| Mount Fairweather | |
|---|---|
| Tsalxhaan | |
Fairweather from Glacier Bay, Sept. 2004 |
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| Elevation | 4,671 m (15,325 ft) [1] |
| Prominence | 3,956 m (12,979 ft) [1] Ranked 26th |
| Listing | List of Ultras in Canada List of Ultras in the United States |
| Location | |
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Mount Fairweather
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| Location | Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska / Stikine Region, British Columbia |
| Range | Fairweather Range |
| Coordinates | [2] |
| Topo map | NTS 114I/13 |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | June 8, 1931 by Allen Carpé and Terris Moore |
| Easiest route | glacier/snow/ice climb |
Mount Fairweather (officially gazetted as Fairweather Mountain in Canada[2] but referred to as Mount Fairweather), is one of the world's highest coastal mountains at 4,671 metres (15,325 feet.) It is located 20 km (12 mi) east of the Pacific Ocean on the border of Alaska, United States and western British Columbia, Canada. Most of the mountain lies within Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in the City and Borough of Yakutat, Alaska (USA), though the summit borders Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park, British Columbia (Canada), making it the highest point in that province. It is also designated as Boundary Peak 164 or as US/Canada Boundary Point #164.[3][4]
The mountain was named on May 3, 1778 by Captain James Cook,[5] apparently for the unusually good weather encountered at the time. The name has been translated into many languages. It was called "Mt. Beautemps" by La Perouse (1786, atlas), "Mte. Buen-tiempo" by Galiano (1802, map 3), "Gor[a]-Khoroshy-pogody" on Russian Hydrographic Dept. Chart 1378 in 1847, and "G[ora] Fayerveder" by Captain Tebenkov (1852, map 7), Imperial Russian Navy. It was called "Schönwetterberg" by Constantin Grewink in 1850 and "Schönwetter Berg" by Justus Perthes in 1882.[6]
Fairweather was first climbed in 1931 by Allen Carpé and Terris Moore.[6]
Mount Fairweather is located right above Glacier Bay in the Fairweather Range of the Saint Elias Mountains. Mount Fairweather also marks the northwest extremity of the Alaska Panhandle.
Like many large mountains in the St. Elias Mountains, Mount Fairweather has great vertical relief due to its dramatic rise from Glacier Bay. However, due to poor weather in the area, this effect is usually obscured with the clouds which often hides the summit from view.
Known in the Tlingit language as Tsalxhaan, it is said this mountain and Yaas'éit'aa Shaa (Mt. St. Elias) were originally next to each other but had an argument and separated. Their children, the mountains in between the two peaks, are called Tsalxhaan Yatx'i (Children of Tsalxaan.)
Despite its name, Mount Fairweather has generally harsh weather conditions. It receives over 100 inches (254 cm) of precipitation each year (mostly snow) and sees temperatures of around -50°F (-46°C).