Castle Peak (Alaska)
Castle Peak is a 10,190-foot (3110 meter) mountain summit located in the Wrangell Mountains, in the U.S. state of Alaska. The peak is situated in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, 21 mi (34 km) northwest of McCarthy, and 9.3 mi (15 km) south of Mount Blackburn on the south margin of the Kuskulana Glacier valley. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into Kuskulana River and Lakina River which are both tributaries of the Chitina River. The peak's descriptive name was used by early prospectors as reported in 1901 by the US Geological Survey.
Climate
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Castle Peak is located in a subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and cool summers. Winds coming off the Gulf of Alaska are forced upwards by the Wrangell Mountains (orographic lift), causing precipitation in the form of rainfall and snowfall. Winter temperatures can drop below −20 °F with wind chill factors below −30 °F. The months May through June offer the most favorable weather for viewing and climbing.
See also
References
- ^ Castle Peak AK, listsofjohn.com
- ^ "Castle Peak, Alaska". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2020-02-01.
- ^ "Castle Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2020-02-01.
- ^ Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11. ISSN 1027-5606.
Gallery
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Castle Peak, north aspect
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Castle Peak, south aspect
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Castle Peak (right), with Kuskulana Glacier. 1924
External links
- Castle Peak: Mountain Forecast