The Wedge is a 4,660-foot (1,420 m) mountain summit in the U.S. state of Alaska.
| The Wedge | |
|---|---|
 West aspect | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,660 ft (1,420 m)[1] |
| Prominence | 610 ft (186 m)[2] |
| Parent peak | The Ramp[2] |
| Isolation | 1.14 mi (1.83 km)[2] |
| Coordinates | 61°04′29″N 149°33′47″W / 61.0746039°N 149.5629429°W[3] |
| Geography | |
  The Wedge Location in Alaska | |
 | |
| Interactive map of The Wedge | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | Anchorage Municipality |
| Protected area | Chugach State Park |
| Parent range | Chugach Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Anchorage A-7 |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Scrambling class 3[2] |
Description
editThe Wedge is located 13 miles (21 km) southeast of Anchorage in the Chugach Mountains and Chugach State Park. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains west into Campbell Creek and east into headwaters of Ship Creek. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises nearly 2,000 feet (550 m) above South Fork Campbell Creek in one mile (1.6 km) and 2,000 feet (550 m) above Ship Lake in 0.75 mi (1.21 km). Access to the mountain is via the Powerline Trail.[4] The Wedge is a popular destination during the months of May through September.[5] The mountain's descriptive toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Geological Survey.[3]
Climate
editBased on the Köppen climate classification, The Wedge is located in a subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.[6] Weather systems coming off the Gulf of Alaska are forced upwards by the Chugach Mountains (orographic lift), causing heavy precipitation in the form of rain and snow. Winter temperatures can drop below 10 °F with wind chill factors below 0 °F.
Gallery
edit-
Camping on the summit of The Wedge. Avalanche Mountain in background.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "The Wedge, Alaska". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
- ^ a b c d "Wedge, The - 4,660' AK". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
- ^ a b "The Wedge". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
- ^ Explorer's Guides: 50 Hikes Around Anchorage, Lisa Maloney, The Countryman Press, 2010, p. 99.
- ^ Shawn Lyons, Walk About Guide To Alaska: The Front Range and the Anchorage Bowl, Publication Consultants, 2018, ISBN 9781594337543
- ^ 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- Weather forecast: The Wedge