Parker Ridge is a mountain ridge in the upper North Saskatchewan River valley in Banff National Park, in the Alberta portion of the Canadian Rockies. Its nearest higher peak is Mount Athabasca, to the west. Parker Ridge lies along the west side of the Icefields Parkway and southeast of Sunwapta Pass. Parker Ridge is a ski-touring destination in the winter and a popular hiking destination in the summer because the Icefields Parkway allows easy access, and because it is nearly entirely above treeline, allowing good views of the surrounding mountain landscape. A trail gains of elevation from the highway to the top of the ridge. Wandering east or west along the ridge provides views of Cirrus Mountain, the north face of Mount Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Glacier, Mount Athabasca, Hilda Peak, and Nigel Peak among others.
History
Parker Ridge was named for Elizabeth Parker (1856–1944), co-founder of the Alpine Club of Canada in 1906 along with Arthur Oliver Wheeler. The Elizabeth Parker hut near Lake O'Hara in Yoho National Park is also named in her honour.
The mountain's name was officially adopted in 1978 by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.
Geology Like other mountains in Banff Park, Parker Ridge is composed of sedimentary rock laid down from the Precambrian to Jurassic periods. Formed in shallow seas, this sedimentary rock was pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny.
Climate Based on the Köppen climate classification, Parker Ridge is in a subarctic climate with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers. Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill index below −30. Precipitation runoff from Parker Ridge drains into tributaries of the North Saskatchewan River.
Gallery Views from Parker Ridge
See also The Canadian Rockies Trail Guide List of mountains of Canada Geography of Alberta
References
External links Parks Canada web site: Banff National Park Weather: Parker Ridge