Narao Peak

Narao Peak is a 2,974-metre (9,757-foot) summit located in British Columbia, Canada.^[5]

Narao Peak
Northwest aspect, from Wapta Lake. (Mount Victoria to the right.)
Highest point
Elevation	2,974 m (9,757 ft)[1][2]
Prominence	108 m (354 ft)[3]
Isolation	0.51 km (0.32 mi)[3]
Listing	Mountains of British Columbia
Coordinates	51°24′45″N 116°18′56″W[4]
Geography
Narao Peak Location in British Columbia Show map of British Columbia Narao Peak Location in Canada Show map of Canada
Interactive map of Narao Peak
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
District	Kootenay Land District
Protected area	Yoho National Park
Parent range	Bow Range → Canadian Rockies
Topo map	NTS 82N8 Lake Louise[4]
Geology
Rock age	Cambrian
Mountain type	Fault block
Rock type	Sedimentary rock
Climbing
First ascent	1913
Easiest route	Scrambling via North ridge[1]

Description

Narao Peak is situated immediately south-southwest of Kicking Horse Pass and within Yoho National Park. It is part of the Bow Range which is a subrange of the Canadian Rockies. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,240 meters (4,070 ft) above the Narao Lakes in 2 km (1.2 mi). The nearest higher neighbor is Popes Peak, 1.61 km (1.00 mi) to the southeast on the Continental Divide.^[3] Precipitation runoff from Narao Peak drains into tributaries of the Kicking Horse River. The peak is visible from Highway 1 (the Trans-Canada Highway), and tourists en route to Lake O'Hara pass below the western base of the mountain.

History

The first ascent of the summit was made in 1913 by the Interprovincial Boundary Survey which subsequently applied the toponym in 1916 based on the name given to the mountain by Samuel E.S. Allen.^[6][7] Samuel Evans Stokes Allen was a cartographer who mapped this area of the Rockies in the late 1800s and named many peaks. Mount Allen was named after him.

The word "narao" translated from the Stoney language means "hit in the stomach",^[2][8] which may be related to an incident during the 1858 Palliser expedition when a spooked horse kicked James Hector unconscious near here, which also led to the name of Kicking Horse Pass.^[1]

The mountain's toponym was officially adopted April 3, 1952, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.^[4]

Geology

Narao Peak is composed of sedimentary rock laid down during the Precambrian to Jurassic periods.^[9] Formed in shallow seas, this sedimentary rock was pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny.^[10]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Narao Peak is located in a subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.^[11] Temperatures can drop below −20 °C (−4 °F) with wind chill factors below −30 °C (−22 °F).

Gallery

• 
  Narao Peak in upper left corner
• 
  Narao Peak in upper right corner

See also

• Mountains portal
• Geography of British Columbia