Middle Triple Peak is the second highest peak in the
Kichatna Mountains, a subrange of the
Alaska Range
The Alaska Range is a relatively narrow, mountain range in the Southcentral Alaska, southcentral region of the U.S. state of Alaska, from Lake Clark at its southwest endSources differ as to the exact delineation of the Alaska Range. ThBoard on G ...
in
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 ...
,
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
. It is a striking
rock tower, with immense, sheer walls on the east and west sides.
Its ''East Buttress'' route (roughly 3,600 feet/1,100 m high) is a classic hard
rock climbing
Rock climbing is a climbing sports discipline that involves ascending climbing routes, routes consisting of natural rock in an outdoor environment, or on artificial resin climbing walls in a mostly indoor environment. Routes are documented in c ...
route, although the first pitch was destroyed by rockfall (discovered by
Nancy Hansen in 2012) and the route has not been climbed since. Due to the remoteness of the range and the usually terrible weather, this peak has seen only a few ascents. The first ascent of the peak was in 1976 by Russell McLean and
Charlie Porter (fresh from the first solo of the ''Cassin Ridge'' on
Denali
Denali (), federally designated as Mount McKinley, is the highest mountain peak in North America, with a summit elevation of above sea level. It is the tallest mountain in the world from base to peak on land, measuring . On p. 20 of Helm ...
).
Notable ascents and routes
* 1976 ''West Face''.
Charlie Porter and Russell McLean, June 21 to July 1, 1976.
* 1976 ''Illusory Ridge (north ridge)'' (NCCS V, F8 A3). David Black, Andrew Embick, Michael Graber, Alan Long. Summit reached July 10, 1976.
* 1977 ''East Buttress'' Andy Embick, Mike Graber, Al Long and George Schunk, June 2 to June 9, 1997.
* 1997 ''Ride the Lightning'', VI 5.10 A4 WI3.
Dan Osman,
Kitty Calhoun, Steve Gerberding and Jay Smith
Further reading
*
References
External links
Middle Triple Peak on Topozone
Alaska Range
Mountains of Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska
Two-thousanders of the United States
{{MatanuskaSusitnaAK-geo-stub