Xerxes Peak,[1] also known as Mount Xerxes,[3][2] is a 2,970-metre (9,740 ft) mountain summit located in the Athabasca River valley of Jasper National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. No name has been officially adopted yet for this peak. It is situated at the head of Fryatt Creek Valley on the same high ridge as Mount Christie, Brussels Peak, and Mount Lowell. The nearest higher peak is Karpathos Peak (Mount Olympus), 2.0 km (1.2 mi) to the west.

Xerxes Peak
Mount Xerxes
Xerxes Peak seen from Fryatt Valley
Highest point
Elevation2,970 m (9,740 ft)[1][2]
Prominence320 m (1,050 ft)[1]
Parent peakKarpathos Peak (Mount Olympus) (2987 m)[1]
ListingMountains of Alberta
Coordinates52°29′11″N 117°53′16″W / 52.48639°N 117.88778°W / 52.48639; -117.88778[1]
Geography
Xerxes Peak is located in Alberta
Xerxes Peak
Xerxes Peak
Location of Xerxes Peak in Alberta
Xerxes Peak is located in Canada
Xerxes Peak
Xerxes Peak
Xerxes Peak (Canada)
LocationAlberta, Canada
Parent rangeCanadian Rockies
Topo mapNTS 83C5 Fortress Lake
Geology
Rock typeSedimentary
Climbing
First ascent1936 by Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Kramer, and A. McKay[3]
Easiest routeMountaineering


History

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The mountain was named in 1936 for the two kings of Persia, Xerxes I and Xerxes II.

The first ascent of the mountain was made in 1936 by Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Kramer, and A. McKay.[3]

Geology

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Xerxes Peak is composed of sedimentary rock laid down from the Precambrian to Jurassic periods, then pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny.[4]

Climate

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Based on the Köppen climate classification, Xerxes Peak is located in a subarctic climate with long, cold, snowy winters, and short mild summers.[5] Temperatures can drop below -20 °C with wind chill factors below -30 °C. Precipitation runoff from Xerxes Peak drains into Fryatt Creek and Lick Creek, both tributaries of the Athabasca River.

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Xerxes Peak". Bivouac.com. Retrieved 2019-01-18.
  2. ^ a b "Topographic map of Mount Xerxes". opentopomap.org. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  3. ^ a b c "Mount Xerxes". cdnrockiesdatabases.ca. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  4. ^ Gadd, Ben (2008), Geology of the Rocky Mountains and Columbias
  5. ^ 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.
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