Institute Peak
South aspect, from Paxson Lake
Highest point
Elevation8,022 ft (2,445 m)[1]
Prominence2,000 ft (610 m)[2]
Isolation4.4 mi (7.1 km)[2]
Coordinates63°17′31″N 145°29′54″W / 63.2918809°N 145.4982620°W / 63.2918809; -145.4982620[1]
Naming
EtymologyGeophysical Institute
Geography
Institute Peak is located in Alaska
Institute Peak
Institute Peak
Location in Alaska
CountryUnited States
StateAlaska
Census AreaSoutheast Fairbanks[1]
Parent rangeAlaska Range
Delta Mountains[3]
Topo mapUSGS Mount Hayes B-3
Climbing
First ascent1954

Institute Peak is an 8,022-foot-elevation (2,445-meter) mountain summit in Alaska.

Description

Institute Peak is located 18 miles (29 km) north of Paxson in the Delta Mountains which are a subrange of the Alaska Range.[3] Precipitation runoff and glacial meltwater from the mountain's slopes drains into tributaries of the Delta River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 2,900 feet (884 meters) above the West Gulkana Glacier in one mile (1.6 km) and 3,600 feet (1,097 meters) above the Canwell Glacier in 1.5 mile (2.4 km).

History

The first ascent of the summit was made in 1954 by four members of the Geophysical Institute at University of Alaska Fairbanks: Phil Bettler, Keith Hart, George Swenson, and Keaton Keller, along with George Schaller. The group named the peak after the institute.[4] The Alaska Alpine Club was founded in 1952 by students and faculty of this institute.[5]

The first winter ascent was made in February 1960 by Gene Wescott, Chuck Deehr, and Moonok Sunwoo.[6] Gene Wescott also worked at the Geophysical Institute.

The mountain's toponym was officially adopted in 1969 by the United States Board on Geographic Names.[7]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Institute Peak is located in a tundra climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and cool summers.[8] Weather systems are forced upwards by the Delta Mountains (orographic lift), causing heavy precipitation in the form of rainfall and snowfall. Winter temperatures can drop below 0 °F with wind chill factors below −10 °F. This climate supports the Canwell Glacier, Gulkana Glacier, and West Gulkana Glacier surrounding the peak.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Institute Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
  2. 1 2 "Institute Peak - 8,050' AK". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
  3. 1 2 "Institute Peak, Alaska". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
  4. ↑ Geophysical Institute History, University of Alaska Fairbanks, gi.alaska.edu, Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  5. ↑ Franz Mueter, Club History, Alaska Alpine Club, alaskaalpineclub.com, Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  6. ↑ Gene Wescott, North America, United States, Alaska, Institute Peak, Alaska Range, (Mount Hayes B-3 Quadrangle), Americanalpineclub.org, 1961, Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  7. ↑ United States Board on Geographic Names, Decisions on Geographic Names in the United States, Decision List No. 6902, 1969, page 2.
  8. ↑ 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.
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