Dragons Tail (Montana)

The Dragons Tail is an 8,580-foot (2,620-meter) elevation ridge located in the Lewis Range, of Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. It is situated on the Continental Divide, on the border shared by Flathead County and Glacier County. Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises 2,200 feet (670 meters) above Hidden Lake in one-half mile, and the west aspect rises nearly 4,700 feet (1,400 meters) above Avalanche Lake in two miles. It can be seen from the Hidden Lake overlook along with its nearest higher neighbor, Bearhat Mountain, 1.27 miles (2.04 km) to the northwest.[1]

Dragons Tail
Dragons Tail, north aspect
Highest point
Elevation8,580 ft (2,615 m)[1]
Prominence660 ft (200 m)[1]
Parent peakBearhat Mountain (8,689 ft)[2]
Isolation1.25 mi (2.01 km)[2]
Coordinates48°39′25″N 113°44′27″W[1]
Geography
Dragons Tail is located in Montana
Dragons Tail
Dragons Tail
Location in Montana
Dragons Tail is located in the United States
Dragons Tail
Dragons Tail
Location in the United States
LocationGlacier National Park
Flathead County / Glacier County
Montana, U.S.
Parent rangeLewis Range
Topo mapUSGS Logan Pass
Geology
Type of rockSedimentary rock
Climbing
Easiest routeclass 3

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Dragons Tail is located in an alpine subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and cool to warm summers.[3] Temperatures can drop below −10 °F with wind chill factors below −30 °F. Precipitation runoff from the west side of the ridge drains into creeks which empty into Lake McDonald, and the east side drains into the St. Mary River.

Geology

Like other mountains in Glacier National Park, Dragons Tail is composed of sedimentary rock laid down during the Precambrian to Jurassic periods. Formed in shallow seas, this sedimentary rock was initially uplifted beginning 170 million years ago when the Lewis Overthrust fault pushed an enormous slab of precambrian rocks 3 mi (4.8 km) thick, 50 miles (80 km) wide and 160 miles (260 km) long over younger rock of the cretaceous period.[4]

  • Dragons Tail reflected in Hidden Lake
    Dragons Tail reflected in Hidden Lake
  • Reynolds Mountain (left) and Dragons Tail (right)
    Reynolds Mountain (left) and Dragons Tail (right)
  • Dragons Tail, Hidden Lake, and Bearhat Mountain (right)
    Dragons Tail, Hidden Lake, and Bearhat Mountain (right)
  • Reynolds Mountain (left) and Dragons Tail (right)
    Reynolds Mountain (left) and Dragons Tail (right)
  • Reynolds Mountain (left) and Dragons Tail (right)
    Reynolds Mountain (left) and Dragons Tail (right)
  • with mountain goat
    with mountain goat
  • Climbers descend from the ridge of Dragons Tail
    Climbers descend from the ridge of Dragons Tail
  • Dragons Tail seen from the east, with Fusillade Mountain far left edge, Reynolds Mountain upper right corner, and frozen Saint Mary Lake.
    Dragons Tail seen from the east, with Fusillade Mountain far left edge, Reynolds Mountain upper right corner, and frozen Saint Mary Lake.
  • Part of Dragons Tail seen from Bearhat Mountain
    Part of Dragons Tail seen from Bearhat Mountain
  • Reynolds Mountain (left), Mt. Jackson (centered), Dragons Tail (right) seen from Mt. Oberlin
    Reynolds Mountain (left), Mt. Jackson (centered), Dragons Tail (right) seen from Mt. Oberlin

See also

References
  1. "Dragons Tail, Montana". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2021-08-07.
  2. "The Dragon's Tail - 8,580' MT". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2021-08-07.
  3. Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11: 1633–1644. ISSN 1027-5606.
  4. Gadd, Ben (2008). "Geology of the Rocky Mountains and Columbias". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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