Cirrus Mountain

Cirrus Mountain is a 3,270-metre (10,730-foot) mountain summit located in the upper North Saskatchewan River valley on the shared boundary between Banff National Park and White Goat Wilderness Area, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Cirrus Mountain is situated along the east side the Icefields Parkway midway between Saskatchewan Crossing and Sunwapta Pass. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,740 m (5,710 ft) above the parkway in 3 km (1.9 mi). The nearest higher peak is Mount Stewart, 5.92 km (3.68 mi) to the north-northeast.^[3]

Cirrus Mountain
Cirrus Mountain with summit to left. (Viewed from Parker Ridge)
Highest point
Elevation	3,270 m (10,730 ft)[1][2]
Prominence	890 m (2,920 ft)[1]
Parent peak	Mount Stewart (3,312 m)[1]
Isolation	5.92 km (3.68 mi)[3]
Listing	Mountains of Alberta
Coordinates	52°10′10″N 116°58′38″W[4]
Geography
Cirrus Mountain Location in Alberta Show map of Alberta Cirrus Mountain Location in Canada Show map of Canada
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Protected area	Banff National Park White Goat Wilderness Area
Parent range	Front Ranges[1]
Topo map	NTS 83C2 Cline River[4]
Geology
Rock type	Sedimentary
Climbing
First ascent	1939 C.B. Sissons, H.J. Sissons[2]
Easiest route	technical climb

History

In 1928, Morrison P. Bridgland suggested the name Mount Huntington for the mountain, but it was not adopted.^[2] However, the Huntington name endures as the name of the Huntington Glacier below the eastern aspect of the summit. The mountain was instead named Cirrus Mountain, and that toponym was officially adopted in 1935 by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.^[4] The first ascent of the mountain was accomplished in 1939 by C.B. Sissons and H.J. Sissons.^[2]

Geology

Like other mountains in Banff Park, Cirrus Mountain is composed of sedimentary rock laid down from the Precambrian to Jurassic periods.^[5] Formed in shallow seas, this sedimentary rock was pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny.^[6] The east aspect of Cirrus Mountain is covered by expansive glacial ice known as the Huntington Glacier.

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Cirrus Mountain is located in a subarctic climate with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.^[7] Winter temperatures can drop below -20 °C with wind chill factors below -30 °C. Weather conditions during winter make the Weeping Wall at the base of Cirrus Mountain's west face the premier place for ice climbing in the Canadian Rockies. Precipitation runoff from Cirrus Mountain drains into tributaries of the North Saskatchewan River.

Ice Climbing Routes

Ice Climbing Routes with grades on Cirrus Mountain:

• Polar Circus - WI5^[8]
• Snivelling Gully - WI3^[9]
• Weeping Wall - WI3-6^[9]
• Weeping Pillar - WI6^[9]

Gallery

• 
  Cirrus Mountain
• 
  The south peak of Cirrus (3,160+ m)
• 
  Weeping Wall
• 
  Cirrus Mountain viewed from Parker Ridge
• 
  Cirrus Mountain (south peak) and the Weeping Wall

See also

• List of mountains in the Canadian Rockies
• Geography of Alberta
• Mountains portal