Pilot Mountain (Alberta) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pilot Mountain
Pilot Mountain from Pilot Pond
Highest point
Elevation	2,935 m (9,629 ft)
Prominence	302 m (991 ft)
Geography
Pilot Mountain Location in Alberta
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
National Park	Banff
Parent range	Massive Range
Topo map	NTS 82O/04
Climbing
First ascent	1885 by the GSC
Easiest route	Difficult scramble

Pilot Mountain is a cool mountain located in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. It sits in the beautiful Bow River valley. You can find it southeast of Redearth Creek and directly west of the Trans-Canada Highway.

A person named George M. Dawson gave the mountain its name in 1884. He called it 'Pilot Mountain' because it's in a spot where the Bow Valley turns. This means you can see the mountain from far away, acting like a guide or 'pilot' for travelers.

You can climb Pilot Mountain by a method called "scrambling" on its northwest side. Scrambling is like a mix of hiking and easy rock climbing. It's best for people who are good at finding their way. Another nearby mountain, Mount Brett, can also be climbed from a ridge connected to Pilot Mountain.

How Pilot Mountain Formed

Like other mountains in Banff Park, Pilot Mountain is made of sedimentary rock. This type of rock forms when layers of sand, mud, and tiny bits of sea creatures settle over millions of years. These layers were laid down from the Precambrian to Jurassic periods, which are very long times in Earth's history.

These rocks formed in shallow ancient seas. Later, during a huge event called the Laramide orogeny, these rock layers were pushed up and folded. This powerful force created the mountains we see today.

Pilot Mountain seen from Sulphur Mountain

Weather at Pilot Mountain

Pilot Mountain has a subarctic climate. This means it has very cold, snowy winters. Summers are usually mild. Temperatures can drop below -20 °C (which is -4 °F). With the wind, it can feel even colder, sometimes below -30 °C (-22 °F).