Mount Donkin

Mount Donkin is a 2,940-metre (9,646-foot) summit in British Columbia, Canada.

Mount Donkin
North aspect centered, with Michel Peak to left
Highest point
Elevation	2,940 m (9,646 ft)[1][2][3]
Prominence	345 m (1,132 ft)[3]
Parent peak	Mount Dawson (3,377 m)[4]
Isolation	1.89 km (1.17 mi)[3]
Listing	Mountains of British Columbia
Coordinates	51°08′59″N 117°28′13″W[5]
Naming
Etymology	William Frederick Donkin[6]
Geography
Mount Donkin Location in British Columbia Show map of British Columbia Mount Donkin Location in Canada Show map of Canada
Interactive map of Mount Donkin
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
District	Kootenay Land District
Protected area	Glacier National Park
Parent range	Selkirk Mountains Dawson Range[1]
Topo map	NTS 82N3 Mount Wheeler[5]
Climbing
First ascent	1890

Description

Mount Donkin is located in Glacier National Park and is part of the Selkirk Mountains. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the Incomappleux River. Mount Donkin is more notable for its steep rise above local terrain than for its absolute elevation. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,840 metres (6,037 ft) above the Incomappleux River in 2.5 km (1.6 mi). The nearest higher neighbor is Michel Peak on Mount Dawson, 1.89 km (1.17 mi) to the east.^[3]

History

While in the Selkirks in 1888, Rev. William Spotswood Green, Alpine Club, London, named this mountain after fellow club member William Frederick Donkin (1845–1888), Honorary Secretary of the Alpine Club, who perished that year in the Caucasus.^[7] The nearby Mount Fox was also named in memory of another member of the club, Harry Fox, who also perished with Donkin during their attempt to be the first to climb Koshtan-Tau.^[8] The bodies of Donkin, Fox, and their two Swiss guides (Kaspar Streich and Johann Fischer) were never found.^[1]

The first ascent of the summit was made in 1890 by Harold Ward Topham,^[7] who also has a nearby mountain named after him, Mount Topham.

The mountain's toponym was officially adopted on May 29, 1901, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.^[7]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Donkin 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 the Donkin Glacier on the northeast slope of the peak.

Gallery

Mt. Fox (upper left), Mount Dawson (in back), Mt. Donkin (right of center).
View is from Asulkan Pass near Youngs Peak.

See also

• Geography of British Columbia
• Mountains portal