Mount Packenham is a 3,000-metre (9,800-foot) mountain summit located in the Opal Range of the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada.[2] Its nearest higher peak is Mount Evan-Thomas, 1.0 km (0.62 mi) to the north.[1] Situated on the eastern boundary of Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, the peak is visible from Highway 40 and the Kananaskis Lakes area.
| Mount Packenham | |
|---|---|
 Mount Packenham (centered), west face showing | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,000 m (9,800 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 242 m (794 ft)[1] |
| Parent peak | Mount Evan-Thomas (3097 m)[1] |
| Listing | Mountains of Alberta |
| Coordinates | 50°45′14″N 115°05′27″W / 50.75389°N 115.09083°W[2] |
| Geography | |
  Mount Packenham Location of Mount Packenham in Alberta  Mount Packenham Mount Packenham (Canada) | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Parent range | Opal Range[3] Canadian Rockies |
| Topo map | NTS 82J14 Spray Lakes Reservoir[2] |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Cambrian |
| Type of rock | Limestone |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1954 by N. Gish, M. Dickson, P. Rainier, S.G. Pearson[1] |
| Easiest route | Mountaineering YDS 5.6[4] |
Like so many of the mountains in Kananaskis Country, Mount Packenham received its name from the persons and ships involved in the 1916 Battle of Jutland, the only major sea battle of the First World War.[5]
History edit
The mountain was named in honor of Rear Admiral Sir William C. Pakenham (1861-1933), commander of the 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron during the Battle of Jutland in World War I.[6]
The mountain's name was made official in 1922 by the Geographical Names Board of Canada based on a misspelling of Pakenham's name made by the Interprovincial Boundary Commission.[1]
The first ascent of the peak was made in 1954 by N. Gish, Malcolm Dickson, P. Rainier, and S.G. Pearson.[1] It has been suggested that this group was actually on Mount Evan-Thomas, which may make the first ascent be in 1972 by J. Pomeroy, M. Simpson and D. Forrest and G. Boles.[4]
Geology edit
Mount Packenham 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.[7] Mount Packenham 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]
Climate edit
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Packenham is located in a subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.[8] 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 Mount Packenham.
Precipitation runoff from the west side of the mountain drains into the Kananaskis River, the east side drains into tributaries of the Elbow River, and then both of these merge into the Bow River, and finally into the Saskatchewan River.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Mount Packenham". Bivouac.com. Retrieved 2019-01-07.
- ^ a b c "Mount Packenham". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
- ^ "Opal Range". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
- ^ a b "Mount Packenham". SummitPost.org. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
- ^ "Battle of Jutland". Alberta Historic Places. Retrieved 2021-09-13.
- ^ Place-names of Alberta. Ottawa: Geographic Board of Canada. 1928. p. 97.
- ^ Gadd, Ben (2008), Geology of the Rocky Mountains and Columbias
- ^ 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.
External links edit
- Mount Packenham weather: Mountain Forecast
- Mt. Packenham close-up photo: Flickr