Whirlwind Peak

Whirlwind Peak is located in Garibaldi Provincial Park, in the Garibaldi Ranges of the Coast Mountains. It is the eighth-highest point of the Fitzsimmons Range, which is a subset of the Garibaldi Ranges.[1] It is situated 14 km (9 mi) southeast of Whistler, 1.31 km south-southeast of Fissile Peak, 1.76 km southwest of Overlord Mountain, and the nearest higher neighbor is Refuse Pinnacle, 0.94 km to the east-northeast.[1] Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into tributaries of the Cheakamus River. Whirlwind is more notable for its steep rise above local terrain than for its absolute elevation as topographic relief is significant with the summit rising 1,525 meters (5,003 ft) above the river in 2.5 km (1.6 mi).

The peak was so named by the Garibaldi Park Board because of evidence that a destructive windstorm had levelled an area of trees on the peak's slopes.[4] The mountain's toponym was officially adopted on September 2, 1930, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.[3]

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Whirlwind Peak is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[5] Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east toward the Coast Mountains where they are forced upward by the range (Orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall. As a result, the Coast Mountains experience high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. Winter temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. This climate supports the Overlord Glacier on the north slope of the peak. The months July through September offer the most favorable weather for climbing Whirlwind Peak.

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• Weather: Whirlwind Peak
• Whirlwind Peak (photo): Flickr