Mount Lawrence Grassi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Lawrence Grassi |
|
|---|---|
Mount Lawrence Grassi from Ha Ling Peak, September 2009
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,685 m (8,809 ft) |
| Prominence | 396 m (1,299 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Mount Lawrence Grassi
Location in Alberta
|
|
| Parent range | Canadian Rockies |
| Topo map | NTS 82O/03 |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | moderate scramble |
Mount Lawrence Grassi is a tall mountain peak in the Canadian Rockies in Alberta, Canada. It stands just south of the town of Canmore. This peak is the highest point of a larger mountain group called the Ehagay Nakoda massif. A massif is a group of mountains that form a single block.
Mount Lawrence Grassi has two other important peaks. These are Ha Ling Peak and Miners Peak. Another part of the mountain is called Ship's Prow. The mountain is separated from Mount Rundle by a place called Whiteman's Gap. To the south, it is separated from The Three Sisters by Three Sisters Pass.
Who Was Lawrence Grassi?
The mountain is named after a man named Lawrence Grassi (1890–1980). He was an Italian miner who moved to Canada in 1912. For several years, he worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway. Later, he worked in the coal mines near Canmore.
Lawrence Grassi became a very respected climbing guide. He also built many trails in the area. One of these trails leads to the beautiful Grassi Lakes, which are also named after him.
Why Did the Name Change?
The entire mountain group, or massif, was once known as Mount Lawrence Grassi. However, its name was changed to Ehagay Nakoda in 1998. This change happened along with the renaming of Ha Ling Peak.
The name Ehagay Nakoda means "The last Nakoda" or "The last human being." This name comes from a traditional story of the Stoney Nakoda people. In their story, a person was turned into a mountain by Iktomni, who is known as the Trickster. This transformation meant they would stay on Earth long after humans were gone.
A local Stoney Nakoda Elder, Peter Lazarus Wesley, shared this story. He suggested renaming Chinaman's Peak, but the decision was made to rename the whole massif. Chinaman's Peak was then renamed Ha Ling Peak. To honor Lawrence Grassi and the mountain's history, the tallest peak kept the name Mount Lawrence Grassi.
Climate
Mount Lawrence Grassi is in a subarctic climate zone. This means it has cold, snowy winters. The summers are usually mild. Winter temperatures can drop below -20 degrees Celsius (or -4 degrees Fahrenheit). With the wind chill, it can feel even colder, sometimes below -30 degrees Celsius (or -22 degrees Fahrenheit).
