Mount Erebus (Canada)

Mount Erebus is a 3,112-metre (10,210-foot) mountain summit located near one of the most beautiful mountain meccas in the world, the Tonquin Valley of Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada. Mount Erebus is composed of sedimentary rock laid down during the Cambrian period, then was pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny.[2] Its nearest higher peak is Mount Fraser, 4.0 km (2.5 mi) to the northwest.[1] The Continental Divide lies 3 km (1.9 mi) to the west, Angle Peak is situated 4.5 km (2.8 mi) to the southeast, and The Ramparts are 5.0 km (3.1 mi) to the north. The mountain's north ridge terminates at Outpost Peak.

Mount Erebus
Mount Erebus behind outlier Outpost Peak
Highest point
Elevation3,112 m (10,210 ft) [1]
Prominence722 m (2,369 ft) [1]
Parent peakMount Fraser (3313 m)[1]
Coordinates52°37′58″N 118°16′02″W [1]
Geography
Mount Erebus
Location in Alberta
Mount Erebus
Mount Erebus (Canada)
LocationJasper National Park
Alberta, Canada
Parent rangePark Ranges
Canadian Rockies
Topo mapNTS 83D/09
Geology
Age of rockCambrian
Type of rockSedimentary rock
Climbing
First ascent1924 by L. Coolidge, G. Higginsnon, J.E. Johnson, A. Streich[1]

History

The mountain's name was applied in 1916 by Morrison P. Bridgland (1878–1948), a Dominion Land Surveyor who named many peaks in Jasper Park and the Canadian Rockies.[3] Bridgland was impressed with the dark colored cliffs of the northeast face of the mountain.[1] The Greek word for darkness is erebus.[4][5] Bridgland would have also known about HMS Erebus and Franklin's lost expedition.[1] The mountain is located at the west margin of the Tonquin Valley, which is also named for another ill-fated ship, Tonquin.

The first ascent of the mountain was made in 1924 by L. Coolidge, G. Higginsnon, J. E. Johnson, and guide A. Streich.[1]

The mountain's name was officially adopted in 1935 when approved by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.[6]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Erebus is located in a subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.[7] Temperatures can drop below −20 °C (−4 °F) with wind chill factors below −30 °C (−22 °F). This climate supports the Fraser Glacier on the northwest slope, and the Eremite Glacier on the northeast slope. In terms of favorable weather, July and August present the best months for climbing. Precipitation runoff from Mount Erebus drains into the Astoria River and Whirlpool River, both tributaries of the Athabasca River.

References
  1. "Mount Erebus". Bivouac.com. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
  2. Gadd, Ben (2008). "Geology of the Rocky Mountains and Columbias". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. Mapper of Mountains M.P. Bridgland in the Canadian Rockies 1902–1930, Author I.S. MacLaren, The University of Alberta Press, ISBN 0-88864-456-6
  4. "Mount Erebus". PeakFinder.com. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
  5. Place-names of Alberta. Ottawa: Geographic Board of Canada. 1928. p. 48.
  6. "Mount Erebus". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
  7. 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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