Mount Wickersham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Wickersham |
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Mount Wickersham from Matanuska Glacier
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 7,415 ft (2,260 m) |
| Prominence | 1,100 ft (340 m) |
| Isolation | 7.87 mi (12.67 km) |
| Parent peak | Frogfish Peak (8530 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Mount Wickersham
Location in Alaska
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| Location | Matanuska-Susitna Borough Alaska, United States |
| Parent range | Chugach Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Anchorage C-2 |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1969 |
| Easiest route | Scrambling |
Mount Wickersham is a large mountain in Alaska, standing about 7,415 feet (2,260 meters) tall. It's located in the northern part of the Chugach Mountains, a big mountain range in the United States. You can find it about 48 miles (77 km) east of Palmer, a town in Alaska.
This mountain is a well-known landmark in the Matanuska Valley. It sits right between the cities of Anchorage and Glennallen, near mile 101 of the Glenn Highway. Mount Wickersham is also very close to the Matanuska Glacier, which is a huge river of ice. It's about 10.5 miles (17 km) east of Amulet Peak.
The mountain was named in 1960 to honor James Wickersham (1857–1939). He was an important person in Alaska's history, serving as a judge and a representative for Alaska in the U.S. Congress. In June 1903, James Wickersham also led the first attempt to climb Denali, North America's highest peak. His team couldn't make it to the top because of very steep cliffs, which are now called Wickersham Wall.
Understanding the Climate of Mount Wickersham
Mount Wickersham is in a subarctic climate zone. This means it has long, cold, and snowy winters, but its summers are usually mild.
Weather systems that come from the Gulf of Alaska hit the Chugach Mountains. When this happens, the air is forced to rise. As the air goes higher, it cools down and drops a lot of rain and snow. This process is called orographic lift.
Temperatures on the mountain can get very low, sometimes dropping below −20 °C (which is −4 °F). With the wind chill, it can feel even colder, below −30 °C (−22 °F). The best time to visit or try to climb Mount Wickersham is usually in May and June, when the weather is most favorable. The water from the melting snow and ice on the mountain flows into streams that eventually join the Matanuska River.
