Mount Watson (Alaska)

Mount Watson is a 12,497-foot (3,809 meter) glaciated mountain summit located in the Fairweather Range of the Saint Elias Mountains, in southeast Alaska, United States. It ranks as the fifth-highest peak in the Fairweather Range.[1] The peak is situated in Glacier Bay National Park, 2 mi (3 km) west of the Canada–United States border, and 7.16 mi (12 km) north of Mount Fairweather, which is the highest peak in the Fairweather Range. The mountain's name was officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names in 1924 to commemorate David Thompson Watson (1844-1916), who was US Counsel to the 1903 Alaska Boundary Tribunal.[2] The first ascent of the peak was made June 18, 1974, by Michael Allen, Walter Gove, Lawrence Dauelsberg, Alice Liska, and Donald Liska via the East Ridge.[3] The first ascent of the North Face was made in April 1999 by Chris Trimble and Jim Earl. The months May through June offer the most favorable weather for climbing.

Mount Watson
Mount Watson centered in back
Highest point
Elevation12,497 ft (3,809 m) [1]
Prominence3,809 ft (1,161 m) [1]
Parent peakMount Root (12,887 ft)
ListingHighest US summits 143rd
Coordinates59°00′32″N 137°33′15″W [1]
Geography
Mount Watson
Location of Mount Watson in Alaska
LocationGlacier Bay National Park
Borough of Yakutat
Alaska, United States
Parent rangeFairweather Range
Saint Elias Mountains[1]
Topo mapUSGS Skagway A-7
Climbing
First ascentJune 18, 1974
Easiest routeMountaineering

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Watson has a subarctic climate with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.[4] Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. This climate supports hanging glaciers on its slopes as well as the large Grand Plateau Glacier to the west. Precipitation runoff and meltwater from its glaciers drains into the Gulf of Alaska.

See also

References
  1. "Mount Watson, Alaska". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
  2. "Mount Watson". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
  3. Mount Watson, National Park Service
  4. 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.
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