Spire Peaks
{{Short description|Mountain in the country of Canada}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Spire Peaks
| photo = Pyramid Mountain and Spire Peaks.jpg
| photo_caption = Spire Peaks (southwest aspect)
| elevation_m = 2279
| elevation_ref =BC Basemap topographic map{{cite peakbagger|pid=-94186|name=Spire Peaks, British Columbia|access-date=2023-01-18}}
| prominence_m = 208
| prominence_ref ={{cite web|url=https://peakvisor.com/peak/spire-peaks.html|title=Spire Peaks, Peakvisor.com|access-date=2023-01-18}}
| parent_peak = Mamquam Mountain (2,588m)
| isolation_km = 4.34
| country = Canada
| region_type = Province
| region = British Columbia
| part_type = Protected area
| part = Garibaldi Provincial Park
| district = New Westminster Land District
| range = Garibaldi Ranges
Coast Mountains
| listing = Mountains of British Columbia
| 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 Spire Peaks
| coordinates = {{coord|49|49|27|N|122|53|15|W|type:mountain_region:CA_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref = {{cite cgndb|id=JBDKS|name=Spire Peaks|access-date=2023-01-18}}
| topo = NTS {{Canada NTS Map Sheet|92|G|15}}
| rock =
| first_ascent = 1913 Don Munday
| easiest_route =
}}
Spire Peaks is a {{Convert|2279|m|ft|abbr=off|adj=on}} mountain located in British Columbia, Canada.{{cite bcgnis|id=16506|name=Spire Peaks|access-date=2023-01-18}}
Description
Spire Peaks is set within Garibaldi Provincial Park and is part of the Garibaldi Ranges of the Coast Mountains. It is situated {{convert|55|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} north of Vancouver and {{convert|6|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} north-northwest of line parent Mamquam Mountain, with the Mamquam Icefield between the two. The southwest summit has an elevation of 2,279 meters and the northeast peak is 2,245 meters, and they are separated 500 meters apart.BC Basemap topographic map Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises 1,280 meters (4,200 feet) in two kilometers (1.2 mile). Precipitation runoff and glacial meltwater from the north side of the peak drains to Pitt River, and the southern slope drains to Skookum Creek, thence Mamquam River.
History
The first ascent of the summit was made July 22, 1913, by Don Munday and Ben Hanafin.Kathryn Bridge (2006), A Passion for Mountains: The Lives of Don and Phyllis Munday, Rocky Mountain Books, {{ISBN|9781894765695}}, p. 36, 227. Don would write a poem about the climb, Spire Peak—First Ascent, and recall that the rocks "were as hot as a stove." The toponym was officially adopted March 9, 1979, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.
Climate
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Spire Peaks is located in the marine west coast 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. Winter temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. This climate supports the Spire Glacier on the northeast slope.
Gallery
File:Pyramid Mountain and Spire Peak.jpg|Pyramid Mountain (left), Spire Peaks (right), south aspect
File:Pyramid, Spire, Trick.jpg|Pyramid Mountain (left), Spire Peaks (left of center), Trick Peak (right)
File:Pyramid, Spire Peaks, Trick.jpg|Pyramid Mountain and Spire Peaks to left, Trick Peak (right). Southwest aspect.
File:Spire Peaks from Elfin Lake.jpg|Pyramid Mountain and Spire Peaks to left, Trick Peak (right). From Elfin Lake.
File:Pyramid, Spire Peaks, Trick Peak.jpg|Pyramid Mountain and Spire Peaks to left, Trick Peak (right). Southwest aspect.
See also
- {{Portal-inline|Mountains|size=tiny}}
- Geography of British Columbia
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- Spire Peaks: [https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-table/2-6153742/Canada/British%20Columbia/Spire%20Peaks Weather forecast]
- Spire Peak poem: [https://books.google.com/books?id=cRcfjwfnVk8C&dq=don+munday+spire+peak+first+ascent+poem&pg=PA36 google.com/books]
{{Geographic Location 2
| Center = Spire Peaks
| North = Pitt River
| Northeast = Spire Glacier
| East = Trick Peak
| Southeast = Mamquam Icefield
Mamquam Mountain
| South = Darling Peak
| Southwest = Pyramid Mountain
| West = Mamquam Lake
| Northwest = Mount Garibaldi
}}
{{Pacific Ranges}}