Popes Peak

Popes Peak is a mountain on the border of Alberta and British Columbia in Western Canada, on the Continental Divide of the Americas, part of the Bow Range of the Canadian Rockies between Lake Louise Valley and Cataract Brook, bordering Banff and Yoho national parks.

Popes Peak
Popes Peak centered at top
Highest point
Elevation	3,163 m (10,377 ft)[1][2]
Prominence	81 m (266 ft)[3]
Parent peak	Collier Peak (3232 m)[3]
Listing	Mountains of Alberta Mountains of British Columbia
Coordinates	51°24′08″N 116°17′40″W[4]
Geography
Popes Peak Location in Alberta Show map of Alberta Popes Peak Location in British Columbia Show map of British Columbia Popes Peak Location in Canada Show map of Canada
Interactive map of Popes Peak
Country	Canada
Provinces	Alberta and British Columbia
Protected areas	Banff National Park Yoho National Park
Parent range	Bow Range
Topo map	NTS 82N8 Lake Louise[4]
Climbing
First ascent	1903 George Collier, Joseph Collier, Christian Kaufmann[1][3]
Easiest route	North Face III

The peak was named in 1887 after John Henry Pope, a member of the 1st Canadian Parliament.^[5] It was initially known as Boundary Peak for the borders running through it, just south of Kicking Horse Pass

The mountain was first climbed in 1903 by George Collier and his brother Joseph, guided by Christian Kaufmann.^[5]

Geology

Popes Peak is composed of sedimentary rock laid down during the Precambrian to Jurassic periods.^[6] Formed in shallow seas, this sedimentary rock was pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny.^[7]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification, Popes Peak is in a subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters and mild summers.^[8] Winter temperatures can drop below −20 °C, and wind chill factors below −30 °C.

Gallery

• 
  Popes Peak from Fairview Mountain
• 
  North aspect of Popes Peak (center) with Mt. Niblock (left)

See also

• List of peaks on the Alberta–British Columbia border
• List of mountains in the Canadian Rockies