Mount Cartier

Mount Cartier is a 2,610-metre (8,563-foot) mountain summit located in British Columbia, Canada.^[6]

Mount Cartier
South aspect
Highest point
Elevation	2,610 m (8,563 ft)[1]
Prominence	630 m (2,067 ft)[1]
Parent peak	Albert Peak (3,045 m)[2]
Isolation	14.31 km (8.89 mi)[1]
Listing	Mountains of British Columbia
Coordinates	50°54′47″N 118°03′26″W[3]
Naming
Etymology	George-Étienne Cartier
Geography
Mount Cartier Location in British Columbia Show map of British Columbia Mount Cartier Location in Canada Show map of Canada
Interactive map of Mount Cartier
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
District	Kootenay Land District
Parent range	Duncan Ranges ← Selkirk Mountains
Topo map	NTS 82L16 Revelstoke[3]
Climbing
First ascent	1896 by Topographical Survey[4]
Easiest route	Trail + Scrambling[5]

Description

Mount Cartier is part of the Duncan Ranges which is a subrange of the Selkirk Mountains. The peak is situated 13 km (8.1 mi) southeast of Revelstoke and 14.3 km (8.9 mi) east of Mount Begbie which is the nearest higher neighbor.^[1] Nearby peaks include Mount Mackenzie 6.1 km (3.8 mi) to the north-northwest and Ghost Peak, 3.1 km (1.9 mi) northeast.^[1] Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains west to Arrow Lakes which is a reservoir of the Columbia River. Mount Cartier is more notable for its steep rise above local terrain than for its absolute elevation as topographic relief is significant with the summit rising 2,174 meters (7,133 ft) above Upper Arrow Lake in 5 km (3.1 mi). From the lake, a 15-kilometer trail leads to a fire lookout and the upper slopes. The trail and lookout were constructed in the early 1920s, and while the lookout still stands, it hasn't been used for fire detection since the 1930s.^[5] The mountain trail is also a helibiking destination with helicopters lifting mountain bikers to a helipad below the summit.^[7]

Etymology

Cartier

The mountain is named after Sir George-Étienne Cartier (1814–1873), Prime Minister of Canada (1858–62). He was born at Antoine, Quebec; served as attorney general for Lower Canada (1856); and as joint Prime Minister with Sir John A. Macdonald. He was a strong advocate for Confederation and expansion in the west.^[6] The mountain's toponym was officially adopted September 30, 1932, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada,^[3] although this toponym had appeared in publications as early as 1887, if not earlier.^[8]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Cartier is located in a subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.^[9] Winter temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. This climate supports a ski resort 5 km (3.1 mi) to the north.

Gallery

• 
  South aspect of Mount Cartier, from Upper Arrow Lake.
• 
  North aspect of Mount Cartier seen from Revelstoke ski slopes
• 
  Mt. Cartier (left), Ghost Peak (right)
• 
  North aspect of Mount Cartier seen from Revelstoke Mountain Resort

See also

• Mountains portal
• Geography of British Columbia