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Commonwealth Peak facts for kids

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Commonwealth Peak
Commonwealth Peak.jpg
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 is located in Alberta
Commonwealth Peak
Commonwealth Peak
Location in Alberta
Commonwealth Peak is located in Canada
Commonwealth Peak
Commonwealth Peak
Location in Canada
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.

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.

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