Mount Malaspina

Location in Yukon, Canada

CountryCanadaTerritoryYukonProtected areaKluane National ParkParent rangeSaint Elias Mountains^[1]Topo mapNTS 115C7 Newton Glacier^[3]ClimbingFirst ascent2015Easiest routeExpedition climbing

Mount Malaspina is a 3,776-metre (12,388-foot) mountain summit in Yukon, Canada.

Description

Mount Malaspina is part of the Saint Elias Mountains in Kluane National Park where it ranks as the 31st-highest summit in Canada.^[4] The remote mountain is highly glaciated and surrounded by the Seward Glacier, Newton Glacier, Agassiz Glacier, and Malaspina Glacier. The nearest higher peak is Mount Augusta, 6.39 km (3.97 mi) to the east, and Mount Logan is 29 km (18 mi) to the north.^[1] Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises approximately 2,200 metres (7,218 ft) above the head of the Agassiz Glacier in 3 km (1.9 mi).

History

The mountain is named in association with Malaspina Glacier which is named in honor of Alessandro Malaspina, an Italian navigator and explorer in the service of Spain, whose Malaspina Expedition visited this region in 1791.^[5] The mountain's toponym was officially adopted in 1981 by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.^[3]

The first ascent of the summit was made on August 15, 2015, by Camilo Rada (from Chile) and Natalia Martinez (from Argentina) via the North Face and East Ridge.^[6] At that time the peak held the distinction of "highest unclimbed officially-named mountain of North America."^[6]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Malaspina is located in a tundra climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and cool summers.^[7] Weather systems 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. Winter temperatures can drop below -10 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. This climate supports immense glaciers surrounding this mountain. The months May through June offer the most favorable weather for climbing or viewing.

Gallery

Saint Elias Mountains across Yakutat Bay.
L→R: Mt. Saint Elias, Mt. Malaspina (center), Mt. Augusta, Mount Logan
Aerial view of Saint Elias Mountains with camera pointed northeast. Mt. Saint Elias left of center, Mt. Logan center top, Mount Malaspina on right edge.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Mount Malaspina, Yukon Territory". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Malaspina, Mount - 12,388' YT". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Mount Malaspina". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
^ "Mount Malaspina, Peakvisor.com". Retrieved 2023-12-03.
^ "Malaspina Glacier". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
^ ^a ^b Camilo Rada, Mt. Malaspina, North Face to East Ridge, American Alpine Journal, 2016. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
^ 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.