Howse Peak
Encyclopedia
Howse Peak is the highest mountain
in the Waputik Range
, a subrange of the Canadian Rockies
. It is located 5 km (3 mi) west of the Icefields Parkway
, above Chephren Lake, on the continental divide between Alberta
and British Columbia
. It is the 46th highest peak in Alberta, and the 59th highest in British Columbia.
Howse Peak's name comes from Howse Pass
, which lies 5 km (3 mi) to the west. The pass was named by David Thompson
, after the Hudson's Bay Company
trader Joseph Howse, who crossed the pass in 1809. (Thompson had actually crossed the pass two years earlier.)
Howse Peak is a dramatic mountain, rising over 1600 m (5,249 ft) above both the Mistaya River
to the east and Howse Pass to the west, in only a few horizontal kilometres. It is also a formidable climbing challenge. The easiest route requires a 25 km (16 mi) hike up the Howse River
and then a climb up a glacier
on the west side of the peak. In addition, at least two high-quality, difficult (Grade V/VI
) technical routes exist on the east side of the mountain.
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
in the Waputik Range
Waputik Range
The Waputik Range lies West of the upper Bow Valley, East of Bath Creek, South of Balfour Creek in the Canadian Rockies."Waputik" means "white goat" in Stoney...
, a subrange of the Canadian Rockies
Canadian Rockies
The Canadian Rockies comprise the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains range. They are the eastern part of the Canadian Cordillera, extending from the Interior Plains of Alberta to the Rocky Mountain Trench of British Columbia. The southern end borders Idaho and Montana of the USA...
. It is located 5 km (3 mi) west of the Icefields Parkway
Icefields Parkway
The Icefields Parkway , also known as Highway 93 north, is a scenic road in Alberta, Canada. It parallels the Continental Divide, traversing the rugged landscape of the Canadian Rockies, travelling through Banff National Park and Jasper National Park. It links Lake Louise with Jasper to the north....
, above Chephren Lake, on the continental divide between Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
and British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. It is the 46th highest peak in Alberta, and the 59th highest in British Columbia.
Howse Peak's name comes from Howse Pass
Howse Pass
Howse Pass is a pass through the Rocky Mountains. The pass was used by First Nations people such as the Kootenay and Piegan. European explorers first discovered the pass in 1806, and David Thompson explored it in 1807...
, which lies 5 km (3 mi) to the west. The pass was named by David Thompson
David Thompson (explorer)
David Thompson was an English-Canadian fur trader, surveyor, and map-maker, known to some native peoples as "Koo-Koo-Sint" or "the Stargazer"...
, after the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
trader Joseph Howse, who crossed the pass in 1809. (Thompson had actually crossed the pass two years earlier.)
Howse Peak is a dramatic mountain, rising over 1600 m (5,249 ft) above both the Mistaya River
Mistaya River
Mistaya River is a short river in western Alberta, Canada. It flows through the Canadian Rockies, and a section of the Icefield Parkway was built along its course....
to the east and Howse Pass to the west, in only a few horizontal kilometres. It is also a formidable climbing challenge. The easiest route requires a 25 km (16 mi) hike up the Howse River
Howse River
Howse River is a short river in western Alberta, Canada. It is a tributary of the North Saskatchewan River.Howse River is a corded river, with several streams crossing in its flood plain...
and then a climb up a glacier
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
on the west side of the peak. In addition, at least two high-quality, difficult (Grade V/VI
Grade (climbing)
In rock climbing, mountaineering and other climbing disciplines, climbers give a climbing grade to a route that concisely describes the difficulty and danger of climbing the route...
) technical routes exist on the east side of the mountain.