Mount Niobe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Niobe |
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Mount Niobe, north aspect
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,021 m (6,631 ft) |
| Prominence | 471 m (1,545 ft) |
| Parent peak | Mount Tantalus (2603 m) |
| Geography | |
 Mount Niobe
Location in British Columbia
Mount Niobe
Location in Canada
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| Location | Tantalus Provincial Park British Columbia, Canada |
| Parent range | Tantalus Range Coast Ranges |
| Topo map | NTS 92G/14 |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1910 by E. Kingsford-Smith and G. Warren |
| Easiest route | Scrambling |
Mount Niobe is a tall mountain peak in British Columbia, Canada. It stands at 2,021-metre (6,631-foot) high. You can find it in the Tantalus Range, which is part of Tantalus Provincial Park.
This mountain is about 10 km (6 mi) northwest of a town called Squamish. It's also 7.2 km (4 mi) southeast of Mount Tantalus. Mount Tantalus is the highest peak in the Tantalus Range.
Nearby, you'll find Lydia Mountain to the west-northwest and Omega Mountain to the east. A beautiful place called Lake Lovely Water sits below Mount Niobe's northern side. Water from the mountain flows into the Squamish River.
The first people to climb Mount Niobe were E. Kingsford-Smith and G. Warren in 1910. They climbed the south side of the mountain. The name "Mount Niobe" became official on June 6, 1957. It was named after Niobe, a character from Greek mythology. She was the daughter of Tantalus, and many peaks in this area are named after his family.
Mountain Weather: Climate of Mount Niobe
Mount Niobe is in a "marine west coast" climate zone. This means it gets a lot of weather from the Pacific Ocean. Weather fronts travel east towards the Coast Mountains. When they hit the mountains, the air is forced to rise. This rising air cools down and drops its moisture. This process is called orographic lift.
Because of this, the Coast Mountains get a lot of rain and snow. Winters can be very cold, with temperatures dropping below −20 °C. The wind can make it feel even colder, sometimes below −30 °C. Even with these cold temperatures, small parts of glaciers still exist on the east and north sides of Mount Niobe. The best time to climb Mount Niobe is usually from July to September.
Climbing Mount Niobe: Routes to the Top
There are several ways climbers can reach the top of Mount Niobe. These are known as established rock climbing routes.
- South Side - This route was first climbed in 1910.
- Northeast Ridge - This route was first climbed in 1960.
- North Rib - This route was first climbed in 1963.
- West Side - This is another way to climb the mountain.
