Pyramid Mountain (Wells Gray-Clearwater) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pyramid Mountain |
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Pyramid Mountain, Sept. 2006
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,094 m (3,589 ft) |
| Prominence | 227 m (745 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Pyramid Mountain
Location in British Columbia
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| Location | British Columbia, Canada |
| Topo map | NTS 92.P/16 or PS-WG3 (south half) |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Pleistocene |
| Mountain type | Subglacial mound |
| Volcanic arc/belt | Wells Gray-Clearwater volcanic field |
| Last eruption | 12,000 years ago |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Trail off Majerus Falls trail |
Pyramid Mountain is a unique mountain in Wells Gray Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada. It's special because it's a "subglacial mound," which means it formed a long, long time ago under a huge sheet of ice! You can find it on the Murtle Plateau in the park.
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How Pyramid Mountain Formed
Pyramid Mountain erupted about 12,000 years ago. This was during the Pleistocene epoch, also known as the Ice Age. Back then, a massive glacier covered the area.
Eruption Under Ice
Scientists first thought Pyramid Mountain was a cinder cone volcano. But they later learned it erupted under about 1,600 meters (5,200 feet) of thick glacial ice. Imagine a volcano erupting beneath a giant ice blanket!
The hot lava quickly met the cold ice. This caused the ice to melt very fast, creating a lot of water around the volcano. The lava cooled down rapidly because of this water.
Unique Rock Features
Because of this special eruption, Pyramid Mountain has a unique surface. It looks like cement and has smooth, rounded rocks. These rocks, like granite and schist, were carried by the glacier from far away.
Unlike most volcanoes, Pyramid Mountain does not have a crater at its top. It also doesn't have lava flows spreading out from its base. This is all because of how it erupted under the ice.
The Secondary Cone
You might notice a smaller hill next to Pyramid Mountain. This is not another volcano. It formed when the ice around Pyramid Mountain melted away. When the ice was gone, the pressure holding the mountain's sides was released, causing a part of it to slump down.
Visiting Pyramid Mountain
Pyramid Mountain is a great place to visit in Wells Gray Park. You can see it from a few different spots.
Viewing Points
There are three main places where you can get a good view of Pyramid Mountain from the park roads:
- About 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) south of Hemp Creek on Clearwater Valley Road.
- From the Green Mountain viewing tower, which offers a wide view.
- At the Majerus Farm trailhead, also on Clearwater Valley Road.
Hiking to the Summit
If you like hiking, there's a trail to the top of Pyramid Mountain. The trail starts at Pyramid Campground. It's about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) long to reach the summit.
From the top, you can see amazing views. You'll mostly look south towards other mountains like Trophy Mountain, Battle Mountain, and Dunn Peak. The Murtle River flows along the east and south sides of Pyramid Mountain. On some days, you might even see the mist from Helmcken Falls in the distance!
