Wedge Mountain
| Wedge Mountain | |
|---|---|
 Wedge Mountain from the north, withWedgemount Lakein the foreground. The Wedgemount Lake hut and lake outlet are out of frame to the right. | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,895 m (9,498 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 2,249 m (7,379 ft)[2] |
| Listing | |
| Coordinates | 50°07′59″N122°47′36″W/ 50.13306°N 122.79333°W[1] |
| Geography | |
  Wedge Mountain | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| District | New Westminster Land District |
| Protected area | Garibaldi Provincial Park |
| Parent range | Garibaldi Ranges |
| Topo map | NTS92J2Whistler[1] |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1923N. Carter;C. Townsend[1] |
| Easiest route | 3rd class snow climb with Glacier travel |
Wedge Mountain,2,895 m (9,498 ft) prominence: 2,249 m (7,379 ft), often locally referred to asThe Wedgeor simply"Wedge",is the highest summit in theGaribaldi Rangesand therefore alsoGaribaldi Provincial Park,and is among the nearest of the many peaks visible from theWhistler BlackcombSki Area, lying north across the valley ofBillygoat Passfrom theSpearhead Range,which includes one of that resort's two flagship mountains,Blackcomb.It was named for its distinctivewedgeshape by the Garibaldi Park Board in 1932 in preference to Mount Vancouver, which had been submitted earlier.[1]It is part of an unnamed range forming the most northerly group of peaks in the Garibaldi Ranges, the other two most notable beingMount Weart,known as the Armchair because of its shape, andMount Currie,which overlooks the First Nations Reserve of the same name and the neighbouring town ofPemberton.Wedge's very high prominence is defined by the divide between theGreenandCheakamus Riversat a locality at the south end ofAlta Lakeknown asTokum Corners.
The mountain sits astride the boundary between theNew WestminsterandLillooet Land Districts.
Climbing and access
[edit]
A 6 km (3.7 mi) steep hike leads to a backcountry shelter and camping area atWedgemount Lake,which is an approximately three-hour hike (without heavy gear) from a parking lot near theWedgemontGreen Lakerailstop and track-crossing of the CNR. Across Wedgemount Lake from the cabin is the glacier, and above that the summit. The cabin, located at the North end of the lake, is at approximately 1,920 m (6,299 ft) feet. There are multiple ways of approaching the summit. The more direct way is a knife-edge ridge called the Northeast Arete, which leads more or less directly to the summit, requiring a full complement of winter mountaineering equipment. Another route that can be taken without such tools is the South face. This part can be seen from the valley, appearing to be a steep rock-covered slope. To approach the South face parties must climb over the glacier to the West Couloir, across the bottom of it and up to the left. Most of Wedge is in aprovincial park,so helicopters are not allowed to drop people off there. In the early 1970s the glacier that now almost reaches the eastern end of Wedgemount Lake extended into the lake and at its terminus was approximately ten metres in height.
Climate
[edit]Based on theKöppen climate classification,Wedge Mountain is located in themarine west coastclimate zone of westernNorth America.[3]Mostweather frontsoriginate in thePacific Ocean,and travel east toward theCoast Mountainswhere they are forced upward by the range (Orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall. As a result, the Coast Mountains experience high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. The months July through September offer the most favorable weather for climbing.
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^abcde"Wedge Mountain".BC Geographical Names.Retrieved2015-05-04.
- ^"Wedge Mountain".Bivouac.Retrieved2009-04-03.
- ^Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007)."Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification".Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.11(5): 1633.Bibcode:2007HESS...11.1633P.doi:10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007.ISSN1027-5606.