Mount Chephren

Mount Chephren is a mountain located in the Mistaya River Valley of Banff National Park, Canada.

Mount Chephren
Mount Chephren and Waterfowl Lake seen from the Icefields Parkway
Highest point
Elevation	3,266 m (10,715 ft)[1][2][3]: 306 [a]
Prominence	443 m (1,453 ft)[5][b]
Parent peak	Howse Peak (3295 m)[5]
Listing	Mountains of Alberta
Coordinates	51°50′25″N 116°40′59″W[7]
Geography
Mount Chephren Location in Alberta
Interactive map of Mount Chephren
Location	Alberta, Canada
Parent range	Waputik Mountains
Topo map	NTS 82N15 Mistaya Lake
Geology
Rock type(s)	Quartzite, Limestone, Dolomite[3]: 306
Climbing
First ascent	1913 by J.W.A. Hickson, guided by Edward Feuz jr.[2]
Easiest route	Scramble (difficult) on south face

Mount Chephren was named after Chephren, the 4th Dynasty Egyptian pharaoh. The mountain was originally named Pyramid Mountain in 1897 by J. Norman Collie, but it conflicted with an identically named peak in Jasper National Park, so it was renamed in 1924 by the Geographical Names Board of Canada to its present name.^[8][4][2]

Routes

Scramble

Mount Chephren is rated a difficult scramble on the south face due to its steep upper slopes with possible snow and ice difficulties. Considerable snow on the route would likely require crampons and an ice axe, thereby pushing the climb into the realm of technical mountaineering. The best conditions for scrambling would normally be late July and August.^[4]

The trail head is located at the west end of the Waterfowl Lakes campground off the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park. The elevation gain from the trail head to the summit is 1,630 m (5,348 ft).^[4]

Technical

There are three main routes:^[2][9]

• South Face/West Ridge (Normal Route) II
• East Face V 5.9 A1
• The Wild Thing VI 5.9 A3 WI4

Geology

Like other mountains in Banff Park, Mount Chephren is composed of sedimentary rock laid down during the Precambrian to Jurassic periods.^[10] Formed in shallow seas, this sedimentary rock was pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny.^[11]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Chephren is located in a subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.^[12] Winter temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C.

Gallery

• 
  Mount Chephren and Waterfowl Lake seen from the Icefields Parkway