Ultima Thule Peak

Mountain summit in Alaska

Ultima Thule Peak

Location of Ultima Thule Peak in Alaska

CountryUnited StatesStateAlaskaBoroughValdez-Cordova BoroughProtected areaWrangell-St. Elias National ParkParent rangeSaint Elias MountainsTopo mapUSGS McCarthy B-3ClimbingFirst ascent1996Easiest routeSouth Face - Southwest Ridge

Ultima Thule Peak is a 10,900+ ft (3,320+ m) glaciated mountain summit located in the Saint Elias Mountains of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, in the U.S. state of Alaska. The peak rises above the Hawkins Glacier to its east, Erickson Creek Glacier to the south, and the Canyon Creek Glacier to the northwest. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the Chitina River, which in turn is part of the Copper River drainage basin. The first ascent of the then-unnamed peak was made in 1996 by Paul Claus, Ruedi Homberger, and Reto Reuesh via the south face.^[3] Paul Claus dubbed the peak “Ultima Thule Peak.” The second ascent was made April 20, 2013, by Kevin Ditzler and Jay Claus via the southwest ridge.

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Ultima Thule Peak is located in a subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and cool summers.^[4] Winds coming off the Gulf of Alaska are forced upwards by the Saint Elias Mountains (orographic lift), causing heavy precipitation in the form of rainfall and snowfall. Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. The months May through June offer the most favorable weather for viewing and climbing.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Ultima Thule Peak, Alaska". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
^ Ultima Thule Peak, listsofjohn.com
^ Ultima Thule Peak, Southwest Ridge, 2014. Americanalpineclub.org
^ 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.