Porphyry Mountain

Porphyry Mountain is a prominent 6,375-foot (1,943 meter) mountain summit located in the Wrangell Mountains, in the U.S. state of Alaska. The peak is situated in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, immediately southeast of Kennecott, 4 mi (6 km) northeast of McCarthy, and, 5 mi (8 km) northwest of Sourdough Peak. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the Nizina River, which in turn is part of the Copper River drainage basin. The peak is notable for a rock glacier on its north slope. The mountain was so named because it is largely composed of porphyry, which is a very hard igneous rock.[3] The mountain's local name was reported in 1908 by the U.S. Geological Survey. On a clear day the summit of Porphyry Mountain offers views of Donoho Peak, Kennicott Glacier, and Mount Blackburn to the northwest, and Fireweed Mountain to the west.

Porphyry Mountain
Northwest aspect of Porphyry Mountain featuring the National Creek Rock Glacier
Highest point
Elevation6,375 ft (1,943 m)[1]
Prominence1,675 ft (511 m)[1]
Parent peakBonanza Peak
Isolation3.42 mi (5.50 km)[2]
Coordinates61°28′16″N 142°49′50″W[3]
Geography
Porphyry Mountain is located in Alaska
Porphyry Mountain
Porphyry Mountain
Location of Porphyry Mountain in Alaska
LocationWrangell-St. Elias National Park
Valdez-Cordova Borough
Alaska, United States
Parent rangeWrangell Mountains
Topo mapUSGS McCarthy B-5

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Porphyry Mountain is located in a subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and cool summers.[4] Weather systems coming off the Gulf of Alaska are forced upwards by the Wrangell 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.

See also

References
  1. "Porphyry Mountain, Alaska". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2020-02-12.
  2. Porphyry Mountain, listsofjohn.com
  3. "Porphyry Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2020-02-12.
  4. 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.
Porphyry Mountain and National Creek Rock Glacier from Donoho Basin
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