White Pyramid (Banff)
{{short description|Mountain in Banff NP, Alberta, Canada}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = White Pyramid
| photo = Mount Chephren and White Pyramid.jpg
| photo_caption = White Pyramid (right) and Mount Chephren (left) seen from north along the Icefields Parkway
| elevation_m = 3219
| elevation_ref = {{cite bivouac|id=1703|name=White Pyramid|access-date=2019-02-12}}
| prominence_m = 236
| range = Waputik Mountains
Canadian Rockies
| parent_peak = Howse Peak (3295 m)
| listing = Mountains of Alberta
| country = Canada | region_type = Province | region = Alberta
| part_type = Protected area | part = Banff National Park
| map = Alberta#Canada
| map_caption = Location in Alberta##Location in Canada
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 8
| mapframe-caption = Interactive map of White Pyramid
| coordinates = {{coord|51|50|08|N|116|41|40|W|type:mountain_region:CA-AB_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref = {{cite cgndb|id=IAPDY|name=White Pyramid|access-date=2019-02-11}}
| topo_map = NTS {{Canada NTS Map Sheet|82|N|15}}
| rock = Sedimentary
| age = Cambrian
| first_ascent = 1939 Katie Gardiner, Edward Feuz Jr. (guide){{cite peakfinder|id=1516|name=White Pyramid|access-date=2019-08-02}}
| easiest_route =
}}
White Pyramid is a {{convert|3219|m|ft|adj=on}} mountain summit located between the Howse River valley and Mistaya River valley of Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Its nearest higher peak is Howse Peak, {{convert|3.00|km|mi|abbr=on}} to the south. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,460 meters (4,790 ft) above Chephren Lake in 2.5 km (1.5 mile). White Pyramid is visible from the Icefields Parkway in the vicinity of Waterfowl Lakes.
History
It was named in 1901 by J. Norman Collie to distinguish it from Mount Chephren, which back then was named Pyramid Mountain. The two peaks are nearly the same in height, and separated by only one kilometre. However, White Pyramid has a glacier on its north aspect, which Chephren does not.
The first ascent of White Pyramid was made in 1939 by Kate (Katie) Gardiner and guide Edward Feuz Jr. The climbing duo made many first ascents in the Canadian Rockies during the 1930s.{{cite peakfinder|id=26|subject=people|name=Katie Gardner|access-date=2019-08-02}}
The mountain's name was made official in 1961 when approved by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.
Geology
Like other mountains in Banff Park, White Pyramid is composed of sedimentary rock laid down during the Precambrian to Jurassic periods.{{Belyea-Banff-NP}} Formed in shallow seas, this sedimentary rock was pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny.{{citation|title=Geology of the Rocky Mountains and Columbias |author=Gadd, Ben |year=2008}}
Climate
Based on the Köppen climate classification, White Pyramid is located in a subarctic climate zonewith 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 |issue=5 | pages = 1633–1644 |doi=10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2007HESS...11.1633P | issn = 1027-5606}} Winter temperatures can drop below -20 °C with wind chill factors below -30 °C. Precipitation runoff from White Pyramid drains into the Mistaya River and Howse River which are both tributaries of the North Saskatchewan River.
Gallery
File:White Pyramid and Mt. Chephren.jpg|White Pyramid (left) and Mt. Chephren seen from the south along the Icefields Parkway
File:White Pyramid and Mount Chephren.jpg|White Pyramid and Mount Chephren in winter
File:Peaks (50013017983).jpg|Looking north through Mistaya Valley with White Pyramid furthest left
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- Parks Canada web site: [https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/banff Banff National Park]
- White Pyramid weather: [https://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Mount-Chephren/forecasts/3274 Mountain Forecast]
{{Geographic Location 2
| Center = White Pyramid
| North = Mistaya River
| Northeast = Mount Murchison
| ENE = Mount Chephren
| East = Icefields Parkway
| ESE = Chephren Lake
| Southeast =
| South = Howse Peak
| Southwest = Howse Pass
| West = Howse River
| Northwest = Epaulette Mountain
}}
{{Canadian Rockies|state=collapsed}}
Category:Three-thousanders of Alberta