Mount Lucania

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Mount Lucania
Elevation 5,226 metres (17,146 ft)[1]
Location Yukon, Canada
Range Saint Elias Mountains
Prominence 3,046 metres (9,993 ft)[1]
Coordinates 61°01′19″N 140°27′46″W / 61.02194, -140.46278Coordinates: 61°01′19″N 140°27′46″W / 61.02194, -140.46278
Topo map NTS 115F/01
First ascent 1937 by Bradford Washburn and Robert Hicks Bates
Easiest route glacier/snow/ice climb

Mount Lucania is the third highest mountain in Canada. A long ridge connects Mt. Lucania with Mount Steele (5,073m), the fifth highest in Canada. Lucania is named after a region of southern Italy, known today as Basilicata.

The first ascent of Mount Lucania was made in 1937 by Bradford Washburn and Robert Hicks Bates. They used an airplane to reach Walsh Glacier, 2,670 m (8,760 ft) above sea level; the use of air support for mountaineering was novel at the time. Washburn called upon Bob Reeve, a famous Alaskan bush pilot, who later replied by cable to Washburn, "Anywhere you'll ride, I'll fly". The ski-equipped Fairchild F-51 made several trips to the landing site on the glacier without event in May, but on landing with Washburn and Bates in June, the plane sank into unseasonal slush. Washburn, Bates and Reeve pressed hard for five days to get the airplane out and Reeve was eventually able to get the airplane airborne with all excess weight removed and with the assistance of a smooth icefall with a steep drop. Washburn and Bates continued on foot to make the first ascent of Lucania, and in an epic descent and journey to civilization,[2] they hiked over 150 miles (240 km) through the wilderness to safety in the small town of Burwash Landing in the Yukon.[3]

The second ascent of Lucania was made in 1967 by a team lead by Gerry Roach.[4]

[edit] Citations

  1. ^ a b Mt. Lucania on Bivouac.com
  2. ^ Venables, Stephen (2006). Voices from the Mountains. Pleasantville, NY: Reader's Digest, 40-43. ISBN 0-7621-0810-X. OCLC 68417016. 
  3. ^ Anchorage Daily News. "Climber's exploits earned little recognition" by Craig Medred. October 7, 2007.
  4. ^ Second ascent of Mt. Lucania

[edit] See also

[edit] Literature

David Roberts, Escape from Lucania: An Epic Story of Survival. ISBN 0-7432-2432-9.

[edit] External links


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