Revelation Mountains facts for kids

The Revelation Mountains are a small, rugged group of mountains that are part of the Alaska Range in Alaska, United States. They are the very last mountains at the western end of the Alaska Range. Not many people visit these mountains because it takes a long time to fly there, and the weather is often very bad. The tallest mountain in this range is Mount Hesperus, which is 9,828 feet (2,996 meters) high.

Exploring the Revelation Mountains

The Revelation Mountains are located about 140 miles (225 km) west-northwest of Anchorage. They are also about 130 miles (210 km) southwest of Denali, North America's tallest peak. To get to these mountains, you usually need to take a small plane. The closest airports are near Anchorage and in Talkeetna, which is also about 130 miles (210 km) away.

Because of the long flight, it can be quite expensive to reach these mountains. The unpredictable weather can also cause delays, both when people are dropped off and when they need to be picked up.

What the Mountains Look Like

The main peaks of the Revelation Mountains are tall, pointy rocks called granite spires. These spires rise sharply out of valleys that are filled with glaciers. Even though the mountains are not super high in total elevation, the way they rise so steeply from the valleys makes them look very dramatic. This also creates very difficult conditions for mountain climbing.

Rivers and Waterways

Water from the Revelation Mountains flows into several rivers. On the northwest side, the Big River drains the area. One part of this river comes from the Revelation Glacier, which is the main glacier in the heart of the range. On the southwest side, the Swift River carries water away. The valleys on the southeast side feed the Stony River. Finally, the eastern and northeastern slopes lead to the Hartman and South Fork Kuskokwim Rivers.

History of the Revelation Mountains

The first time anyone officially visited the Revelation Mountains was in July 1967. A group from the Harvard Mountaineering Club, led by David Roberts, explored the area. This group was the first to climb some of the peaks. They also gave the mountain range and many of its famous peaks their names.

In an article he wrote later, Roberts described the extremely bad weather they faced. He mentioned very strong winds that were common in the mountains and tough climbing conditions. Roberts' group spent 52 days straight exploring the range.

How the Mountains Got Their Name

David Roberts named the range the "Revelation Mountains." He also gave many of the peaks names from the Bible. He had been reading aloud from the Bible as part of his English literature studies at the University of Denver. He felt that the dramatic descriptions in the Book of Revelation (a book in the Bible) perfectly matched the wild and powerful landscape of the mountain range.

Famous Peaks in the Revelation Mountains

Here are some of the notable peaks in the Revelation Mountains and when they were first climbed:

• Mount Hesperus (9,828 feet/2,996 m). First climbed by Justin Lesueur (New Zealand), Karl Swanson, and Stephen Spalding (Alaska) in May 1985.
• The Apocalypse (9,345 feet/2,848 m). First climbed by Clint Helander and Jason Stuckey in April 2013.
• The Angel (9,265 feet/2,824 m). First climbed by Greg Collins and Tom Walter.
• Mount Mausolus (9,170 feet/2,795 m). First climbed by Clint Helander and Scotty Vincik in March 2011.
• The Four Horsemen (8,600 feet/2,621 m). First climbed by Greg Collins and Tom Walter.
• Golgotha (8,940 feet). First climbed by Clint Helander and Ben Trocki on March 28, 2012.
• South Buttress (9,345 ft). First climbed by Fetcher, G. Millikan, and R. Millikan on August 28, 1967.
• Ice Pyramid (9,250 ft). First climbed by Clint Helander and Seth Holden on May 3, 2009.
• Obelisk (9,304 ft). First climbed by Clint Helander and John Giraldo on March 22, 2015.
• Exodus (8,385 ft). First climbed by Clint Helander, Steve Sinor, and Seth Holden in May 2008.
• Mt. Patmos (~ 9,000 ft). First climbed by Hale and Roberts on August 22, 1967.
• Hydra Peak (~ 7,800 ft). First climbed by Fetcher, Hale, and Roberts on July 29, 1967.
• The Sylph (~ 7,600 ft). First climbed by Roberts on August 20, 1967.
• The Cherub (~ 7,305 ft). First climbed by G. Millikan, R. Millikan, and Roberts on August 4, 1967.
• Sentry Peak (~ 7,294 ft). First climbed by Hale and Roberts on August 3, 1967.
• Century Peak (~ 7,100 ft). First climbed by Fetcher, Hale, and Roberts on July 28, 1967.
• Babel Tower
• P8351 (8,351 feet/2,545 m)
• Peak 9076 East face couloir. First climbed by P. Gonzales, J. Funsten, and S. Raynor in May 1994.
• Peak 8910 NF to E ridge. First climbed by P. Gonzales, J. Funsten, and S Raynor in May 1994.
• Peak 6780 S. Face couloir. First climbed by P. Gonzales, J Funsten, and S. Raynor in May 1994.