Mount Johnson (Alaska) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Johnson |
|
|---|---|
Aerial view of Mount Johnson
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 8,400+ ft (2,560+ m) |
| Prominence | 1,150 ft (350 m) |
| Geography | |
 Mount Johnson
Location in Alaska
|
|
| Location | Denali National Park and Preserve Matanuska-Susitna Borough Alaska, United States |
| Parent range | Alaska Range |
| Topo map | USGS Talkeetna D-2 |
| Type of rock | Granite |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1979 |
Mount Johnson is a mountain peak located in the amazing Alaska Range. It stands tall at about 8,400 feet (2,560 meters) above sea level. You can find it inside Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska, United States.
This impressive mountain is on the west side of the Ruth Gorge. It's about 15 miles (24 km) southeast of Denali, which is North America's highest peak. Mount Johnson is also about 6 miles (10 km) south-southwest of a cool-sounding peak called The Moose's Tooth. The closest higher mountain is Mount Wake, just a short distance to the northwest.
Even though Mount Johnson isn't the tallest mountain around, it's famous for its incredible north face. This side of the mountain has a sheer granite wall that rises over 4,000 feet (1,200 meters)! This makes it a super challenging spot for mountain climbers. Some of the climbing paths here have exciting names like Escalator and Stairway to Heaven.
The very first time people successfully climbed to the top of Mount Johnson was in 1979. The brave climbers were Gary Bocarde, Charlie Head, John Lee, and Jon Thomas. They reached the summit by following a path along the mountain's south ridge. The mountain was named by a well-known explorer, Dr. Frederick Cook. He was once believed to be the first person to climb Mount McKinley (now called Denali) in 1906, but later on, it was found that his claim was not true.
Weather at Mount Johnson
Mount Johnson is located in an alpine climate zone. This means the weather there is usually very cold. Winters are long, snowy, and freezing. Summers are cool, but still much nicer for outdoor activities.
Temperatures can often drop below −20 °C (that's −4 °F!). With the wind blowing, it can feel even colder, sometimes below −30 °C (−22 °F). If you're planning to visit or see Mount Johnson, the best time for good weather is usually from May through June. These months offer the most pleasant conditions for climbing or just enjoying the view.
