Mount%20Head weather forecast]
- Mt. Head (photo): [https://www.flickr.com/photos/90641000@N05/31342588907/in/album-72157633463830276/ Flickr]
{{Canadian Rockies|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Head}}