Mount Marathon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mount Marathon
View of Mount Marathon from Downtown Seward
Highest point
Elevation	4,826 ft (1,471 m)
Prominence	889 ft (271 m)
Parent peak	Phoenix Peak
Geography
Mount Marathon Location in Alaska
Location	Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Parent range	Kenai Mountains
Topo map	USGS Seward A-7
Climbing
First ascent	Unknown
Easiest route	Scramble

Mount Marathon, or officially Marathon Mountain, is a 4,826-foot (1,471 m) mountain summit directly west of Seward in the Kenai Mountains in the U.S. state of Alaska. The peak is situated in Chugach National Forest, rising above Resurrection Bay, 2.35 mi (4 km) south of Mount Benson, and 2 mi (3 km) north of Bear Mountain. The namesake of the mountain is the Mount Marathon Race held every Fourth of July.

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Marathon is located in a subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and mild summers. Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. This climate supports a spruce and hemlock forest on the lower slopes. The months May and June offer the most favorable weather for viewing.