Mount Saskatchewan (Yukon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Saskatchewan |
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 Mount Saskatchewan
Location in Yukon
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,500 m (11,500 ft) |
| Prominence | 600 m (2,000 ft) |
| Parent peak | Mount Ontario |
| Geography | |
| Location | Yukon, Canada |
| Parent range | Saint Elias Mountains |
| Topo map | NTS 115C/15 |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | Unclimbed as of June 2012 |
| Easiest route | rock/glacier/snow/ice climb |
Mount Saskatchewan is a tall mountain located in the very southwest part of Yukon, Canada. It stands at about 3,500 meters (11,500 feet) high. This impressive peak is found within the beautiful Kluane National Park and Reserve.
The mountain got its name in 1967. It was named after the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. This was done to celebrate Canada's 100th birthday as a country. Mount Saskatchewan is part of the Centennial Range of mountains. As of 2012, it was the only peak in this range named after a Canadian province or territory that had not yet been successfully climbed.
Why is Mount Saskatchewan So Hard to Climb?
Mount Saskatchewan is known for being a very challenging mountain to climb. Many skilled climbers have tried to reach its summit, but so far, none have succeeded. This makes it a special goal for mountaineers.
Early Attempts to Conquer the Peak
The first group to try climbing Mount Saskatchewan was in 1967. This attempt was part of the big centennial celebrations for Canada. Years later, in May 2005, another team from Saskatchewan made a second try. They wanted to celebrate their province's 100th birthday.
However, the weather was unusually warm that year. This made the climb much harder. They also struggled to find a safe path up the mountain. After traveling 35 kilometers (about 22 miles) across a glacier, they had to turn back. A third attempt in 2007 also did not reach the top.
Recent Climbing Expeditions
In 2012, a new team from Saskatchewan decided to try. The team included Steve Whittington, Jeff Dmytrowich, Sam Unger, and Wren Rabut. They set up their base camp in the same spot as the 1967 climbers. Their climb began on May 18.
The group managed to climb to about 3,200 meters (10,500 feet). But they faced many difficulties. They encountered several crevasse falls. A crevasse is a deep crack in a glacier or ice sheet. Falling into one can be very dangerous. Bad weather also made their climb very tough. Because of these challenges, they had to give up their attempt to reach the summit.
In early spring 2013, a team from Sweden also tried to climb Mount Saskatchewan. Benny Elofsson, Joel Johansson, and Axel Palmcrantz approached the mountain from the north. They came via the Chitina Glacier. Like the others, they could not find a safe way to the top. They had to stop their climb of Mount Saskatchewan. Instead, they successfully climbed two other nearby peaks that had likely never been climbed before.
