Mount Tom White
Tom White
The peak was named for Thomas George White, an early pioneer of the southeastern Alaska Territory who first went to Alaska as a camp hand with the first Geological Survey-National Geographic St. Elias Expedition, and returned with the second St. Elias expedition in 1891. Following the end of the second expedition, Tom stayed in Alaska "to try his fortune in gold mining". Known as the "Sourdough Driller," he is credited with discovering the Katalla oil seep in 1894, and drilling the first oil well in Alaska in 1902. The mountain's toponym was officially adopted in 1950 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.
Climate
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Tom White 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 Chugach Mountains (orographic lift), causing heavy precipitation in the form of rainfall and snowfall. Winter temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. This climate supports the Miles Glacier to the west, Martin River Glacier to the south, Fan Glacier to the north, and Bagley Icefield to the east. The months May through June offer the most favorable weather for viewing and climbing.
See also
References
- ^ "Mount Tom White, Alaska". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
- ^ Mount Tom White, listsofjohn.com
- ^ "Mount Tom White". Bivouac.com. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
- ^ "Mount Tom White". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
- ^ Harrison, Edward Sanford, ed. (May 1911). "Tom White, Discoverer of the Katalla Oil Fields (photo with caption)". Alaska-Yukon Magazine. XI (4): 19.
- ^ Brown, Tricia. "Katalla: Alaska's First Oil Well". LitSite Alaska. University of Alaska Anchorage. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
- ^ 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.
External links
- Weather forecast: Mount Tom White