Executive Committee Range

Mount Waesche, the southernmost mountain in the range, rises to 3,292 metres (10,801 ft).

Topographic map of southern portion of Executive Committee Range

Mount Sidley, northeast of Mount Waesche, is the highest in the range and the highest volcano in Antarctica, with a summit of 4,285 metres (14,058 ft).

Mount Hartigan (76°52′S 126°00′W) is a broad mountain immediately north of Mount Sidley. Mount Hartigan rises to 2,815 metres (9,236 ft), at the higher of its twin Boudette Peaks, located in its northern portion.

The mountain was discovered by the United States Antarctic Service expedition on a flight, Dec. 15, 1940, and named for Rear Admiral Charles C. Hartigan, U.S. Navy (USN), Navy Department member of the Antarctic Service Executive Committee.[2]

Topographical map of northern portion of Executive Committee Range

Mount Cumming (76°40′S 125°48′W) is a low, mostly snow-covered mountain, volcanic in origin, located midway between Mount Hampton and Mount Hartigan. A circular snow-covered crater occupies the summit area, rising to 2,610 metres (8,560 ft) at Annexstad Peak, on the southwest side of the crater rim.

Discovered by the U.S. Antarctic Service (USAS) (1939–41) on a flight, Dec. 15, 1940, and named for Hugh S. Cumming, Jr., State Department member of the U.S. Antarctic Service (USAS) Executive Committee. Mapped by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) from surveys and U.S. Navy trimetrogon photography, 1958-60.[3]

Mount Hampton, the northernmost mountain in the range, rises to 3,325 metres (10,909 ft) at Marks Peak, on the south side of its crater rim.

The five mountains have a number of associated subsidiary peaks that have been identified and named.

Chang Peak rises to 2,920 metres (9,580 ft) on the northeastern slope of Mount Waesche.

Doumani Peak rises to 2,675 metres (8,776 ft) on the southern slopes of Mount Sidley.

Lavris Peak rises to 2,745 metres (9,006 ft) in the northeastern portion of Mount Hartigan.

Le Vaux Peak (76°40′S 125°43′W) is a small peak on the east side of the crater rim of Mount Cumming. Mapped by United States Geological Survey (USGS) from surveys and U.S. Navy aerial photographs, 1958-60. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) for Howard A. Le Vaux, auroral physicist at Byrd Station, 1959, and a member of the Marie Byrd Land Traverse Party, 1959-60.[4]

Mintz Peak rises to 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) on the southeast corner of Mount Hartigan.

Tusing Peak rises to 2,650 metres (8,690 ft) from the central portion of Mount Hartigan.

Whitney Peak is a conspicuous peak rising to 3,005 metres (9,859 ft), located 5 kilometres (3 mi) northwest of Mount Hampton, from which it is separated by a distinctive ice-covered saddle.

Woolam Peak is a small peak on the southern part of the crater rim of Mount Cumming.

The Feyerharm Knoll is an ice-covered knoll protruding to 2,595 metres (8,514 ft) in a 2,400 metres (7,900 ft) terrain on the lower northeastern slope of Mount Sidley. The Weiss Amphitheater is an amphitheater-like caldera, 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) wide and breached at the southern side, occupying the south-central part of Mount Sidley.

In November 2013, Lough et al.[5] reported deep long period volcanic earthquakes centered at depths of 30-40 km approximately 55 km S of Mount Sidley that were interpreted as indications of present deep crustal magmatic activity beneath the Executive Committee Range. Ice penetrating radar results reported in this study indicated a sub-ice topographic feature, interpreted as a volcano, above the seismic swarms. The study also reported a mid-icecap (1400 m depth) ash layer about 8,000 years old that was interpreted as probably originating at nearby Mount Waesche.