Mount Dech

Mount Dech
Mount Dech (far right), from Glacier Bay
Highest point
Elevation	7,475 ft (2,278 m)^[1]
Prominence	1,650 ft (503 m)^[2]
Parent peak	Mount Tlingit Ankawoo^[3]
Isolation	2.94 mi (4.73 km)^[2]
Coordinates	59°08′23″N 135°48′14″W / 59.139817°N 135.803772°W / 59.139817; -135.803772^[2]
Geography
Mount Dech Location in Alaska
Location	Haines Borough Hoonah–Angoon Census Area
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Protected area	Glacier Bay National Park
Parent range	Saint Elias Mountains Takhinsha Mountains
Topo map	USGS Skagway A-3
Climbing
First ascent	1966

Mount Dech is a 7,475-foot-elevation (2,278-meter) mountain summit in Alaska.

Description

Mount Dech is the third-highest peak in the Takhinsha Mountains which are a subrange of the Saint Elias Mountains.^[2] It is located 14 miles (23 km) southwest of Haines on the northern boundary of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Precipitation runoff and glacial meltwater from the mountain's north slope drains to the Chilkat River, whereas the south slope drains to Glacier Bay. Although modest in elevation, topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 3,500 feet (1,067 meters) above the Garrison Glacier in one mile (1.6 km). The mountain was named by a group of climbers led by Lawrence E. Nielsen who made the first ascent of the summit on June 19, 1966.^[1] The peak's toponym is a Tlingit word meaning "two."^[1] The mountain's toponym has not been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names, and it will remain unofficial as long as the USGS policy of not adopting new toponyms in designated wilderness areas remains in effect.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Mount Dech is located in a tundra climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and cool summers.^[4] Weather systems coming off the Gulf of Alaska are forced upwards by the Takhinsha Mountains (orographic lift), causing heavy precipitation in the form of rainfall and snowfall. Winter temperatures can drop to 0 °F with wind chill factors below −10 °F. This climate supports the Bertha, Casement, and Garrison glaciers surrounding the peak.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Lawrence E. Nielsen, North America, United States, Alaska, Takhinsha Mountains, 1967, American Alpine Journal, americanalpineclub.org, Retrieved 2023-12-27.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Mount Dech, Alaska". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
^ "7450 - 7,450' AK". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
^ 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.