Mount Gandalf

Mount Gandalf is a 2,391-metre (7,844-foot) mountain summit located in the Cadwallader Range in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is situated at the northeast corner of Birkenhead Lake Provincial Park, 35 km (22 mi) north of Pemberton, 56 km (35 mi) west of Lillooet, 2.9 km (2 mi) north of Tolkien Peak, and immediately south of Mount Aragorn, which is its nearest higher peak.[3] Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into tributaries of the Fraser River.  

Mount Gandalf
Mount Gandalf, southeast aspect
Highest point
Elevation2,391 m (7,844 ft) [1]
Prominence106 m (348 ft) [1]
Parent peakMount Aragorn (2435 m)[1]
Coordinates50°37′57″N 122°42′08″W [2]
Geography
Mount Gandalf
Location in British Columbia
Mount Gandalf
Mount Gandalf (Canada)
LocationBirkenhead Lake Provincial Park
British Columbia, Canada
Parent rangeCadwallader Range
Coast Mountains
Topo mapNTS 92J/10
Geology
Type of rockgranite
Climbing
First ascent1972 by Fred Thiessen, Eric White, Peter Jordan[1]
Easiest routeScrambling class 2 via South Face[1]

History

The first ascent of the mountain was made on May 8, 1972, by Peter Jordan, Fred Thiessen, and Eric White.[1][4] This climbing party also made the first ascents of nearby Mount Aragorn and Mount Shadowfax. The names for Mounts Aragorn, Gandalf, and Shadowfax were taken from fictional characters in the novels The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien, which were read while waiting out stormy weather during the 1972 outing. However, Mt. Gandalf became incorrectly identified on maps as Shadowfax, and vice versa, as originally proposed in 1978 by Karl Ricker of the Alpine Club of Canada.[5] The mountains' names were corrected as recommended in March 2006 by Scott Nelson and endorsed by the BC Mountaineering Club.[1] The correction was officially adopted December 4, 2006, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.[2]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Gandalf is located in a subarctic climate zone of western North America.[6] Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east toward the Coast Mountains where they are forced upward by the range (Orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall. As a result, the Coast Mountains experience high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. The months July through September offer the most favorable weather for climbing Mount Gandalf.

The granite spire that is the summit of Gandalf

Climbing Routes

Established climbing routes on Mount Gandalf:[1]    

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References
  1. "Mount Gandalf". Bivouac.com. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
  2. "Mount Gandalf". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
  3. "Mount Gandalf, British Columbia". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
  4. UBC Varsity Outdoor Club Journal, vol 15, 1972, pp 52-55
  5. "Mount Gandalf". BC Geographical Names.
  6. Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L. & McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11. ISSN 1027-5606.

See also
Mount Gandalf, north aspect
Gandalf (left) and Aragorn (right) seen from Mt. Shadowfax
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