Peril Peak (Alaska)

Peril Peak
North aspect centered above Eklutna Glacier (Mt. Beelzebub to right)
Highest point
Elevation	7,040 ft (2,146 m)^[1]^[2]
Prominence	1,214 ft (370 m)^[3]
Parent peak	Mount Beelzebub (7,280 ft)^[1]^[3]
Isolation	2.15 mi (3.46 km)^[1]
Coordinates	61°12′57″N 148°59′11″W / 61.2157052°N 148.9863525°W / 61.2157052; -148.9863525^[4]
Geography
Peril Peak Location of Peril Peak in Alaska
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Borough	Anchorage
Protected area	Chugach State Park
Parent range	Chugach Mountains^[5]
Topo map	USGS Anchorage A-6
Climbing
First ascent	1964

Peril Peak is a 7,040-foot (2,146 m) mountain summit in Alaska, United States.

Description

Peril Peak is located 30 miles (48 km) east of Anchorage in the western Chugach Mountains.^[4] It ranks as the 14th-highest summit within Chugach State Park.^[6]^[7] Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains to Knik Arm via the Eklutna River. Although modest in elevation, topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 2,500 feet (762 m) above the Eklutna Glacier in 0.25 mi (0.40 km).

History

The peak was so named in 1963 by the members of the Mountaineering Club of Alaska because of the danger and difficulty involved in climbing it.^[2] The mountain's toponym was officially adopted in 1964 by the United States Board on Geographic Names.^[8] "Jane Russell Peaks" and "Marilyns Twins" were names rejected by the board, as the landform appears to have twin summits when viewed from the north.^[4]

The first ascent of the summit was made on May 23, 1964, by Gregg Erickson, Helga Bading, Jim Frazer, and Hans Van der Laan, from the south.^[9]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Peril 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 surrounding the peak.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Peril Peak - 7,040' AK". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
^ ^a ^b Donald J. Orth, Dictionary of Alaska Place Names, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1967, page 749.
^ ^a ^b "Peril Peak, Peakvisor.com". Retrieved 2024-01-28.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Peril Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
^ "Peril Peak, Alaska". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
^ The "Chugach State Park 120", Mountaineering Club of Alaska, Retrieved 2023-12-30.
^ Chugach State Park Peaks, Peakbagger.com, Retrieved 2024-01-28.
^ United States Board on Geographic Names, Decisions on Geographic Names in the United States, Decision List No. 6403, 1965, page 4.
^ J. Vincent Hoeman, The Western Chugach Range, Alaska, 1966, 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.