Commonwealth Peak

Commonwealth Peak is a 2,775-metre (9,104-foot) mountain summit in the Spray Mountains, a sub-range of the Canadian Rockies in Alberta, Canada.[2] The mountain is situated in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. Its nearest higher peak is Mount Birdwood, 1.0 km (0.62 mi) to the west.[1] Both can be seen from Alberta Highway 742, also known as Smith-Dorrien/Spray Trail in Kananaskis Country.

Commonwealth Peak
Highest point
Elevation2,775 m (9,104 ft)[1]
Prominence215 m (705 ft)[1]
Parent peakMount Birdwood (3097 m)[1]
ListingMountains of Alberta
Coordinates50°47′25″N 115°20′55″W[2]
Geography
Commonwealth Peak is located in Alberta
Commonwealth Peak
Commonwealth Peak
Location of Commonwealth Peak in Alberta
Commonwealth Peak is located in Canada
Commonwealth Peak
Commonwealth Peak
Commonwealth Peak (Canada)
LocationAlberta, Canada
Parent rangeSpray Mountains
Canadian Rockies
Topo mapNTS 82J14 Spray Lakes Reservoir[2]
Geology
Age of rockCambrian
Type of rockLimestone
Climbing
First ascent1970 Charlie Locke, Lloyd McKay
Easiest routeScrambling[3]

History

Commonwealth Peak was named in 1979 to commemorate the 1978 Commonwealth Games that were held in Edmonton, Alberta.[1]

The mountain's name was officially adopted in 1979 by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.[2]

The first ascent of the peak was made in 1970 by Charlie Locke and Lloyd McKay.[1]

Geology

Commonwealth Peak 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.[4]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Commonwealth Peak is located in a subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.[5] Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. In terms of favorable weather, July through September are the best months to climb.[3]

  • Commonwealth Peak centered, Mt. Birdwood to right in clouds
    Commonwealth Peak centered, Mt. Birdwood to right in clouds
  • Mt. Birdwood (left), Commonwealth Peak to right
    Mt. Birdwood (left), Commonwealth Peak to right
  • South aspect, from Burstall Pass Trail
    South aspect, from Burstall Pass Trail

See also

References
  1. "Commonwealth Peak". Bivouac.com. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
  2. "Commonwealth Peak". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
  3. Kane, Alan (1999). "Commonwealth Peak". Scrambles in the Canadian Rockies. Rocky Mountain Books. p. 130. ISBN 0-921102-67-4.
  4. Gadd, Ben (2008), Geology of the Rocky Mountains and Columbias
  5. 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.
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