Going-to-the-Sun Mountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Going-to-the-Sun Mountain |
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Going-to-the-Sun Mountain center right
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 9,647 ft (2,940 m) |
| Prominence | 1,892 ft (577 m) |
| Parent peak | Cracker Peak |
| Listing | Mountains in Glacier County |
| Geography | |
 Going-to-the-Sun Mountain
Location in Montana
Going-to-the-Sun Mountain
Location in the United States
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| Location | Glacier National Park, Glacier County, Montana, U.S. |
| Parent range | Lewis Range |
| Topo map | USGS Logan Pass |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1907 |
| Easiest route | Hike, scramble class 4 |
Going-to-the-Sun Mountain is a tall and impressive peak. It stands about 9,647 feet (2,940 meters) high. This mountain is located in Glacier National Park in the United States. It rises dramatically above the beautiful St. Mary Valley. You can see it clearly just north of the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road. The mountain was given its special name by James Willard Schultz in 1888.
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How Going-to-the-Sun Mountain Got Its Name
Have you ever wondered how mountains get their names? Going-to-the-Sun Mountain has a really interesting story behind its name!
The Story from James Willard Schultz
During the winter of 1887-1888, a man named James Willard Schultz lived near the St. Mary Lakes. He was an early hunting guide in the area. Schultz and his family built a cabin on the north shore of upper Saint Mary Lake.
One day, Schultz was hunting on Red Eagle Mountain. He was with his good friend, Tail-Feathers-Coming-Over-the-Hill. Tail-Feathers was a member of the Pikuni tribe. After hunting, they sat by a small fire. Tail-Feathers kept looking at a beautiful mountain across the lake.
He told Schultz how high and beautiful it was. He wished he could climb it to pray to Sun for a vision. Sun was a very important god to the Blackfoot tribe. Schultz also thought this mountain was the most beautiful. He realized the name should connect to Sun.
So, Schultz suggested, "We will name that mountain. Let us call it Going-to-the-Sun Mountain." Tail-Feathers agreed, saying it was a "powerful, sacred name." This story comes from Warren Hanna, who wrote about James Willard Schultz's life.
Other Blackfeet Legends
There are also other stories about the mountain's name. These come from the Blackfeet Indian legends. The Blackfeet people used this mountain for vision quests. A vision quest is a spiritual journey. People would go to a special place to fast and pray. They hoped to receive guidance or a vision from the spirits.
Some sources say the Blackfeet name for the mountain is much longer. It is said to be The-Face-of-Sour-Spirit-Who-Went-Back-to-The-Sun-After-His-Work-Was-Done Mountain. This name describes the snowfields on the mountain. When seen from the west, these snowfields look like the outline of a face.
Going-to-the-Sun Mountain is one of the easiest major peaks to reach in Glacier National Park. Its unique name and the stories behind it make it a very special place.
Images for kids
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1917
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Road construction along the Going-to-the-Sun Road with Going to the Sun Mountain in background, 1932
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Going-to-the-Sun Mountain
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Going-To-The-Sun Mountain seen from east
