Mount Ernest Gruening facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mount Ernest Gruening
Mount Ernest Gruening, west aspect
Highest point
Elevation	6,015+ ft (1,830+ m)
Prominence	1,615 ft (492 m)
Isolation	4.5 mi (7.2 km)
Parent peak	The Snow Towers
Geography
Mount Ernest Gruening Location in Alaska
Location	Tongass National Forest Juneau Borough Alaska, United States
Parent range	Coast Mountains Boundary Ranges Juneau Icefield
Topo map	USGS Juneau C-2

Mount Ernest Gruening is a tall, icy mountain in Alaska, United States. It stands 6,015+ ft (1,830+ m) high in the Coast Mountains. This long mountain is found between the Herbert Glacier and Eagle Glacier. It's on the western edge of the Juneau Icefield. The mountain is about 20 mi (32 km) northwest of Juneau, Alaska. It's also 8 mi (13 km) east of Favorite Channel. The land is managed by Tongass National Forest.

Even though it's not the tallest mountain, its sides rise very steeply. The east side climbs over 3,500 feet from the Herbert Glacier in less than a mile. The west side rises 5,800 feet above the Eagle River valley in just two miles.

How Mount Ernest Gruening Got Its Name

This mountain was once known by other names. People called it "Goat Mountain" or "Thane Mountain." In 1968, it was officially named after Dr. Adolph Knopf. He was a geologist who worked for the United States Geological Survey. Dr. Knopf studied this area a lot.

Ernest Gruening

The mountain's name was changed again in 1976. The United States Board on Geographic Names decided to honor Ernest Gruening (say "GREEN-ing"). He lived from 1887 to 1974. Ernest Gruening is often called "the father of Alaska statehood." This means he played a huge role in making Alaska a U.S. state.

He was the Governor of the Alaska Territory from 1939 to 1953. When Alaska became a state in 1959, he was one of its first two Senators. Ernest Gruening loved this particular mountain. He could see it from his home at Eagle River Landing. On September 11, 1969, Alaskans gave him a special helicopter ride to the top of the mountain. He had wished for his ashes to be scattered over the mountain after he passed away, and this wish was granted.

The name "Adolph Knopf" was then moved to a different peak. This new peak is about eight miles north of Mount Ernest Gruening. Some older maps might still show Mount Ernest Gruening with the wrong name.

Weather and Climate Around the Mountain

Mount Ernest Gruening is in a subpolar oceanic climate zone. This means it has long, cold, and wet winters. The summers are cool. Weather systems from the Gulf of Alaska hit the Coast Mountains. This forces the air upwards, a process called orographic lift. This causes a lot of rain and snow to fall.

Temperatures can drop very low, sometimes below −20 °C. With the wind, it can feel even colder, below −30 °C. If you want to see this mountain, the best time is usually from May through July. The weather is most favorable then.

Images for kids

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  From west at Eagle River

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  East aspect, aerial view

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  View from Mt. Ernest Gruening of Herbert Glacier and The Snow Towers (left of center)

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  Mount Ernest Gruening, west aspect across Lynn Canal

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  Sunset on Mount Ernest Gruening