Earth:Matanuska Peak

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Short description: Mountain in Alaska
Matanuska Peak
Matanuska Peak Sunset.jpg
Matanuska Peak (left) from near Palmer
Highest point
Elevation6,093 ft (1,860 m) [1]
Prominence993 ft (303 m) [1]
Parent peakFrontier Peak (6,250 ft)
Isolation2.09 mi (3.36 km) [1]
Coordinates [ ⚑ ] : 61°36′13″N 148°53′06″W / 61.60361°N 148.885°W / 61.60361; -148.885[1]
Geography
Matanuska Peak is located in Alaska
Matanuska Peak
Matanuska Peak
Location of Matanuska Peak in Alaska
LocationMatanuska-Susitna Borough
Alaska, United States
Parent rangeChugach Mountains
Topo mapUSGS Anchorage C-6
Climbing
Easiest routetrail, class 2 scrambling

Matanuska Peak is a 6,093 ft (1,860 m) mountain summit located in the Chugach Mountains, in Matanuska-Susitna Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. The mountain is a major landmark in the Matanuska Valley, situated 7.5 mi (12 km) east of Palmer, and 10 mi (16 km) north-northeast of Pioneer Peak. The nearest higher peak is Frontier Peak, 2.1 mi (3 km) to the southeast.[1] Matanuska Peak's name was officially approved in 1969 by the United States Geological Survey, and derives from the Matanuska River, a native name on maps since 1897.[2] "Matanuska" is derived from the Russian term for the "copper river people".[3][4] The Matanuska Peak Trail is a five mile one-way hike with 5,670 feet of elevation gain and minor scrambling. The months June through October offer the most favorable weather and snow-free trail conditions to climb this peak. The Matanuska Peak Challenge is a strenuous race run in August each year.

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Matanuska Peak is located in a subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.[5] Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into tributaries of the Matanuska River, which in turn is a tributary of the Knik River.

See also

Matanuska Peak and Lazy Mountain

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Matanuska Peak, Alaska". http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=441. 
  2. "Matanuska Peak". United States Geological Survey. https://geonames.usgs.gov/apex/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:1412425. 
  3. "Matanuska River". United States Geological Survey. https://geonames.usgs.gov/apex/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:1406051. 
  4. Dictionary of Alaska Place Names, Donald J. Orth author, United States Government Printing Office (1967), page 628
  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. 

External links