Mushroom Peak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mushroom Peak |
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Mushroom Peak, south aspect, seen from Icefields Parkway
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,210 m (10,530 ft) |
| Prominence | 270 m (890 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Mushroom Peak
Location in Alberta
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| Location | Alberta, Canada |
| Parent range | Winston Churchill Range |
| Topo map | NTS 83C/06 |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1947 by Noel E. Odell |
| Easiest route | rock/snow climb |
Mushroom Peak is a cool mountain found in Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada. It's located in the Sunwapta River valley, not far from another peak called Diadem Peak.
This mountain got its unique name in 1947. A climber named Noel E. Odell was the first person to reach its top. When he got there, he noticed that the dark rocks looked a lot like mushrooms! You can easily spot Mushroom Peak from the famous Icefields Parkway.
What's the Weather Like at Mushroom Peak?
Mushroom Peak has a subarctic climate. This means it has very cold and snowy winters. Summers are usually mild, not too hot.
Temperatures can drop below -20 °C (that's really cold!). With the wind chill, it can feel even colder, sometimes below -30 °C. The snow and ice that melt from the mountain flow into the Sunwapta River. This river then joins the larger Athabasca River.
How Was Mushroom Peak Formed?
Mushroom Peak is made of sedimentary rock. This type of rock forms from layers of sand, mud, and tiny bits of sea creatures that settle over millions of years. The rocks here were laid down between the Precambrian and Jurassic periods. That's a super long time ago!
Later, during a huge mountain-building event called the Laramide orogeny, these rocks were pushed up. Imagine giant forces squeezing the Earth's crust. This pushed the older sedimentary rock eastwards, even over younger rock layers, creating the mountain we see today.
