University Peak (Alaska)

University Peak is a high peak in the Saint Elias Mountains of Alaska. It is one of the twenty highest peaks in Alaska [1], and one of the fifty highest peaks in the United States[2]. It can be considered a southern outlier of the large massif of Mount Bona. However, it is a much steeper peak than Bona, and presents significant climbing challenges of its own.

University Peak
University Peak
Highest point
Elevation14,470 ft (4,410 m)[1]
NAVD88
Prominence3,210 ft (980 m)[1]
Isolation3.71 mi (5.97 km)[1]
Listing
Coordinates61°19′38″N 141°47′07″W / 61.32722°N 141.78528°W / 61.32722; -141.78528 (University Peak (Alaska))
Geography
LocationWrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska, U.S.
Parent rangeSaint Elias Mountains
Topo mapUSGS McCarthy B-3 Quadrangle
Climbing
First ascentJune 19, 1955 by Keith Hart, Leon Blumer, Sheldon Brooks, Tim Kelly, Norman Sanders, Gibson Reynolds, R. Houston
Easiest routesnow/ice climb

The peak was named by Terris Moore during the first ascent of Mount Bona; the name refers to the University of Alaska.

Climbing

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The first ascent of University Peak was in 1955, via the North Ridge. The leader was Keith Hart, University of Alaska. The party consisted of Gibson Reynolds, Columbia University, Leon Blumer, Sydney, Australia, Tim Kelley, University of Washington, Sheldon Brooks, Pacific Lutheran College and Norman Sanders, University of Alaska. The climbers started at the foot of the Hawkins Glacier, and negotiated a difficult icefall to gain a basin at around 10,000 feet (3,000 m) elevation, on the west side of the North Ridge. This is still the recommended easiest route, but now one can fly into the 10,000-foot (3,000 m) basin to avoid the icefall. This route is rated Alaska Grade 2+.

A much harder route (Alaska Grade 5) was climbed on the East Face of the peak (from the Barnard Glacier) in 1997, by Carlos Buhler and Charlie Sassara.

This East Face route, named "Third Semester", involves 8,500 feet (2,600 m) of 50-80 degree snow, ice and rock capped with a 300-foot (90 m) vertical ice cliff. The descent is via the North Ridge. The first ascent party, Charles Sassara and Carlos Buhler, took 6 days to complete the traverse, including 2 days of storm that prevented movement.

Geology

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University Peak consists mainly of an eroded subvolcanic granodioritic intrusion that formed approximately 8.4 million years ago.[2]

See also

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Bibliography

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  • Michael Wood, Colby Coombs, Alaska: A Climbing Guide, The Mountaineers, 2001.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "University Peak, Alaska". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  2. ^ Winkler, Gary R. (2000). A Geologic Guide to Wrangell–Saint Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska: A Tectonic Collage of Northbound Terranes. United States Government Publishing Office. p. 113. ISBN 0-607-92676-7. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
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