Wasootch Peak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wasootch Peak |
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Wasootch Peak seen from the north
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,352 m (7,717 ft) |
| Prominence | 200 m (660 ft) |
| Parent peak | Old Baldy (2726 m) |
| Geography | |
 Wasootch Peak
Location in Alberta
Wasootch Peak
Location in Canada
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| Location | Alberta, Canada |
| Parent range | Fisher Range Canadian Rockies |
| Topo map | NTS 82J/14 |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Cambrian |
| Type of rock | sedimentary rock |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Scrambling |
Wasootch Peak is a cool mountain in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. It stands tall at 2,352-metre (7,717-foot). This mountain is part of the Fisher Range, found in a beautiful area called Kananaskis Country. Wasootch Peak is located on the northern end of a ridge. This ridge separates Wasootch Creek from the Kananaskis River.
You can easily see Wasootch Peak from Highway 40. It also looks amazing from the ski slopes at Nakiska. The closest taller mountain is Old Baldy, which is about 1.54 kilometers (0.96 miles) away to the southeast. The name "Wasootch" comes from the Stoney language word wazi. This word means "unique."
What Wasootch Peak is Made Of
Wasootch Peak is made of a type of rock called sedimentary rock. This rock formed a very long time ago, between the Precambrian and Jurassic periods. Imagine shallow seas covering this area back then! Over millions of years, layers of sand, mud, and tiny shells settled at the bottom. These layers hardened into sedimentary rock.
Later, during a time called the Laramide orogeny, huge forces pushed these rock layers. This caused them to fold and break, forming mountains. The older sedimentary rock was pushed up and over younger rock. This is how Wasootch Peak got its shape.
Weather and Climate at Wasootch Peak
Wasootch Peak is in a subarctic climate zone. This means it has very cold and snowy winters. Summers are usually mild, not too hot. Temperatures can drop below −20 °C (minus 4 °F) in winter. With the wind, it can feel even colder, sometimes below −30 °C (minus 22 °F).
If you want to climb Wasootch Peak, the best time to visit is from June through September. The weather is usually much better then. Rain and melting snow from the mountain flow into Wasootch Creek. This water then joins the Kananaskis River.
