Canada is a country renowned for its mesmerizing scenic beauty. A major contributor to this beauty is the lush and great mountains spread across the country.
Canada has more than 21,200 recognized mountains, a truly astounding number. A trip to Canada is on the bucket list of every mountain lover and trekking enthusiast. Many mountains are attractive to the adventure loving in Canada.
Canada is the hometown of some of North America’s tallest mountains. There are a lot of high peaks in Canada, of which 5 summits exceed an elevation of 5000 meters.
So, which of these 21,000 is the highest mountain in Canada? How high is it from sea level? Let us explore all of the questions in the article.
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The Highest Mountain in Canada
Given below is a list of certain highest mountains in Canada. Read and decide for yourself.
1. Pacific Coast Ranges
The Pacific coast ranges are a group of mountain ranges that stretch from Alaska in the United States all the way up to Central Mexico.
It is a part of the Pacific Cordillera which comprises the Canadian Rockies (The Rocky Mountains), the Columbia Mountains, the Sierra Nevada, and many other mountains and plateaus.
The famous Saint Elias mountains are a subgroup of these ranges.
2. The Saint Elias Mountain Range
The Saint Elias Mountains form the tallest coastal mountain range on the planet. It is named after Mount Saint Elias.
After the Andes, the Saint Elias Mountains are the world’s second-highest coastal mountain range, and they are home to many of the continent’s tallest mountains and most impressive peaks.
The Saint Elias Mountains are home to the top 5 highest mountains in Canada, namely Mount Logan, Mount Saint Elias, Mount Lucania, King Peak, and Mount Steele.
3. Mount Logan
The title of the tallest mountain in Canada goes to Mount Logan. It is only the second-highest peak in North America to Denali (also known as Mount McKinley).
Mount Logan is situated in the Yukon territory and is part of the Saint Elias mountains. There are also some amazing facts related to the mountain.
4. The World’s Most Massive Mountain
Mount Logan stands at a staggering height of 5959 meters (19,551 feet) at the main summit. It is the tallest mountain in Canada. It has the largest circumference of a nonvolcanic mountain in the world.
It is topped by eleven peaks with elevations that are over 16,400 feet. It has hence got the title of the “World’s Most Massive Mountain.”
Mount Logan has been named as such after famous Canadian geologist, Sir William Logan. He was the founder of the GSC (The Geological Survey of Canada). It was actually Israel Russel who gave the Mountain the name ” Mount Logan.”
The temperatures on and around Mount Logan are extremely cold. The cold usually ranges around -44 degrees Celsius in winter and around -25 degrees Celsius in summer. It is highly advised to consider ascending the peak only during summer.
Mount Logan is said to have been created more than 450 million years ago. It is made up of metasedimentary rock and metal rock.
5. Climbing Mount Logan
The first ascent of Mount Logan, was back in 1925.
It had taken them 65 days to get to the mountain from the closest town (across the border in Alaska), reach the summit, and return with all climbers intact, despite the fact that some of them had severe frostbite.
Ascending Mount Logan is said to be very risky and life-threatening. According to a report , more than 10 mountain climbers perished on Mount Logan and many more were injured.
Rules to Ascend Mount Logan
Climbers must have insurance to cover the costs of search and rescue. There are no solo expeditions or winter expeditions allowed due to the risks and freezing weather.
How Costly is it to ascend Mount Logan?
To climb Mount Logan, one requires a lot of accessories or hiking gear . They also need the proper equipment and gear, like a ski and hiking rods.
It is around a 28km journey if you plan to ascend the mountain. Hence, the cost of ascending Mount Logan is over 8000 Canadian dollars. It would take at least three to four weeks to climb to the very top of the mountain.
The King’s Trench and the East Ridge are the two routes that lead to Mount Logan’s summit. The King’s Trench route is the more popular one.
Scenic Beauty and Wildlife of Mount Logan
Mount Logan is home to many glaciers, most popularly Hubbard and Logan. Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve encompasses a portion of the range’s southern end.
Mount Logan is home to many different animals. Various animals, exclusive to the Canadian wilderness, including marmots, red foxes, coyotes, beavers, wolves, and lynxes, can be found on Mount Logan.
There have also been numerous stunning birds that have been observed there. You can, for instance, observe the stunning variety of golden and bald eagles. It is wonderful to see even the well-known yellow-rumped warbler there.
The proposal to rename the highest mountain Mount Trudeau was made by then-Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, a close friend of the late Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, following his death in 2000.
This proposal was rejected after backlash from mountaineers and political rivals.
6. Mount Saint Elias
Mount Saint Elias is the second-highest mountain in both Canada and the United States. It is part of the Saint Elias mountains range.
Before the discovery of Mount Logan, this was considered the tallest mountain in Canada. It is in between Alaska and the Yukon Territory and hence there are claims from both countries that Mount Saint Elias is theirs.
It has been nicknamed the “Man Eater” because of the bad weather and intimidating summit. Mount Saint Elias has an elevation of 5489 meters or 18,000 ft. It is on the Yukon-Alaska border.
This remote summit, which has only been climbed fifty times since the first ascent in 1897, provides experienced climbers with a world-class mountaineering challenge.
On July 31, 1897, a well-known explorer named Prince Luigi Amedeo, Duke of the Abruzzi, led an Italian expedition that climbed Mount Saint Elias for the first time.
Despite its height, Mount Saint Elias is rarely climbed today because it has no easy way to the summit and long periods of bad weather.
7. Mount Lucania
Mount Lucania is the third tallest mountain in Canada. It has an elevation of 5240 meters or 17190 feet. It is the eighth-highest peak in North America. It is also part of the Saint Elias mountains.
On July 31, 1897, when he had just completed the first ascent of Mount Saint Elias, the Duke of Abruzzo gave the mountain her name, Lucania.
Lucania was the name of the ship on which the Duke had set sail. Bradford Washburn and Robert Hicks Bates made Mount Lucania’s first official ascent in 1937.
8. King Peak
King Peak, also known as Mount King, is the fourth-highest mountain on Canadian soil. It is the ninth-highest peak in North America.
King Peak is also the satellite peak of Mount Logan but is still one of the highest mountains in Canada. It has an elevation of 5173 meters or 16972 feet at its highest point. In 1952, a group of University of Alaska students made the initial ascent of King Peak.
9. Mount Steele
Mount Steele is the fifth-tallest mountain in the country. It was named after Sir Sam Steele. Its exact elevation is unknown but most believe it to be 5073 meters or 16644 feet.
The first time someone went out to climb Mount Steele was in 1935. It was a team led by Walter A. Wood that embarked on the mission.
10. Mount Fairweather
Mount Fairweather is the highest mountain in the province of British Columbia. It is also one of the Saint Elias mountains. It has an elevation of 4653 meters or 15,266 feet.
Although two-thirds of the mountain lies in Alaska, the summit is in British Columbia. It lies on the international border between Alaska and British Columbia.
There is a funny reason why it was named “Fairweather.” Captain James Cook named the mountain Mount Fairweather on May 3, 1778, in reference to the unusually pleasant weather that was present at the time.
Besides developing knowledge about the highest mountain in Canada, you can also read about 113 astonishing facts about the tallest mountain in Canada.
Mount Logan, the tallest mountain in Canada, is definitely one of the most attractive pieces of nature in Canada and brings tourists and admirers of its beauty to Canada every year. The intimidating summit attracts adventure-loving hiking enthusiasts every year.
For those who find the taller mountains too big of a climb, there are other summits like Mount Slaggard, Mount Wood, and Mount Vancouver which could be more to their liking.
So, if you are planning a trip to Canada, make sure you make plans to explore the Canadian wilderness and scenic beauty. If you are an adrenaline junkie, maybe try and plan an expedition to the top of one of the highest mountains in Canada.
