The Castelets facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Castelets |
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The Castelets seen from the Icefields Parkway
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,884 m (9,462 ft) |
| Prominence | 204 m (669 ft) |
| Parent peak | Terrace Mountain (2932 m) |
| Listing | Mountains of Alberta |
| Geography | |
 The Castelets
Location in Alberta
The Castelets
Location in Canada
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| Location | Alberta, Canada |
| Parent range | Columbia Icefield Canadian Rockies |
| Topo map | NTS 83C/03 |
| Type of rock | Sedimentary |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | July 09, 1923 Conrad Kain, J. Thorington |
| Easiest route | Mountaineering |
The Castelets is a tall mountain in Banff National Park, Canada. It stands 2,884 meters (about 9,462 feet) high. You can find it in the beautiful Alexandra River valley, which is part of the amazing Canadian Rockies. The mountain looks great in morning light from the Icefields Parkway. Its closest taller neighbor is Terrace Mountain, a few kilometers away.
Mountain History
The Castelets got its name in 1920 because it looks like two castles. The name became official in 1924.
The first people to climb this mountain were Conrad Kain and J. Thorington. They reached the top on July 9, 1923.
Mountain Rocks
Like other mountains in Banff Park, The Castelets is made of sedimentary rock. This type of rock forms when layers of sand, mud, and tiny bits of plants and animals settle over millions of years.
These rocks were laid down from the Precambrian to Jurassic periods. That means they are very, very old! Later, during a time called the Laramide orogeny, these rocks were pushed up. This created the tall mountains we see today.
Mountain Weather
The Castelets is in a subarctic climate zone. This means it has very cold, snowy winters. Summers are usually mild.
Temperatures can drop below -20 °C (which is -4 °F). With wind, it can feel even colder, sometimes below -30 °C (-22 °F). The best time to climb The Castelets is during the summer months. Any rain or melting snow from the mountain flows into the Alexandra River.
