The Watchtower is a 2,791-metre (9,157 ft) mountain summit located in the Maligne River valley of Jasper National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. It is situated in the Maligne Range[4] and is visible from the Maligne Lake Road where it towers over Medicine Lake. Its nearest higher peak is Sirdar Mountain, 11.64 km (7.23 mi) to the north.[4]
| The Watchtower | |
|---|---|
 The Watchtower | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,791 m (9,157 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 651 m (2,136 ft)[1] |
| Parent peak | Mount Kerkeslin (2984 m)[1] |
| Listing | Mountains of Alberta |
| Coordinates | 52°49′24″N 117°50′30″W / 52.82333°N 117.84167°W[2] |
| Geography | |
  The Watchtower Location of The Watchtower in Alberta  The Watchtower The Watchtower (Canada) | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Parent range | Maligne Range Canadian Rockies |
| Topo map | NTS 83C13 Medicine Lake[2] |
| Geology | |
| Rock age | Cambrian |
| Rock type | Sedimentary rock |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1951 R.K. Irvin, J. Mowat, R. Strong[3] |
| Easiest route | Climbing |
History
editThe mountain was named in 1916 by Morrison P. Bridgland (1878-1948), a Dominion Land Surveyor who named many peaks in Jasper Park and the Canadian Rockies.[5][3] The mountain's name was officially adopted in 1947 when approved by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.[2]
The first ascent of The Watchtower was made in 1951 by R.K. Irvin, J. Mowat, and R. Strong.[1]
Geology
editThe Watchtower is composed of sedimentary rock laid down during the Cambrian period and pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny.[6]
Climate
editBased on the Köppen climate classification, The Watchtower is located in a subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.[7] Temperatures can drop below -20 °C with wind chill factors below -30 °C. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into Excelsior Creek and Watchtower Creek, both tributaries of the Maligne River which in turn empties into the Athabasca River.
Gallery
edit-
The Watchtower from Skyline Trail -
The Watchtower from Skyline Trail
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "The Watchtower". Bivouac.com. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
- ^ a b c "The Watchtower". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
- ^ a b "The Watchtower". cdnrockiesdatabases.ca. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
- ^ a b "The Watchtower, Alberta". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ MacLaren, I.S. (2005). Mapper of Mountains M.P. Bridgland in the Canadian Rockies 1902-1930. With Eric Higgs, Gabrielle Zezulka-Mailloux. Edmonton, AB: The University of Alberta Press. ISBN 0-88864-456-6.
- ^ Gadd, Ben (2008), Geology of the Rocky Mountains and Columbias
- ^ 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
edit- Parks Canada web site: Jasper National Park