Spire Peaks

Mountain in the country of Canada
Spire Peaks is located in British Columbia
Spire Peaks
Spire Peaks
Location in British Columbia
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Spire Peaks is located in Canada
Spire Peaks
Spire Peaks
Spire Peaks (Canada)
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CountryCanadaProvinceBritish ColumbiaDistrictNew Westminster Land DistrictProtected areaGaribaldi Provincial ParkParent rangeGaribaldi Ranges
Coast MountainsTopo mapNTS 92G15 Mamquam Mountain[4]ClimbingFirst ascent1913 Don Munday

Spire Peaks is a 2,279-metre (7,477-foot) mountain located in British Columbia, Canada.[5]

Description

Spire Peaks is set within Garibaldi Provincial Park and is part of the Garibaldi Ranges of the Coast Mountains.[3] It is situated 55 km (34 mi) north of Vancouver and 6 km (4 mi) north-northwest of line parent Mamquam Mountain, with the Mamquam Icefield between the two. The southwest summit has an elevation of 2,279 meters and the northeast peak is 2,245 meters, and they are separated 500 meters apart.[6] Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises 1,280 meters (4,200 feet) in two kilometers (1.2 mile). Precipitation runoff and glacial meltwater from the north side of the peak drains to Pitt River, and the southern slope drains to Skookum Creek, thence Mamquam River.

History

The first ascent of the summit was made July 22, 1913, by Don Munday and Ben Hanafin.[7] Don would write a poem about the climb, Spire Peak—First Ascent, and recall that the rocks "were as hot as a stove." The toponym was officially adopted March 9, 1979, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.[4]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Spire Peaks is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[8] Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east toward the Coast Mountains where they are forced upward by the range (Orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall. As a result, the Coast Mountains experience high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. Winter temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. This climate supports the Spire Glacier on the northeast slope.

See also

  • Pyramid Mountain (left), Spire Peaks (right), south aspect
    Pyramid Mountain (left), Spire Peaks (right), south aspect
  • Pyramid Mountain (left), Spire Peaks (left of center), Trick Peak (right)
    Pyramid Mountain (left), Spire Peaks (left of center), Trick Peak (right)
  • Pyramid Mountain and Spire Peaks to left, Trick Peak (right). Southwest aspect.
    Pyramid Mountain and Spire Peaks to left, Trick Peak (right). Southwest aspect.
  • Pyramid Mountain and Spire Peaks to left, Trick Peak (right). From Elfin Lake.
    Pyramid Mountain and Spire Peaks to left, Trick Peak (right). From Elfin Lake.
  • Pyramid Mountain and Spire Peaks to left, Trick Peak (right). Southwest aspect.
    Pyramid Mountain and Spire Peaks to left, Trick Peak (right). Southwest aspect.

References

  1. ^ BC Basemap topographic map
  2. ^ "Spire Peaks, British Columbia". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2023-01-18.
  3. ^ a b c d "Spire Peaks, Peakvisor.com". Retrieved 2023-01-18.
  4. ^ a b c "Spire Peaks". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2023-01-18.
  5. ^ "Spire Peaks". BC Geographical Names. Retrieved 2023-01-18.
  6. ^ BC Basemap topographic map
  7. ^ Kathryn Bridge (2006), A Passion for Mountains: The Lives of Don and Phyllis Munday, Rocky Mountain Books, ISBN 9781894765695, p. 36, 227.
  8. ^ 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.
  • Spire Peaks: Weather forecast
  • Spire Peak poem: google.com/books
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Places adjacent to Spire Peaks
Mount Garibaldi Pitt River Spire Glacier
Mamquam Lake
Spire Peaks
Trick Peak
Pyramid Mountain Darling Peak Mamquam Icefield
Mamquam Mountain
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