Mount Shanks

Mount Shanks is a 2,838-metre (9,311-foot) mountain summit located in British Columbia, Canada.

Mount Shanks
Northeast aspect
Highest point
Elevation	2,838 m (9,311 ft)[1][2]
Prominence	851 m (2,792 ft)[1]
Parent peak	Mount Assiniboine (3,618 m)[2]
Isolation	5.69 km (3.54 mi)[1]
Listing	Mountains of British Columbia
Coordinates	51°00′14″N 115°52′52″W[3]
Naming
Etymology	Thomas Shanks
Geography
Mount Shanks Location in British Columbia Show map of British Columbia Mount Shanks Location in Canada Show map of Canada
Interactive map of Mount Shanks
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
District	Kootenay Land District
Protected area	Kootenay National Park Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park
Parent range	Ball Range Canadian Rockies
Topo map	NTS 82O4 Banff[3]
Geology
Rock age	Cambrian
Rock type	sedimentary rock
Climbing
First ascent	1976

Description

Mount Shanks is situated 10 km (6.2 mi) west of the Continental Divide on the boundary that Kootenay National Park shares with Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park.^[4] The peak is part of the Ball Range which is a sub-range of the Canadian Rockies. Precipitation runoff from the peak's north and east slopes flows into tributaries of the Simpson River, whereas the west slope drains into the Vermilion River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,600 metres (5,249 ft) above the Vermilion River in 4 km (2.5 mi) and 1,340 metres (4,396 ft) above the Simpson River in 3 km (1.9 mi).

History

This landform's original local name was "Folding Mountain" until the mountain was renamed in 1927 by Dominion Land Survey staff in honor of their colleague, the late Thomas Shanks, Assistant Director General of Surveys of Canada.^[4][5] The mountain's toponym was officially adopted on July 31, 1927, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.^[3] The mountain was first climbed in September 1976 by P. Spear and R. Workum.^[6]

Geology

Mount Shanks is composed of sedimentary rock laid down during the Precambrian to Jurassic periods. Formed in shallow seas, this sedimentary rock was pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny.^[7]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Shanks is located in a subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.^[8] Winter temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C.

Gallery

• 
  Southwest aspect from Highway 93
• 
  Mt. Shanks centered, aerial view looking north

See also

• Mountains portal
• Geography of British Columbia