Limestack Mountain is a
mountain
A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited summit area, and is usually higher t ...
in the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...
of
Alaska
Alaska ( ) is a non-contiguous U.S. state on the northwest extremity of North America. Part of the Western United States region, it is one of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, alongside Hawaii. Alaska is also considered to be the north ...
, located within
Gates of the Arctic National Park
Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve is a national park of the United States that protects portions of the Brooks Range in northern Alaska. The park is the northernmost national park in the United States, situated entirely north of the ...
in the central
Brooks Range
The Brooks Range (Gwich’in language, Gwich'in: ''Gwazhał'') is a mountain range in far northern North America stretching some from west to east across northern Alaska into Canada's Yukon Territory. Reaching a peak elevation of on Mount Isto, ...
mountains. The continental divide between the Arctic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean runs along the mountain's northern edge.
Naming and first ascent
Limestack Mountain was named by
Bob Marshall, who was among the first European-Americans to explore and map the Brooks Range. In "Alaska Wilderness", Marshall describes his attempt to climb "one of the highest peaks on the Arctic Divide." After scrambling through boulders and steep scree, Marshall reached the top of a steep slope. "Above me rose the last thousand feet of my mountain, just a gray stack of limestone. So I called the peak Limestack Mountain." Marshall continued to the summit, making the first recorded ascent of the peak.
Topography
The distinctive limestone cliffs of Limestack Mountain have been described as "Yosemite-like".
[Rocky and Steve Reifenstuhl, November 1, 2007, ''Alaska Stories: 250 Miles 8 Days 300 Million Years Infinite Memories'', Nov/Dec 2007 Issue of Mushing Magazine] Topographically, "Limestack Mountain" is the highest point in a group of rugged peaks covering ten or more square miles, linked by a series of long, steep ridges.
References
{{Reflist
External links
Limestack Mountain entry on MountainZone.com
Mountains of Alaska
Brooks Range
One-thousanders of the United States