Nigel Peak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nigel Peak |
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Nigel Peak (west aspect)
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,211 m (10,535 ft) |
| Prominence | 611 m (2,005 ft) |
| Parent peak | Sunwapta Peak (3315 m) |
| Listing | Mountains of Alberta |
| Geography | |
 Nigel Peak
Location in Alberta
Nigel Peak
Location in Canada
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| Location | Alberta, Canada |
| Parent range | Canadian Rockies |
| Topo map | NTS 83C/03 |
| Type of rock | Sedimentary |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1919 by Interprovincial Boundary Commission |
| Easiest route | Scramble |
Nigel Peak is a 3,211-metre (10,535-foot) mountain summit located on the shared border of Banff National Park and Jasper National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Nigel has two peaks, the north summit is the highest point. The nearest higher peak is Mount Athabasca, 6.4 km (4.0 mi) to the south-southwest. Nigel Peak is situated immediately north of Sunwapta Pass and can be seen from the Icefields Parkway and from Athabasca Glacier.
History
Nigel Vavasour was a packer who accompanied J. Norman Collie and Hugh Stutfield to the Columbia Icefield area in 1897. The mountain was named by the mountaineers during an 1898 sheep hunt with Nigel. The mountain was officially named Nigel Peak in 1935. The first ascent of the mountain was made in 1919 by the Interprovincial Boundary Commission.
Geology
Like other mountains in Banff Park, Nigel Peak is composed of sedimentary rock laid down from the Precambrian to Jurassic periods. Formed in shallow seas, this sedimentary rock was pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny.
Climate
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Nigel Peak is located in a subarctic climate with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers. Temperatures can drop below -20 °C with wind chill factors below -30 °C. Precipitation runoff from Nigel Peak drains south into the North Saskatchewan River, and north into the Sunwapta River which is a tributary of the Athabasca River.
