Benign Peak

Benign Peak is a 7,235 ft (2,210 m) elevation mountain summit located in the western Chugach Mountains, in Anchorage Municipality in the U.S. state of Alaska. The mountain is situated in Chugach State Park, 28 mi (45 km) east of Anchorage, and 4.5 mi (7 km) south of Eklutna Lake. The nearest higher peak is Mount Rumble, 2.2 mi (4 km) to the southwest, and The Mitre is set 2.4 mi (4 km) east-southeast, on the opposite side of the Eklutna Glacier.[1] Although modest in elevation, relief is significant since the eastern aspect of the mountain rises over 5,000 feet above this glacier in approximately one mile. This peak belongs to a group of peaks in the Eklutna River drainage which start with the letter "B", such as Bold Peak, Bashful Peak, Baleful Peak, and Mt. Beelzebub. Benign Peak was so named in 1965 by the Mountaineering Club of Alaska because "nearby Bellicose Peak was a much harder climb, while this one's nature was quite benign since the rock was not too rotten and the weather wasn't too bad."[3][4] Benign Peak's name was officially adopted in 1966 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. The first ascent of this mountain was made in August 1965 by Art Davidson and John Vincent Hoeman by ascending the East Face, and descending the South Gully.[4][5]

Benign Peak
North aspect from frozen Eklutna Lake
Highest point
Elevation7,235 ft (2,205 m) [1]
Prominence1,735 ft (529 m) [1]
Parent peakMount Rumble (7,530 ft)[2]
Isolation2.2 mi (3.5 km) [2]
Coordinates61°16′25″N 149°01′29″W [1]
Geography
Benign Peak
Location of Benign Peak in Alaska
LocationChugach State Park
Anchorage Municipality, Alaska
Alaska, United States
Parent rangeChugach Mountains
Topo mapUSGS Anchorage B-6
Climbing
First ascent1965
Easiest routeSoutheast gully

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Benign Peak is located in a subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.[6] Weather systems coming off the Gulf of Alaska are forced upwards by the Chugach Mountains (orographic lift), causing heavy precipitation in the form of rainfall and snowfall. Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into Cook Inlet via the Eklutna River and Peters Creek.

See also

References
  1. "Benign Peak, Alaska". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  2. "Benign Peak - 7,250' Alaska". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  3. Donald J. Orth, Dictionary of Alaska Place Names, 1967, page 124.
  4. "Benign Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  5. The Western Chugach Range, Alaska, American Alpine Club
  6. Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11: 1633–1644. ISSN 1027-5606.
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