White Pyramid (Banff)

White Pyramid is a 3,219-metre (10,561 ft) mountain summit located between the Howse River valley and Mistaya River valley of Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Its nearest higher peak is Howse Peak, 3.00 km (1.86 mi) to the south.[1] Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,460 meters (4,790 ft) above Chephren Lake in 2.5 km (1.5 mile). White Pyramid is visible from the Icefields Parkway in the vicinity of Waterfowl Lakes.

White Pyramid
White Pyramid (right) and Mount Chephren (left) seen from north along the Icefields Parkway
Highest point
Elevation3,219 m (10,561 ft)[1]
Prominence236 m (774 ft)[1]
Parent peakHowse Peak (3295 m)[1]
ListingMountains of Alberta
Coordinates51°50′08″N 116°41′40″W[2]
Geography
White Pyramid is located in Alberta
White Pyramid
White Pyramid
Location of White Pyramid in Alberta
White Pyramid is located in Canada
White Pyramid
White Pyramid
White Pyramid (Canada)
CountryCanada
ProvinceAlberta
Protected areaBanff National Park
Parent rangeWaputik Mountains
Canadian Rockies
Topo mapNTS 82N15 Mistaya Lake[2]
Geology
Age of rockCambrian
Type of rockSedimentary
Climbing
First ascent1939 Katie Gardiner, Edward Feuz Jr. (guide)[3]

History

It was named in 1901 by J. Norman Collie to distinguish it from Mount Chephren, which back then was named Pyramid Mountain.[3] The two peaks are nearly the same in height, and separated by only one kilometre. However, White Pyramid has a glacier on its north aspect, which Chephren does not.

The first ascent of White Pyramid was made in 1939 by Kate (Katie) Gardiner and guide Edward Feuz Jr.[3] The climbing duo made many first ascents in the Canadian Rockies during the 1930s.[4]

The mountain's name was made official in 1961 when approved by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.[2]

Geology

Like other mountains in Banff Park, White Pyramid is composed of sedimentary rock laid down during the Precambrian to Jurassic periods.[5] Formed in shallow seas, this sedimentary rock was pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny.[6]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, White Pyramid is located in a subarctic climate zonewith cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.[7] Winter temperatures can drop below -20 °C with wind chill factors below -30 °C. Precipitation runoff from White Pyramid drains into the Mistaya River and Howse River which are both tributaries of the North Saskatchewan River.

  • White Pyramid (left) and Mt. Chephren seen from the south along the Icefields Parkway
    White Pyramid (left) and Mt. Chephren seen from the south along the Icefields Parkway
  • White Pyramid and Mount Chephren in winter
    White Pyramid and Mount Chephren in winter
  • Looking north through Mistaya Valley with White Pyramid furthest left
    Looking north through Mistaya Valley with White Pyramid furthest left

See also

References
  1. "White Pyramid". Bivouac.com. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  2. "White Pyramid". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
  3. "White Pyramid". cdnrockiesdatabases.ca. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
  4. "Katie Gardner". cdnrockiesdatabases.ca. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
  5. Belyea, Helen R. (1960). The Story of the Mountains in Banff National Park (PDF). parkscanadahistory.com (Report). Ottawa: Geological Survey of Canada. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-10-02. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
  6. Gadd, Ben (2008), Geology of the Rocky Mountains and Columbias
  7. 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.
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