Tangle Ridge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tangle Ridge
Tangle Ridge seen from the Icefields Parkway
Highest point
Elevation	3,000 m (9,800 ft)
Prominence	460 m (1,510 ft)
Parent peak	Nigel Peak (3211 m)
Listing	Mountains of Alberta
Geography
Tangle Ridge Location in Alberta Show map of Alberta Tangle Ridge Location in Canada Show map of Canada
Location	Alberta, Canada
Parent range	Canadian Rockies
Topo map	NTS 83C/06
Type of rock	Sedimentary
Climbing
Easiest route	Scramble

Tangle Ridge is a tall mountain, about 3,000-metre (9,800 ft) high. That's almost 10,000 feet! It's located in the amazing Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada. This mountain is found between Beauty Creek and Tangle Creek, right in the beautiful Sunwapta River valley.

From the top of Tangle Ridge, you can see incredible views of other mountains around the Columbia Icefield. Some of these peaks, like Mount Columbia and Mount Alberta, are usually hidden from the main road, the Icefields Parkway.

Mountain's Name: A Tangled Tale

The mountain got its name from a famous explorer named Mary Schäffer Warren. In 1907, she found it very tricky to climb down from the ridge into Tangle Creek. It was so difficult, like getting tangled up! Because of this, she decided to call it "Tangle Ridge." The name was officially accepted in 1935 by the Canadian government.

Weather and Climate

Tangle Ridge is in a subarctic climate zone. This means it has very cold, snowy winters and mild summers. Winter temperatures can drop below −20 °C (−4 °F). With the wind, it can feel even colder, sometimes below −30 °C (−22 °F)!

Because of these cold, snowy conditions, Tangle Ridge is a great spot in the Canadian Rockies for ice climbing. All the melted snow and ice from Tangle Ridge flow into the Sunwapta River, which then joins the larger Athabasca River.

How the Mountain Was Formed

Tangle Ridge is made of sedimentary rock. This type of rock forms when layers of sand, mud, and tiny bits of ancient sea creatures settle at the bottom of shallow seas over millions of years.

These layers of rock were laid down from the Precambrian to Jurassic periods. Later, during a huge event called the Laramide orogeny, these rocks were pushed up and folded. It was like a giant squeeze that created the mountains we see today!

Ice Climbing Adventures

Tangle Ridge is famous for its exciting ice climbing routes. Ice climbing is a sport where people climb frozen waterfalls or ice formations using special tools. Here are some of the popular routes on Tangle Ridge, with their difficulty levels:

• Shades of Beauty – WI4
• Tangle Falls – WI2-3
• The Stage – WI3-4
• The Wings – WI3-4
• Curtain Call – WI6
• Cyber Pasty Memorial – WI5+
• Melt Out – WI3
• Rick Blak Memorial Route – WI5

Tangle Falls: A Beautiful Waterfall

Tangle Falls in winter

Tangle Falls is a beautiful waterfall with many different levels, like a giant staircase. It's probably one of the most photographed waterfalls along the Icefields Parkway because it's so easy to get to.

• Height: About 30 meters (100 feet) tall
• Width: About 12 meters (40 feet) wide

Images for kids

• 

  View looking south from Tangle Ridge

• 

  Tangle Ridge (left), Mt. Kitchener (right) and Sunwapta River as seen from the Icefields Parkway