Mount Robson

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Mount Robson

South face, August 2005
Elevation 3,954 metres (12,972 ft)[1]
Location British Columbia, Canada
Range Rainbow Range (Canadian Rockies)
Prominence 2,829 m (9,281 ft)[2]
Coordinates 53°06′37″N 119°09′24″W / 53.11028, -119.15667Coordinates: 53°06′37″N 119°09′24″W / 53.11028, -119.15667[2]
Topo map NTS 83E/03
First ascent July 31, 1913 by William W. Foster, Albert H. McCarthy and Conrad Kain[2][1]
Easiest route difficult rock/ice climb
Mt. Robson (British Columbia)
Mt. Robson
Mt. Robson
Location in British Columbia

Mount Robson is the highest point in the Canadian Rockies. Mount Robson is located entirely within Mount Robson Provincial Park of British Columbia, and is part of the Rainbow Range. It is commonly thought to be the highest point in B.C., but that distinction is held by Mount Fairweather at 4,663 metres (15,299 ft). The highest mountain in Canada is Mount Logan at 5,959 m (19,551 ft).

Mount Robson was likely named for Colin Robertson, an employee of the Hudson's Bay Company. There is no record of anyone named Robson visiting the area at the time the name came into use (1815?). The Texqakallt, a Secwepemc people and the earliest inhabitants of the area, call it Yuh-hai-has-kun or The Mountain of the Spiral Road.[3] Other unofficial names include Cloud Cap Mountain and Snow Cap Mountain.[1]

Mount Robson boasts great vertical relief over the local terrain. From Berg Lake the mountain rises 2,300 metres (7,500 ft) to the summit. The north face of Mount Robson is heavily glaciated and 800 metres (2,600 ft) of ice plunge from the summit to Berg Glacier. The south side of the mountain rises 3,000 m (9,800 ft) from base-to-summit. The 1500-metre (4950-foot) Emperor Face on the northwest side provides a formidable challenge to climbers attempting a route up this vertical wall of rock and ice. With the combination of no easy routes up Mount Robson and frequent severe weather, the result is usually just a handful of successful climbs each year.

The south face of Mount Robson is clearly visible from the Yellowhead Highway (Highway 16). The north face can be seen from Berg Lake, reached by a 19 km (11.8 mi) hike. The lake is approximately two km long. There are backcountry campgrounds at each end of the lake.[4]

The Robson Glacier, the source of the Robson River, which flows off the north east flank of Mount Robson at one point in time fed two oceans. In the forefield of the Robson Glacier, lies a Nunatak which divided the flow of the glacier two ways:

  • West down the Robson River valley
  • East down the drainage into Alberta

Had ice been present during the Inter Provincial Boundary Survey of 1915, then the border between Alberta and British Columbia would have touched the peak of Mount Robson.

[edit] Routes

  • South Face (Normal Route) IV
  • Kain Face IV (named after Conrad Kain)
  • Wishbone Arete IV 5.6
  • Emperor Ridge V 5.6
  • Emperor Face, Stump/Logan VI 5.9 A2
  • Emperor Face, Cheesmond/Dick VI 5.9 A2
  • Emperor Face, Infinite Patience VI WI5 M5 5.9
  • Emperor Face, House-Haley M7
  • North Face IV
  • Fuhrer Ridge IV 5.4

Mt. Robson - August 2005

Berg Lake and Mount Robson - August 2005

Mt. Robson (Sunset) - August 2005

Mt. Robson - southwest face August 2005

Mt. Robson - south face July 1992

Mount Robson is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies

Viewed From Whistlers Mountain near Jasper, Alberta; nearly 100km. away on an exceptionally clear day!

Mt.Robson-the south side

Mt. Robson and Mist Glacier as seen from a location just upstream of Emperor Falls Campground

Mount Robson and the Robson Glacier as seen from the Snowbird Pass route.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Mount Robson on Peakfinder - pictures and more history.
  2. ^ a b c Mount Robson in the Canadian Mountain Encyclopedia
  3. ^ Mount Robson Provincial Park, Draft Background Report, September, 2006
  4. ^ BC Parks - Mount Robson Provincial Park

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:


[edit] Notes

Note that many sources give the height as 3954 m (12972 ft), e.g. Peakfinder

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