Nugget Towers is a mountain ridge with a series of peaks, two primarily, the highest of which is 5,378-ft (1,639 m) elevation, and located on the southern periphery of the Juneau Icefield, in the Boundary Ranges of southeast Alaska.[3] These peaks are situated east of Mendenhall Glacier, 10 mi (16 km) north of Juneau, and 1.9 mi (3 km) northeast of Bullard Mountain, on land managed by Tongass National Forest. Stroller White Mountain lies 4.5 mi (7 km) west-northwest on the opposite side of the glacier, and Heintzleman Ridge lies 3 mi (5 km) to the south. Although modest in elevation, relief is significant since the mountain rises 3,500 feet (1,067 m) above Nugget Creek's upper basin in less than one mile. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into Mendenhall Lake via Nugget Creek and Nugget Falls. This geographic feature's local name was reported in 1965 by U.S. Geological Survey.[4]
| Nugget Towers | |
|---|---|
 Nugget Towers, northwest aspect | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 5,378 ft (1,639 m)[1] |
| Prominence | 778 ft (237 m)[1] |
| Parent peak | Mount Wrather[1] |
| Isolation | 1.73 mi (2.78 km)[2] |
| Coordinates | 58°27′04″N 134°27′41″W / 58.45111°N 134.46139°W[1] |
| Geography | |
  Nugget Towers Location in Alaska | |
 | |
| Interactive map of Nugget Towers | |
| Location | Tongass National Forest Juneau Borough Alaska, United States |
| Parent range | Coast Mountains Boundary Ranges Juneau Icefield[1] |
| Topo map | USGS Juneau B-2 |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | class 5.4[2] |
Climate
editBased on the Köppen climate classification, Nugget Towers is located in a subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.[5] Weather systems coming off the Gulf of Alaska are forced upwards by the Coast Mountains (orographic lift), causing heavy precipitation in the form of rainfall and snowfall. Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. This climate supports the Mendenhall Glacier to the mountain's west, and Juneau Icefield to its north. The month of July offers the most favorable weather for viewing and climbing Nugget Towers.
Gallery
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Left to rightː Mendenhall Towers, Mt. Wrather, Bullard Mountain, Nugget Towers seen from Douglas Island
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Nugget Towers-East Tower, Alaska". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
- ^ a b "Nugget Towers - 5,378' Alaska". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
- ^ "Nugget Towers". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
- ^ Dictionary of Alaska Place Names, Donald J. Orth author, United States Government Printing Office (1967), page 707
- ^ 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.
External links
edit- Weather forecast: Nugget Towers
- Flickr photo: Nugget Towers