Mount Orville facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Orville |
|
---|---|
Highest point | |
Elevation | 10,495 ft (3,199 m) |
Prominence | 1,795 ft (547 m) |
Geography | |
Parent range | Fairweather Range, Saint Elias Mountains |
Topo map | USGS Mount Fairweather C-4 Quadrangle |
Climbing | |
First ascent | 1995 by Steve Carroll, Philip Kauffman and Patrick Simmons |
Easiest route | snow/ice climb |
Mount Orville is a tall mountain peak located in Alaska, in the United States. It is part of the Fairweather Range, which is the southernmost section of the Saint Elias Mountains. This impressive peak is found inside Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.
Mount Orville is one of two peaks, along with Mount Wilbur. These mountains were named after the famous Wright Brothers, who invented the airplane.
Why Mount Orville Looks So Tall
Even though Mount Orville might not be the highest mountain in the world, it looks incredibly tall from the ground. This is because it stands very high above the land around it. The mountain is quite close to the ocean, making its height seem even more dramatic. The top of Mount Orville is only about 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) from the ocean's edge at Lituya Bay.
Climbing Mount Orville
Climbing Mount Orville is a big challenge for mountaineers. The first group to reach the summit was in 1995. Experienced climbers Steven Carroll, Philip Kauffman, and Patrick Simmons made this successful climb. They were the first and only team to reach the very top of Mount Orville.
However, their journey back down the mountain was very difficult. They faced unexpected and dangerous weather changes. These conditions made their descent extremely risky.
In April 2012, another attempt to climb Mount Orville was made. Professional mountaineer Florian Hill and Will Wacker tried to reach the summit several times. But they also had to stop their expedition. Bad weather conditions made it impossible for them to continue their climb safely.