Mount Williwaw is a prominent mountain summit located in the
Chugach Mountains
The Chugach Mountains of southern Alaska are the northernmost of the several mountain ranges that make up the Pacific Coast Ranges of the western edge of North America. The range is about long and wide, and extends from the Knik and Turnag ...
, in
Anchorage Municipality 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 ...
. Mount Williwaw, the highest peak of the Chugach Front Range, is situated in
Chugach State Park
Chugach State Park covers 495,204 acres (2,004 square kilometers) covering a hilly region immediately east of Anchorage, in south-central Alaska.
Established by legislation signed into law on August 6, 1970, by Alaska Governor Keith Harvey Mi ...
, southeast of downtown
Anchorage
Anchorage, officially the Municipality of Anchorage, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Alaska. With a population of 291,247 at the 2020 census, it contains nearly 40 percent of the state's population. The Anchorage metropolita ...
, and northeast of
The Ramp. The Williwaw Lakes lie below the north and west slopes of the mountain and provide pleasant campsites for climbers not wanting to climb the mountain in one arduous day. The mountain's name was officially adopted in 1964 by the
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey (USGS), founded as the Geological Survey, is an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior whose work spans the disciplines of biology, geography, geology, and hydrology. The agency was founded on Mar ...
based on a recommendation by the Mountaineering Club of Alaska because an infantry company from nearby Fort Richardson was caught in a
williwaw
In meteorology, a williwaw (archaic spelling williwau) is a sudden blast of wind descending from a mountainous coast to the sea. The word is of unknown origin, but was earliest used by British seamen in the 19th century. The usage appears for win ...
near this mountain in May 1962. Three men died of exhaustion before the group was rescued.
The
first ascent
In mountaineering and climbing, a first ascent (abbreviated to FA in climbing guidebook, guide books), is the first successful documented climb to the top of a mountain or the top of a particular climbing route. Early 20th-century mountaineers a ...
of this peak was made June 11, 1965, by David Judd, M. Judd, Myers, and Parker via the South Ridge.
Vincent Hoeman, ''The Western Chugach Range, Alaska'', American Alpine Journal, 1966
/ref>
Climate
Based on the Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
, Mount Williwaw is located in a subarctic climate
The subarctic climate (also called subpolar climate, or boreal climate) is a continental climate with long, cold (often very cold) winters, and short, warm to cool summers. It is found on large landmasses, often away from the moderating effects of ...
with long, cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.
See also
*List of mountain peaks of Alaska
This article comprises three sortable tables of major mountain peaks of the U.S. State of Alaska.
The summit of a mountain or hill may be measured in three principal ways:
#The topographic elevation of a summit measures the height of the summi ...
*Geology of Alaska
The geology of Alaska includes Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks formed in offshore terranes and added to the western margin of North America from the Paleozoic through modern times. The region was submerged for much of the Paleozoic and ...
References
Gallery
This makes us feel so insignificant (3777134734).jpg, Mt. Williwaw to right
Creek flowing out of the mouth of Williwaw Lake (3777136006).jpg, Mt. Williwaw in background
Williwaw Lake from the trail coming down from the Ballpark (3776329509).jpg, Williwaw Lake with Mt. Williwaw to right
Climbing Mt. Elliot, with Mt. Williwaw in the background. Chugach State Park, Alaska (30550102410).jpg, Mt. Williwaw seen from Mount Elliott
External links
* Weather forecast
Mount Williwaw
* Climbing Williwaw's northwest ridge
YouTube
{{Geographic Location 2
, Center = Mount Williwaw
, North = Koktoya Peak
, Northeast = Ship Creek
, East = Tail Feather Peak
, Southeast = Indian Creek Pass
, South = Avalanche Mountain
, Southwest = The Ramp
, West = O'Malley Peak
, Northwest = Williwaw Lakes
Williwaw
In meteorology, a williwaw (archaic spelling williwau) is a sudden blast of wind descending from a mountainous coast to the sea. The word is of unknown origin, but was earliest used by British seamen in the 19th century. The usage appears for win ...
Williwaw
In meteorology, a williwaw (archaic spelling williwau) is a sudden blast of wind descending from a mountainous coast to the sea. The word is of unknown origin, but was earliest used by British seamen in the 19th century. The usage appears for win ...