Mount Foraker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Foraker |
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Mount Foraker
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 17,400 ft (5304 m) NAVD88 |
| Prominence | 7250 ft (2210 m) |
| Isolation | 14.27 mi (23.0 km) |
| Parent peak | Denali |
| Listing |
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| Geography | |
 Mount Foraker
Location in Alaska
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| Location | Denali Borough, Alaska, United States |
| Parent range | Alaska Range |
| Topo map | USGS Talkeetna D-3 |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | August 10, 1934 |
| Easiest route | basic snow/ice |
Mount Foraker is a huge mountain in Alaska. It stands about 17,400 feet (5,304 meters) tall. This makes it the second highest peak in the Alaska Range. It is also the third highest mountain in the entire United States.
You can find Mount Foraker in Denali National Park. It is about 14 miles (23 km) southwest of Denali, which is the tallest mountain in North America. Mount Foraker rises high above the base camp used by climbers heading for Denali. It is also close to Mount Hunter.
The first time climbers reached the north peak was on August 6, 1934. Just four days later, on August 10, 1934, the higher south peak was climbed. This first ascent was made by Charles Houston, T. Graham Brown, and Chychele Waterston. They climbed the mountain using its west ridge.
What's in a Name?
Mount Foraker got its name in 1899. A person named Lt. J. S. Herron named it after Joseph B. Foraker. Joseph B. Foraker was a U.S. Senator from Ohio at that time.
The native Denaʼina people, who lived near Lake Minchumina, had a clear view of the mountains. They gave special names to both Mount Foraker and Denali. According to Hudson Stuck, the Denaʼina had two names for Mount Foraker. One name was Sultana, which means "the woman." The other name was Menlale, meaning "Denali's wife."
Some Denaʼina people living near the Susitna River called Mount Foraker by the same name as Denali. It seems they used the name for the whole group of mountains, not just one peak. In Russian, the mountain was called Bolshaya Gora, which means "big mountain."
Famous Climbs and Routes
Mount Foraker is a challenging climb. Many experienced climbers have tried to reach its summit. Here are some of the notable ascents:
- 1934 West Ridge: This was the first time anyone climbed Mount Foraker. Charles Houston, T. Graham Brown, and Chychele Waterston made this historic climb.
- 1968 Talkeetna Ridge: This was the fourth time the peak was climbed. Alex Bertulis, Warren Bleser, Hans Baer, and Peter Williamson reached the top on July 26, 1968.
- 1975 Archangel Ridge: Gerard and Barbara Roach, along with Brad Johnson, David Wright, Stewart Krebs, and Charles Campbell, were the first to climb this route. They reached the summit on July 14, 1975.
- 1977 Infinite Spur: This is a very famous and difficult route on the south face. Michael Kennedy and George Lowe completed this climb in six days.
- 2016 Infinite Spur (Solo): Colin Haley made the first solo climb of the "Infinite Spur" route. He also did it in the fastest time ever, taking only 12 hours and 29 minutes to reach the summit from the base.
See also
