Mount Augusta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Augusta |
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Mt. Augusta (left), from the south
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4289 m (14,070 ft) NAVD88 |
| Prominence | 1549 m (5082 ft) |
| Isolation | 23.2 km (14.41 mi) |
| Listing |
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| Geography | |
 Mount Augusta
Location in Alaska
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| Location | Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska, United States; Yukon, Canada |
| Parent range | Saint Elias Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Mount Saint Elias B-7 Quadrangle |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1952 by Peter Schoening et al via Northeast Ridge |
| Easiest route | snow/ice climb |
Mount Augusta, also called Boundary Peak 183, is a very tall mountain. It sits on the border between Alaska in the United States and Yukon in Canada. It is part of the Saint Elias Mountains range.
This mountain is about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) south of Mount Logan. It is also about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) east of Mount Saint Elias. Mount Logan is the tallest mountain in Canada. Mount Saint Elias is the second tallest. Mount Augusta forms the eastern end of a long ridge. Mount Saint Elias is the highest point on this ridge.
The Seward Glacier starts north of Mount Augusta. It flows around the eastern side of the peak. This glacier separates Mount Augusta from Mount Logan. It also creates a gap between Mount Augusta and the mountains around Mount Cook. The Seward Glacier then continues south. It joins the much larger Malaspina Glacier.
Naming Mount Augusta
Mount Augusta got its name in 1891. A person named I.C. Russell from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) named it. He named the mountain after his wife, J. Augusta Olmsted Russell.
Unique Features of Mount Augusta
Mount Augusta is very tall, reaching 4,289 meters (14,070 feet) high. However, it is one of the "fourteeners" in the United States. A "fourteener" is a mountain that is over 14,000 feet tall. It is not as famous as its giant neighbors, Mount Saint Elias and Mount Logan.
Even so, Mount Augusta is a huge peak in terms of how much it rises from the land around it. This is called "local relief." It is very close to low ground, and even close to the ocean. For example, the mountain drops 3,050 meters (10,000 feet) down to the Seward Glacier. This steep drop happens over a distance of only about 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles).
Climbing Mount Augusta
Mount Augusta is a challenging climb. Here are some of the notable ascents:
- First Ascent (1952): The first time anyone reached the top of Mount Augusta was in 1952. A team led by Peter Schoening climbed the North Ridge. Other climbers included Victor Josendal, Bill Niendorf, Richard E. McGowen, Bob Yeasting, Gibson Reynolds, Tom Morris, and Verl Rogers. They reached the summit on July 4th.
- North Rib and West Ridge (1987): In 1987, a group led by a famous Canadian climber named Don Serl climbed a new route. They used the North Rib and West Ridge.
- South Ridge (1990): Mark Bebie from the U.S. and Bill Pilling reached the summit in 1990. They climbed the South Ridge route. Their climb took six days.
