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Cathedral Mountain is a 3,189-metre (10,463-foot) complex massif located six kilometres northwest of Lake O'Hara in Yoho National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of British Columbia, Canada. Its shape and structure conjures up a resemblance to a gothic cathedral that has inspired many artists, including Group of Seven's Arthur Lismer, to paint it back in 1928. This picturesque mountain is visible from Highway 1, the Trans-Canada Highway, near Kicking Horse Pass. Its nearest higher peak is Mount Stephen, 3.0 km (1.9 mi) to the west.[2] To prevent damage to its operations, the Canadian Pacific Railway pumps overflow from Teacup Lake down the west face of Cathedral to minimize the subglacial lake's discharging in a phenomenon known as a jökulhlaup.[2]

History

The name Cathedral Mountain was in use as early as 1884 and appeared on George Dawson's 1886 map.[4] The first ascent of Cathedral Mountain was made in 1901 by James Outram, with guides Joseph Bossoney, and Christian Klucker.[4] The mountain's name was officially adopted in 1924 when approved by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.[3]

Geology

Cathedral Mountain is composed of sedimentary rock laid down during the Precambrian to Cambrian 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, Cathedral Mountain is located in a subarctic climate with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.[7] Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. Precipitation runoff from Cathedral Mountain drains into tributaries of the Kicking Horse River which is a tributary of the Columbia River.

Cathedral Crags

Cathedral Crags[8] (3082 m) are striking pinnacles with steep, reddish cliffs located one kilometre northwest of the summit of Cathedral Mountain, near Kicking Horse Pass and the Spiral Tunnels Viewpoint.[9] This rocky feature of Cathedral Mountain was first climbed in 1900 by James Outram, and W. Outram, with Christian Hasler Sr. as guide.[4] The crag's name was officially adopted in 1952 by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Cathedral Mountain, Canada". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2019-09-10.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Cathedral Mountain". Bivouac.com. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
  3. ^ a b c "Cathedral Mountain". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
  4. ^ a b c "Cathedral Mountain". cdnrockiesdatabases.ca. Retrieved 2019-10-09.
  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.
  8. ^ a b "Cathedral Crags". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  9. ^ "Cathedral Crags". Bivouac.com. Retrieved 2019-01-09.

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