Mount Tom White facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Tom White |
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Mount Tom White and Fan Glacier
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 11,191 ft (3,411 m) |
| Prominence | 7,591 ft (2,314 m) |
| Isolation | 73 mi (117 km) |
| Parent peak | Mount Blackburn |
| Listing | Ultras of the United States (30th) Ultra-prominents of Alaska (17th) |
| Geography | |
 Mount Tom White
Location in Alaska
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| Location | Chugach National Forest Chugach Census Area Alaska, United States |
| Parent range | Chugach Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Bering Glacier C-8 |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1973 Story Clark, Chris Hall, Tom Kizzia, William Resor, Sarah Robey, Don White |
| Easiest route | Mountaineering expedition |
Mount Tom White is a very tall mountain in Alaska, United States. It stands 11,191 feet (3,411 meters) high. This huge, icy peak is part of the Chugach Mountains.
The mountain is located in a wild area called the Chugach National Forest. It's about 72 miles (116 km) northeast of a town called Cordova. It's also about 20 miles (32 km) north of the Bering Glacier, which is the biggest glacier in North America!
Mount Tom White is an important peak because it's the eighth-highest major mountain in the Chugach Mountains. It's also one of the most "prominent" peaks in Alaska. This means it rises very high above the land around it. The first people to climb this mountain reached the top in 1973. They were Story Clark, Chris Hall, Tom Kizzia, William Resor, Sarah Robey, and Don White.
Who Was Tom White?
The mountain is named after Thomas George White. He was an early explorer and pioneer in Alaska. Tom White first came to Alaska in 1890. He worked with a science team exploring the area. He returned again in 1891.
After his expeditions, Tom White decided to stay in Alaska. He wanted to try his luck looking for gold. People called him the "Sourdough Driller." He is famous for finding an oil seep (where oil naturally leaks from the ground) in 1894. He also drilled the very first oil well in Alaska in 1902.
The official name "Mount Tom White" was given to the mountain in 1950. This was decided by the United States Board on Geographic Names.
Weather and Climate
Mount Tom White is in a very cold climate zone. This means it has long, snowy winters and cool summers. The weather here is greatly affected by the Gulf of Alaska. Winds from the Gulf hit the Chugach Mountains and are forced upwards. This causes a lot of rain and snow to fall on the mountains.
Temperatures can get very cold, sometimes dropping below −20 °C (or −4 °F). With the wind, it can feel even colder, below −30 °C (or −22 °F). This cold climate helps keep several large glaciers and icefields around the mountain. These include the Miles Glacier, Martin River Glacier, Fan Glacier, and Bagley Icefield.
The best time to visit Mount Tom White for climbing or just to see it is usually in May and June. The weather is often clearer and more pleasant during these months.
See also
In Spanish: Monte Tom White para niños
