Cathedral Peak (Alaska)

Cathedral Peak is a 6,500+ ft (1,980+ m) mountain summit located in the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains, in the U.S. state of Alaska.[3] The peak is situated in the Taku Range of the Juneau Icefield, 22 mi (35 km) north of Juneau, and 1 mi (2 km) north of Taku Towers, on land managed by Tongass National Forest. The Taku Range is a north-south trending ridge on the edge of the Taku Glacier. The mountain was named in 1964 by members of the Juneau Icefield Research Project, and officially adopted in 1965 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.[3]

Cathedral Peak
Cathedral Peak, south face
Highest point
Elevation6,500+ ft (1,980+ m)[1]
Prominence800 ft (240 m)[1]
Parent peakTaku Towers[2]
Isolation0.92 mi (1.48 km)[1]
Coordinates58°36′43″N 134°21′56″W / 58.61194°N 134.36556°W / 58.61194; -134.36556[1]
Geography
Cathedral Peak is located in Alaska
Cathedral Peak
Cathedral Peak
Location of Cathedral Peak in Alaska
LocationTongass National Forest
Juneau Borough
Alaska, United States
Parent rangeCoast Mountains
Boundary Ranges
Juneau Icefield[1]
Topo mapUSGS Juneau C-2

Climate

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Based on the Köppen climate classification, Cathedral Peak is located in a subpolar oceanic climate zone, with long, cold, snowy winters, and cool summers.[4] Weather systems coming off the Gulf of Alaska are forced upwards by the Coast 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 month of July offers the most favorable weather to view or climb Cathedral Peak.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Cathedral Peak, Alaska". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2020-03-22.
  2. ^ "Cathedral Peak". Bivouac.com. Retrieved 2020-03-22.
  3. ^ a b "Cathedral Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2020-03-22.
  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.