Mount Athabasca facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mount Athabasca
Mt. Athabasca & North Glacier seen from Wilcox Pass
Highest point
Elevation	3,491 m (11,453 ft)
Prominence	671 m (2,201 ft)
Geography
Mount Athabasca Location in Alberta
Location	Alberta, Canada
Parent range	Canadian Rockies
Topo map	NTS 83C/03
Climbing
First ascent	1898 by J. Norman Collie and Herman Woolley
Easiest route	scramble/glacier/snow climb

Mount Athabasca is a tall mountain located in the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park, Canada. The Columbia Icefield is a huge area of ice and snow. This mountain was named in 1898 by J. Norman Collie. He was also the first person to climb it on August 18 of that year.

The name "Athabasca" comes from the Cree Indian language. It means "where there are reeds." This name first referred to Lake Athabasca, a large lake in Canada.

Climbing Mount Athabasca

North Glacier route on Mount Athabasca

There are several ways to climb Mount Athabasca. Some of the popular climbing paths include:

• North Glacier (Normal Route)
• Silverhorn
• AA Col
• Regular North Face
• North Ridge
• The Hourglass

One special part of Mount Athabasca is a horn-shaped tip near the top. It is called the "Silverhorn." Climbing the Silverhorn is one of the easier ways to reach the top. However, it needs more care and skill than the normal path. This is because of something called blue ice. Blue ice is very hard, old ice that can be slippery. Also, climbers must watch out for ice falling from other groups.

Even though it's not easy to see from the road, the south side of the Silverhorn has a scrambling path. Scrambling means climbing over rocks and steep ground using your hands and feet. But even with this path, you still need to cross the north glacier to get to it. Once you are at the top of the Silverhorn, reaching the very top of Mount Athabasca is quite easy. It's usually a short 15-minute walk over a narrow, snow-covered ridge in good summer weather.

See also

In Spanish: Monte Athabasca para niños