Mount Wintour facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mount Wintour
Mount Wintour, west aspect, as seen from Lower Kananaskis Lake
Highest point
Elevation	2,700 m (8,900 ft)
Prominence	368 m (1,207 ft)
Parent peak	Mount Jerram (2996 m)
Listing	Mountains of Alberta
Geography
Mount Wintour Location in Alberta Show map of Alberta Mount Wintour Location in Canada Show map of Canada
Location	Alberta, Canada
Parent range	Opal Range Canadian Rockies
Topo map	NTS 82J/11
Type of rock	sedimentary rock
Climbing
First ascent	1968 by Glen Boles and E. Peyer
Easiest route	Climbing YDS 5.4

Mount Wintour in winter

Mount Wintour is a mountain in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. It stands about 2,700 meters (8,858 feet) tall. This ridge-like mountain is part of the Opal Range.

You can find Mount Wintour in the Kananaskis River Valley. It is located east of Lower Kananaskis Lake. The mountain is also near Highway 40, inside Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. The closest taller mountain is Mount Jerram, which is about 2.3 kilometers (1.4 miles) to the east.

The northern part of Mount Wintour forms a canyon wall for King Creek. This area is a popular spot for ice climbing. If you want to climb to the top of Mount Wintour, there are two main routes. These are called the North Ridge and the South Ridge. Both routes are rated as YDS 5.4, which is a moderate climbing difficulty.

History of Mount Wintour

This mountain was named to honor Captain Charles John Wintour. He was a brave officer in the Royal Navy. Captain Wintour was in charge of the 4th Destroyer Flotilla. Sadly, he died in 1916 during World War I. His ship, the destroyer HMS Tipperary, was sunk by a German battleship.

The name "Mount Wintour" became official in 1928. The Geographical Names Board of Canada approved it.

The first time someone successfully climbed to the top of Mount Wintour was in August 1968. Two climbers, Glen Boles and E. Peyer, made this first ascent. They used the North Ridge route to reach the summit.

Understanding Mount Wintour's Geology

Mount Wintour is made up of sedimentary rock. This type of rock forms from layers of sand, mud, and other materials that settle over time. The rocks in Mount Wintour were laid down during very long periods of Earth's history. These periods range from the Precambrian to the Jurassic times.

These rocks first formed in shallow seas. Later, during an event called the Laramide orogeny, these sedimentary layers were pushed up. They moved east and slid over younger rock layers, forming the mountains we see today.

Climate Around Mount Wintour

Mount Wintour has a subarctic climate. This means the area experiences cold, snowy winters. The summers are usually mild. During winter, temperatures can drop very low, sometimes below -20 degrees Celsius (-4 degrees Fahrenheit). With the wind chill, it can feel even colder, below -30 degrees Celsius (-22 degrees Fahrenheit).

The best time to climb Mount Wintour is during the warmer months. This is usually from June through September. During these months, the weather is more favorable for outdoor activities.

Any rain or melting snow from the mountain flows into the Kananaskis River. This is called runoff.