Mount Churchill
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mount Churchill | |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 15,638 ft (4,766m) |
| Location | Alaska, USA |
| Range | Saint Elias Mountains |
| Prominence | 1188 ft (362 m) |
| Coordinates | |
| Topo map | USGS McCarthy B-2 Quadrangle |
| First ascent | August 20, 1951 by R. Gates, J. Lindberg |
| Easiest route | snow climb |
Mount Churchill is a northeastern neighbor of Mount Bona in the Saint Elias Range of Alaska. In terms of elevation, it is a major North American peak, at well over 15,000 feet; however, in terms of topographic prominence or isolation, it is less significant, with less than a 1200 foot drop from its summit to the saddle with Mount Bona, whose summit is little more than two miles distant. (Note however that this is plenty of prominence to qualify it as an independent peak, by most North American standards.)
Mount Churchill also lies on the northern, gentler side of the Mount Bona massif. While that does not make climbing it trivial, it does make it a less spectacular peak visually than some of the lower outliers of Mount Bona such as University Peak or Aello Peak.
Mount Churchill was first climbed in 1951 by R. Gates and J. Lindberg. The current standard route is the South Ridge, usually as part of a climb of Mount Bona from the east, starting from the Klutlan Glacier.
[edit] Sources
Michael Wood and Colby Coombs, Alaska: A Climbing Guide, The Mountaineers, 2001.
