Tangle Ridge

Tangle Ridge is a 3,001-metre (9,846 ft) mountain summit located in Jasper National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Tangle Ridge is situated south of Beauty Creek and north of Tangle Creek, in the Sunwapta River valley. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,200 metres (3,937 ft) above Beauty Creek in 2 km (1.2 mi). Views from the top of Tangle Ridge provide photographers with an opportunity to capture the peaks surrounding the Columbia Icefield, some of which, such as Mount Columbia and Mount Alberta, are otherwise hidden from view along the Icefields Parkway.

Tangle Ridge
Tangle Ridge seen from the Icefields Parkway
Highest point
Elevation	3,001 m (9,846 ft)[1][2]
Prominence	460 m (1,510 ft)[3]
Parent peak	Nigel Peak (3211 m)[3]
Listing	Mountains of Alberta
Coordinates	52°18′00″N 117°16′54″W[4]
Geography
Tangle Ridge Location in Alberta Show map of Alberta Tangle Ridge Location in Canada Show map of Canada
Interactive map of Tangle Ridge
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Protected area	Jasper National Park
Parent range	Canadian Rockies
Topo map	NTS 83C6 Sunwapta Peak[4]
Geology
Rock type	Sedimentary
Climbing
Easiest route	Scramble[5]

History

The mountain was named by Mary Schäffer in 1907 for the difficulty that climbers had descending down Tangle Creek from the ridge.^[2] The mountain's toponym was officially adopted in 1935 by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.^[4]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Tangle Ridge is located in a subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.^[6] Winter temperatures can drop below −20 °C (−4 °F) with wind chill factors below −30 °C (−22 °F). Weather conditions during winter make Tangle Ridge one of the better places in the Rockies for ice climbing. Precipitation runoff from Tangle Ridge drains into the Sunwapta River which is a tributary of the Athabasca River.

Geology

Tangle Ridge is composed of sedimentary rock laid down from the Precambrian to Jurassic periods.^[7] Formed in shallow seas, this sedimentary rock was pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny.^[8]

Ice Climbing Routes

Ice Climbing Routes with grades on Tangle Ridge:

• Shades of Beauty – WI4^[9]
• Tangle Falls – WI2-3^[10]
• The Stage – WI3-4^[11]
• The Wings – WI3-4^[12]
• Curtain Call – WI6^[13]
• Cyber Pasty Memorial – WI5+^[14]
• Melt Out – WI3^[15]
• Rick Blak Memorial Route – WI5^[16]

Tangle Falls

Tangle Falls is a multi-tiered cascade that might be the most often photographed waterfall alongside the Icefields Parkway because of its easy access.^[17] Height: 30 metres (98 ft) Width: 12 metres (39 ft) Coordinates: N 52° 16.035 W 117° 17.197^[18]

Gallery

• 
  View looking south from Tangle Ridge
• 
  Tangle Ridge (left), Mt. Kitchener (right) and Sunwapta River as seen from the Icefields Parkway
• 
  Northwest aspect of Tangle Ridge from Icefields Parkway
• 
  Tangle Ridge and Sunwapta River
• 
  Tangle Ridge from the south
• 
  North aspect from Sunwapta Peak
• 
  North face
• 
  Tangle Falls in winter
• 
  Tangle Ridge and Sunwapta River

See also

• List of mountains of Canada
• Geography of Alberta