Sukakpak Mountain

Sukakpak Mountain is a prominent 4,459-foot (1,359 meter) mountain summit located in the Philip Smith Mountains of the Brooks Range, in the U.S. state of Alaska. The peak is situated 90 miles north of the Arctic Circle near milepost 203 on the Dalton Highway, and 200 mi (322 km) north-northwest of Fairbanks, where the Bettles and Dietrich Rivers merge to form Middle Fork Koyukuk River. The peak's Sukakpak name was reported in 1930 by the USGS as an Inupiat word, said to mean "marten deadfall."[3] From the north, the mountain resembles a carefully balanced log used to trap marten. The name was officially adopted in 1932 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.

Sukakpak Mountain
Sukakpak Mountain, north aspect
Highest point
Elevation4,459 ft (1,359 m)[1]
Prominence1,883 ft (574 m)[1]
Parent peakDillon Mountain (4,820 ft)
Isolation3.3 mi (5.3 km)[2]
Coordinates67°36′12″N 149°44′31″W[3]
Geography
Sukakpak Mountain
Location of Sukakpak Mountain in Alaska
LocationYukon–Koyukuk
Alaska, United States
Parent rangePhilip Smith Mountains
Brooks Range
Topo mapUSGS Chandalar C-6
Geology
Age of rockDevonian
Type of rocklimestone, marble
Climbing
Easiest routeScrambling south ridge

This famous landmark is notable for its west face, a massive wall of Skajit limestone rising nearly 3,000 feet (900 m) above the surrounding valley. Peculiar ice-cored mounds known as palsas punctuate the ground at the base of the mountain. Sukakpak Mountain was designated in 1990 as a BLM Area of Critical Environmental Concern to protect this extraordinary scenic and geologic formation.

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Sukakpak Mountain is located in a subarctic climate zone with long, cold, winters, and short, cool summers.[4] Temperatures can drop below −30 °C with wind chill factors below −50 °C. The months June through August offer the most favorable weather for viewing and climbing.

See also

References

  1. "Sukakpak Mountain, Alaska". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
  2. Sukakpak Mountain, listsofjohn.com
  3. "Sukakpak Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
  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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