Elpoca Mountain

Elpoca Mountain is a 3,036-metre (9,961-foot) mountain summit located at the southern end of the Opal Range in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada.[1] Its nearest higher peak is Mount Evan-Thomas, 12.0 km (7.5 mi) to the north.[1] Elpoca Mountain is situated 4.0 kilometres south of Mount Jerram, and 2.0 km east of Gap Mountain, and all are within Peter Lougheed Provincial Park.

Elpoca Mountain
Elpoca Mountain seen from Upper Kananaskis Lake
Highest point
Elevation3,036 m (9,961 ft) [1]
Prominence460 m (1,510 ft) [1]
Parent peakMount Evan-Thomas (3098 m)[1]
Coordinates50°39′53″N 115°01′37″W [2]
Geography
Elpoca Mountain
Location of Elpoca Mountain in Alberta
Elpoca Mountain
Elpoca Mountain (Canada)
LocationAlberta, Canada
Parent rangeOpal Range[3]
Canadian Rockies
Topo mapNTS 82J/11[2]
Geology
Age of rockCambrian
Type of rockLimestone
Climbing
First ascent1960 by G. D. Elliot, H, Kirby, P.S. Scribens[1]

History

"Elpoca" is a portmanteau of nearby Elbow River and Pocaterra Creek.[4]

The mountain's name was made official in 1928 by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.[2]

The first ascent of the peak was made in 1960 by G. D. Elliot, H, Kirby, and P.S. Scribens.[1]

Geology

Elpoca Mountain is composed of sedimentary rock laid down during the Precambrian to Jurassic periods. Formed in shallow seas, this sedimentary rock was pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny.[5] Elpoca Mountain was created during the Lewis Overthrust. The steeply tilted strata are virtually the same in each peak of the Opal Range, with softer layers sandwiched between harder layers.[1]

Elpoca Mountain (right) and Gap Mountain (left)

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Elpoca Mountain is located in a subarctic climate with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.[6] Temperatures can drop below −20 C with wind chill factors below −30 C.

In terms of favorable weather, June through September are the best months to climb Elpoca Mountain.

Precipitation runoff from the west side of the mountain drains into tributaries of the Kananaskis River, whereas the east side drains into Elbow River.

See also

References
  1. "Elpoca Mountain". Bivouac.com. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
  2. "Elpoca Mountain". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
  3. Peakbagger Opal Range
  4. Place-names of Alberta. Ottawa: Geographic Board of Canada. 1928. p. 47.
  5. Gadd, Ben (2008). "Geology of the Rocky Mountains and Columbias". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  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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