Mount Carmack is a prominent 6,808-foot-elevation (2,075-meter) mountain summit located in the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains, in the U.S. state of Alaska. The peak is situated 7 mi (11 km) north-northeast of Skagway, and 3.5 mi (6 km) south of Mount Cleveland, on land managed by Tongass National Forest.[3] As the highpoint on the divide between the Taiya River and the Skagway River, precipitation runoff from the mountain drains east into the Skagway River and west into Taiya River, both of which empty into Taiya Inlet. Although modest in elevation, relief is significant since Mount Carmack rises 6,800 feet above the Taiya valley in less than 2 mi (3 km), and 5,800 feet above Skagway valley in about 2 miles. Mount Carmack has a lower subsidiary summit, elevation 6,621 ft (2,020 m), about 0.5 mi (1 km) to the northeast of the true summit.[4] The USGS topographic map has this lower northeast peak labelled as Mount Carmack.
| Mount Carmack | |
|---|---|
 East aspect | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 6,808 ft (2,075 m)[1] |
| Prominence | 3,199 ft (975 m)[1] |
| Parent peak | Taiya Peak[2] |
| Isolation | 5.01 mi (8.06 km)[1] |
| Coordinates | 59°33′36″N 135°15′42″W / 59.56000°N 135.26167°W[1] |
| Naming | |
| Etymology | George Carmack |
| Geography | |
  Mount Carmack Location of Mount Carmack in Alaska | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | Skagway |
| Protected area | Tongass National Forest |
| Parent range | Coast Mountains Boundary Ranges |
| Topo map | USGS Skagway C-1 |
History
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This mountain was named in 1898 by John A. Flemer of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, undoubtedly for George Carmack (1860–1922), whose discovery of large gold nuggets at Bonanza Creek in 1896 resulted in the Klondike Gold Rush.[5] The Chilkoot Trail, a route which was used by thousands heading to the goldfields, skirts along the western base of this mountain, whereas the Klondike Highway traverses the eastern base of the mountain. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park is located on both sides of the mountain, but the peak is not within the park boundary.
Climate
editBased on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Carmack has a subarctic climate with cold, snowy winters, and cool summers.[6] Weather systems coming off the Gulf of Alaska are forced upwards by the Coast Mountains (orographic lift), causing heavy precipitation in the form of rainfall and snowfall. Winter temperatures can drop below 0 °F with wind chill factors below −10 °F. This climate supports glaciers on all slopes surrounding the summit.[2] The months May through July offer the most favorable weather for viewing or climbing Mount Carmack.
See also
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Gallery
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Mount Carmack on the right, as identified by the USGS. The true summit of the massif is on the left. -
Mt. Carmack from White Pass and Yukon Route -
East aspect, with true summit left of center -
Summit detail, east face -
East aspect -
Summit centered
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References
edit- ^ a b c d "Mount Carmack, Alaska". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
- ^ a b "Mount Carmack". Bivouac.com. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
- ^ "Mount Carmack". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
- ^ "Mount Carmack-North Peak, Alaska". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
- ^ Donald J. Orth, Dictionary of Alaska Place Names, 1967, page 187.
- ^ Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11. ISSN 1027-5606.
External links
edit- Mount Carmack: weather forecast