Bellicose Peak

Bellicose Peak
Northwest aspect
Highest point
Elevation	7,640 ft (2,329 m)^[1]^[2]
Prominence	2,582 ft (787 m)^[3]
Parent peak	Bashful Peak (8,005 ft)^[3]
Isolation	7.13 mi (11.47 km)^[1]
Coordinates	61°14′29″N 149°02′01″W / 61.2412613°N 149.0335139°W / 61.2412613; -149.0335139^[4]
Naming
Etymology	Bellicose^[5]
Geography
Bellicose Peak Location of Bellicose Peak in Alaska
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Borough	Anchorage
Protected area	Chugach State Park
Parent range	Chugach Mountains^[6]
Topo map	USGS Anchorage A-6
Climbing
First ascent	1963

Bellicose Peak is a 7,640-foot (2,329 m) mountain summit in Alaska, United States.

Description

Bellicose Peak is located 28 miles (45 km) east of Anchorage in the western Chugach Mountains.^[4] It ranks as the third-highest peak within Chugach State Park.^[7]^[8] Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains to Knik Arm via Peters Creek and the Eklutna River. Although modest in elevation, topographic relief is significant as the summit rises approximately 4,640 feet (1,414 m) above Peters Creek in two miles (3.2 km) and 3,640 feet (1,110 m) above the Eklutna Glacier in less than one mile.

History

The first ascent of the summit was made on August 20, 1963, by John Bousman and his brother, William, via the southwest ridge.^[9] They so named the peak because, in a personified sense, it appears belligerent due to the difficulty encountered while climbing it.^[2] The mountain's toponym was officially adopted in 1964 by the United States Board on Geographic Names.^[4]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Bellicose Peak is located in a tundra climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and cool summers.^[10] Weather systems coming off the Gulf of Alaska are forced upwards by the Chugach Mountains (orographic lift), causing heavy precipitation in the form of rainfall and snowfall. Winter temperatures can drop below −10 °F with wind chill factors below −20 °F. This climate supports the Eklutna Glacier immediately east of the peak and smaller unnamed glaciers on the north slope.

References

^ ^a ^b "Bellicose Peak - 7,640' AK". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
^ ^a ^b Donald J. Orth, Dictionary of Alaska Place Names, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1967, page 122.
^ ^a ^b "Bellicose Peak, Peakvisor.com". Retrieved 2023-12-30.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Bellicose Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
^ United States Board on Geographic Names, Decisions on Geographic Names in the United States, Decision List No. 6403, 1965, page 2.
^ "Bellicose Peak, Alaska". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
^ The "Chugach State Park 120", Mountaineering Club of Alaska, Retrieved 2023-12-30.
^ Chugach State Park Peaks, Peakbagger.com, Retrieved 2023-12-30.
^ John Bousman, North America, United States, Alaska, Peak 7640, Chugach Range, 1964, American Alpine Journal, publications.americanalpineclub.org
^ Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11. ISSN 1027-5606.