Kintla Peak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kintla Peak |
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Kintla Peak at right above Agassiz Glacier
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 10,106 ft (3,080 m) NAVD 88 |
| Prominence | 4,401 ft (1,341 m) |
| Parent peak | Mount Cleveland |
| Geography | |
 Kintla Peak
Location in Montana
Kintla Peak
Location in the United States
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| Location | Flathead County, Montana, U.S. |
| Parent range | Livingston Range |
| Topo map | USGS Kintla Peak, MT |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Precambrian (Mesoproterozoic) |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Scramble (Class 3/4), often some snow |
Kintla Peak is a towering mountain in Glacier National Park, located in the U.S. state of Montana. It stands at 10,106 ft (3,080 m) (about 3,080 meters) tall. This makes it the highest mountain in the Livingston Range. It is also the third tallest peak in all of Glacier National Park.
Kintla Peak is special because it's the most northern point in the main part of the United States that is over 10,000 ft (3,000 m) high. Below its southeast side, you can find the Agassiz Glacier.
Contents
What is Kintla Peak Made Of?
Kintla Peak is made of very old rocks. These rocks formed during a time called the Precambrian era, specifically the Mesoproterozoic period. They are part of a large group of rocks known as the Belt Supergroup. These rocks are millions of years old!
How Kintla Peak Got Its Name
The mountain gets its name from the nearby Kintla Lakes. The word "Kintla" comes from the Kootenai language. It means "sack."
There's an old Kootenai story about the lakes. It says that a man once drowned in one of them. People then compared the lake to a sack, meaning "once you got in, you couldn't get out."
Exploring Kintla Peak
Kintla Peak is in a very wild and remote part of Glacier National Park. To even reach the base of the mountain, you need to hike almost 15 miles (24 km) from the nearest road. That's a long walk!
The mountain rises dramatically from the land around it. For example, the nearby Upper Kintla Lake is only about 4,370 feet (1,330 m) high. This big difference in height makes Kintla Peak a challenging climb. It's known as "the most arduous climb in the northwest section of the park."
Climbing Routes
The most common way to climb Kintla Peak is called the Southeast Ridge Route. This path starts from the Agassiz Glacier basin. It's a very long journey to get there, and you have to climb a lot of vertical distance.
The climb involves something called scrambling. This is a mix of hiking and easy rock climbing, often rated as Class 3 or 4. Depending on the time of year, you might also have to climb over snow. Other ways to climb the mountain include the East Ridge, West Face, and Upper North Face routes.
