| Mount POW⁄MIA | |
|---|---|
Flag placed on summit, May 2005 |
|
| Elevation | 4,235 ft (1,291 m) |
| Location | |
| Location | Anchorage Municipality, Alaska, USA |
| Range | Chugach Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Anchorage B-6 |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | From the south side |
Mount POW/MIA is a mountain in the U.S. state of Alaska that has been dedicated to all the soldiers that are or have been given the status of Prisoner of War or Missing in Action (POW/MIA). The mountain is just north of Eklutna Lake and is west of Twin peaks and Bull Peak. There is a POW/MIA flag placed atop of Mount POW/MIA and is replaced annually by the Local Colony Army JROTC program during Memorial weekend in May. The hike is able to be done in one single day.
This mountain was recently named by the efforts of John Morrissey, a Vietnam veteran from Patterson, New York. Morrissey took it upon himself to get a monument for every soldier that has been POW/MIA, including the over 800,000 soldiers still classified as POW/MIA. John Morrissey died September 19, 2007 and had his ashes scattered on the mountain June 17, 2008. The first ascent by Colony JROTC was in May 1999. The mountain was formally named by USGS in 1999 and is currently the highest, largest natural monument in the world. The mountain is easily seen from the Alaska Veterans Wall in Palmer, Alaska located next to the Glenn Highway/Parks Highway Interchange and from American Legion Susitna Valley Post 35, Parks Highway Mile 46. This mountain is to be renowned throughout the United States. The hike is moderate.
This hike is best done between May and August. Early in the season you are able to glissade a snow field between 250 to 500 ft long. There is no actual trail, hikers can follow a topo map.