Howser Spire

Howser Spire, or Howser Spire Massif, is a group of three distinct granite peaks, and the highest mountain of the Canadian Bugaboo Spires. The mountain is located at the southwest corner of the Vowell Glacier, within the Bugaboo mountain range in the Purcell Mountains, a subrange of British Columbia's Columbia Mountains, The highest of the three spires is the North Tower at 3,412 m (11,194 ft), the Central Tower the lowest, and the South Tower is slightly lower than the North at 3,292 m (10,801 ft).[1]

Howser Spire, The Bugaboos
Highest point
Elevation3,412 m (11,194 ft)
Prominence1,299 m (4,262 ft)
Listing
Coordinates50°43′47″N 116°48′48″W
Geography
Howser Spire is located in British Columbia
Howser Spire
Howser Spire
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
DistrictKootenay Land District
Protected areaBugaboo Provincial Park
Parent rangePurcell Mountains, East Kootenay
Topo mapNTS 82K10 Howser Creek
Geology
Mountain typeGranite
Climbing
First ascent1916
Conrad Kain
Albert MacCarthy
E. MacCarthy
J. Vincent
Henry Frind

Howser Spire is named after the town of Howser on Duncan Lake and Howser Creek.[2]

The first ascent of the North Tower was made in August 1916 by Conrad Kain, Albert MacCarthy, E. MacCarthy, J. Vincent and Henry Frind.[2][3]

The Beckey-Chouinard/West Buttress route is recognized in the historic climbing text Fifty Classic Climbs of North America and considered a classic around the world.[4]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Howser Spire is located in a subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.[5] Winter temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. This climate supports the Vowell Glacier on the peak's north slope.

Nearby
  • North aspect of Howser Spire (right) above Vowell Glacier viewed from Bugaboo Spire. (Pigeon Spire to left)
    North aspect of Howser Spire (right) above Vowell Glacier viewed from Bugaboo Spire. (Pigeon Spire to left)
  • Under the spire
    Under the spire
  • Howser Spire (upper left), Snowpatch Spire (left of center), Bugaboo Spire (upper right), Eastpost Spire (lower right). Camera pointed west.
    Howser Spire (upper left), Snowpatch Spire (left of center), Bugaboo Spire (upper right), Eastpost Spire (lower right). Camera pointed west.
  • Howser Spire (left) viewed from airliner
    Howser Spire (left) viewed from airliner

References
  1. "Howser Spire". SummitPost.org. Retrieved July 14, 2009.
  2. "Howser Spire". Bivouac.com. Retrieved July 14, 2009.
  3. Mountaineers Books 2nd edition., 2003, Randall Green, Joe Bensen., ISBN 0-89886-795-9, ISBN 978-0-89886-795-4
  4. Roper, Steve; Steck, Allen (1979). Fifty Classic Climbs of North America. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books. pp. 60–64. ISBN 0-87156-292-8.
  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.
  • Canadian Alpine Journal vol VIII, 1917, p. 17, and in CAJ 1938, pp 17 & 22.
  • J.M. Thorington's "Guide to the Interior Ranges of British Columbia", 1947, p. 97.


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