Polychrome Mountain
Geology
About sixty million years ago, the mountain was part of a low plain composed of deep beds of gravel covered by ancient plants and varied animal life. The plain was uplifted and folded into mountains. Molten rock pushed into the gravel and some poured out of the surface as lava. As mountain-building forces continued to push the land skyward, rushing streams stripped the slopes of most of the original sands and gravels. Some were mixed and fused by volcanic rocks. The multi-hued lavas, intrusive rocks, and cemented gravels give the mountain its brilliant colors.
Climate
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Polychrome Mountain is located in a subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and mild summers. Winter temperatures can drop below −20 °F with wind chill factors below −30 °F. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into the Toklat River, which in turn is part of the Tanana River drainage basin. The months May through June offer the most favorable weather for climbing or viewing.
See also
Gallery
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The view looking south from Polychrome Mountain
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West aspect
References
- ^ "Polychrome Mountain". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
- ^ "Polychrome Mountain - 5,950' Alaska". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
- ^ "Polychrome Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
- ^ Dictionary of Alaska Place Names, Donald J. Orth author, United States Government Printing Office (1967), page 766.
- ^ "Polychrome Pass". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
- ^ 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: Polychrome Mountain
- Driving on Polychrome Mountain at Polychrome Pass: YouTube