North Twin Peak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids North Twin Peak |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
The Twins massif - South Twin and North Twin (l-r)
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,730 m (12,240 ft) |
| Prominence | 1,011 m (3,317 ft) |
| Parent peak | Mount Columbia (3747 m) |
| Listing | |
| Geography | |
 North Twin Peak
Location in Alberta
|
|
| Parent range | Winston Churchill Range |
| Topo map | NTS 83C/03 |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1923 by W.S. Ladd, J. Monroe Thorington, guided by Conrad Kain |
| Easiest route | glacier/snowfield ski |
North Twin Peak is a very tall mountain in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. It is one of two main peaks that make up a large mountain group called The Twins. This group is found at the northeast edge of the Columbia Icefield.
The other main peak in The Twins is called South Twin, which is a bit shorter at 3,566 meters (about 11,699 feet). North Twin is the third-highest mountain in the entire Canadian Rockies. Only Mount Robson and Mount Columbia are taller.
The whole mountain group was named The Twins in 1898 by explorers J. Norman Collie and Hugh M. Stutfield. The decision to give North Twin and South Twin their own separate names was made much later, on February 28, 1980.
Besides North Twin and South Twin, this mountain group has other smaller peaks. One is called Twins Tower, which is 3,627 meters (about 11,899 feet) tall. It sits on top of the famous north face of the mountain. Twins Tower got its name in 1984. Another smaller peak is West Twin, which is 3,360 meters (about 11,023 feet) tall. You can find a picture of West Twin in the South Twin Gallery.
Contents
Climbing North Twin
First Climbers
The very first time someone successfully climbed North Twin was on July 10, 1923. The climbers were W.S. Ladd and J.M. Thorington. They were guided by a famous mountain guide named Conrad Kain. They climbed the mountain using its East Face.
Normal Climbing Path
The most common way to climb North Twin today is by ski mountaineering. This means climbers use skis to go up the eastern slopes of the mountain. It is even possible to ski all the way to the very top!
Climbers can also travel from North Twin to South Twin. This journey is called a traverse. It is recommended to carry an ice axe for this part because the ridge connecting the two peaks is narrow.
Challenging North Face Climbs
The north face of North Twin is very steep, almost straight up and down. It drops over 1,500 meters (about 4,921 feet) from Twins Tower down to the Athabasca River. The actual summit of North Twin is a bit away from the very top of this north face.
This north face is very famous among expert climbers because it is so difficult. Only a few climbing teams have ever managed to climb it:
- In 1974, George Lowe and Chris Jones completed the "Lowe-Jones" route. This was a very hard climb that took them from August 6 to August 12.
- In 1985, Barry Blanchard and Dave Cheesmond climbed the "North Pillar" route.
- In 2004, Steve House and Marko Prezelj made another successful ascent.
- In 2013, Josh Wharton and Jon Walsh completed the second climb of the "North Pillar" route.
Images for kids
-
North Twin icefall and Twins Tower
See also
In Spanish: North Twin para niños
