Mount Leeper
{{Short description|Mountain in Alaska, United States of America}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Mount Leeper
| photo = Mount Leeper.jpg
| photo_caption = Northeast aspect
| elevation_ft = 9603
| elevation_ref ={{cite web|url=https://listsofjohn.com/peak/166448|title=Leeper, Mount - 9,603' Alaska|website=listsofjohn.com|access-date=2023-12-04}}
| prominence_ft = 4653
| isolation_mi = 13.83
| parent_peak = Mount Miller (10,700 ft)
| etymology =
| range = Chugach Mountains
Robinson Mountains{{cite peakbagger|pid=462|name=Mount Leeper, Alaska|access-date=2023-12-04}}
| map = USA Alaska
| map_caption = Location in Alaska
| label_position = left
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 8
| mapframe-caption = Interactive map of Mount Leeper
| country = United States
| state = Alaska
| region = Yakutat
| region_type = Borough
| part_type = Protected area | part = Wrangell–St. Elias National Park
| coordinates = {{coord|60.2859937|N|142.1036579|W|type:mountain_region:US-AK_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref ={{cite gnis|id=1405273|name=Mount Leeper|access-date=2023-12-05}}
| topo = USGS Bering Glacier B-3
| first_ascent = 1998
| easiest_route =
}}
Mount Leeper is a {{convert|9603|ft|meter|adj=mid|-elevation|abbr=off|sp=us}} mountain summit in Alaska, United States.
Description
Mount Leeper is the highest point in the Robinson Mountains which are a small subrange of the Chugach Mountains. The prominent, highly glaciated peak is located {{convert|98|mi|km}} northwest of Yakutat, Alaska, in Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve. The mountain is surrounded by the Leeper Glacier, Guyot Glacier, Yahtse Glacier, and smaller unnamed glaciers. Precipitation runoff and glacial meltwater from the mountain flows to the Gulf of Alaska {{convert|17|mi|km}} to the south. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 4,600 feet (1,400 m) above the head of Leeper Glacier in one mile (1.6 km).
History
The mountain's local name was reported in 1943 by the Alaska Road Commission, but the namesake is unknown.Donald J. Orth, Dictionary of Alaska Place Names, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1967, page 570. The mountain's toponym has been officially adopted by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. The Robinson Mountains were named by Israel Russell in 1891 in remembrance of Leonidas I. Robinson who perished in nearby Icy Bay that year when his boat capsized in treacherous surf.Donald J. Orth, Dictionary of Alaska Place Names, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1967, page 808.
The first ascent of the summit was made on May 15, 1998, by Danny W. Kost and Art Weiner via the northwest ridge.[http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12199925901/North-America-United-States-Alaska-Wrangell-St-Elias-Range-Mt-Leeper-Ascent Danny W. Kost, North America, United States, Alaska, Wrangell-St. Elias Range, Mt. Leeper, Ascent], American Alpine Journal, 1999, Retrieved 2023-12-04.
On August 27, 2023, a small plane crashed at Mount Leeper which ended with two fatalities.[https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/aviation/2023/09/13/recovery-effort-called-off-in-wrangell-st-elias-plane-crash-that-killed-texas-couple/ Tess Williams, Recovery effort called off in Wrangell-St. Elias plane crash that killed Texas couple], Anchorage Daily News, September 13, 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
Climate
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Leeper is located in a tundra climate zone with long, 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 coming off the Gulf of Alaska are forced upwards by the Chugach Mountains (orographic lift), causing heavy precipitation in the form of rainfall and snowfall. Winter temperatures can drop below −10 °F with wind chill factors below −20 °F. This climate supports several glaciers surrounding this peak and the Bagley Icefield approximately {{convert|15|mi|km}} to the north. The months May through June offer the most favorable weather for viewing or climbing.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- Mount Leeper: [https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-table/2-5867269/United%20States/Alaska/Mount%20Leeper Weather forecast]
- Mt. Leeper (photo): [https://www.flickr.com/photos/wanderflechten/28920741330/in/album-72157678911028175/ Flickr]
{{Portal bar|Mountains|Geography|Alaska}}
{{Geographic Location 2
| Center = Mount Leeper
| North = Bagley Icefield
| Northeast = Yahtse Glacier
| East = Mount Huxley
| Southeast = Guyot Glacier
| South = Yakataga Glacier
| Southwest = Dahlgren Ridge
| West = Leeper Glacier
| Northwest = Mount Miller
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leeper, Mount}}
Category:Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve