Commonwealth Peak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Commonwealth Peak |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,775 m (9,104 ft) |
| Prominence | 215 m (705 ft) |
| Parent peak | Mount Birdwood (3097 m) |
| Listing | Mountains of Alberta |
| Geography | |
 Commonwealth Peak
Location in Alberta
Commonwealth Peak
Location in Canada
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| Location | Alberta, Canada |
| Parent range | Spray Mountains Canadian Rockies |
| Topo map | NTS 82J/14 |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Cambrian |
| Type of rock | Limestone |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1970 Charlie Locke, Lloyd McKay |
| Easiest route | Scrambling |
Commonwealth Peak is a tall mountain in Alberta, Canada. It stands 2,775 meters (about 9,104 feet) high! This peak is part of the Spray Mountains, which are a smaller group of mountains within the huge Canadian Rockies. You can find Commonwealth Peak inside Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. Close by, to the west, is Mount Birdwood, which is even taller. You can see both mountains from Highway 742, also called the Smith-Dorrien/Spray Trail, in Kananaskis Country.
Contents
Why is it Called Commonwealth Peak?
Commonwealth Peak got its name in 1979. It was named to remember the 1978 Commonwealth Games. These big sports games were held in Edmonton, Alberta, the year before.
The official name for the mountain was accepted in 1979. This was done by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.
First Climbers
The first time anyone successfully climbed to the top of Commonwealth Peak was in 1970. Two climbers, Charlie Locke and Lloyd McKay, made this first ascent.
What is Commonwealth Peak Made Of?
Commonwealth Peak is made of a type of rock called sedimentary rock. This rock formed a very long time ago, from the Precambrian to the Jurassic periods.
Imagine shallow seas covering the area millions of years ago. Layers of sand, mud, and tiny bits of shells settled at the bottom. Over time, these layers hardened into sedimentary rock. Later, during a huge event called the Laramide orogeny, these rock layers were pushed up. They moved east and even slid over younger rocks, forming the mountains we see today.
Weather at Commonwealth Peak
Commonwealth Peak is in a subarctic climate zone. This means it has very cold and snowy winters. The summers are usually mild, not too hot.
In winter, temperatures can drop below −20 °C (which is −4 °F). With the wind, it can feel even colder, sometimes below −30 °C (−22 °F). If you want to climb this mountain, the best time to go is from July through September. The weather is usually much nicer and safer then.
Gallery
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Commonwealth Peak centered, Mt. Birdwood to right in clouds
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Mt. Birdwood (left), Commonwealth Peak to right
