Mount Muir (Alaska)

Mount Muir is a prominent glaciated mountain summit located in the Chugach Mountains, in Chugach National Forest, in the U.S. state of Alaska, approximately north of in Prince William Sound.

Etymology and history The mountain was named in 1908 by geologists Grant and Higgins and officially adopted in 1910 by the United States Geological Survey, probably after of the American naturalist, conservationist and writer John Muir (1838–1914), who visited the Alaska area four times, including as a member of the 1899 Harriman Alaska expedition that explored this immediate area. The first recorded ascent of Mount Muir was completed in April 2014 by climbers Ryan Fisher and Nathan Lane via the north face.

Geography and physical features Mount Muir is situated in the northern reaches of the Chugach Mountains, near the edge of the Chugach National Forest. It serves as the origin point for several glaciers, including the , Baker Glacier, Detached Glacier, and the Colony Glacier. The Colony Glacier flows northward, draining into Inner Lake George, while the others are hanging glaciers on the mountain's southern slopes, descending toward Harriman Fjord.

Significant prominences relative to Mount Muir include: Mountain Elevation (m) Range Coordinates Distance (km) Prominence (m) Mount Gannett 2,919 Chugach Mountains 18 1,310 Denali 6,190 Alaska Range 258 6,140 Mount Everest 8,848 Himalaya 8,949 8,848

Nearby glaciers The following glaciers are located near Mount Muir: Glacier Elevation at coordinates (m) Coordinates Distance and direction from Mount Muir Detached Glacier 1,142 south 1,208 south 924 southwest 713 south Baker Glacier 1,141 south 553 east Colony Glacier 316 west

Nearby mountains Mount Muir is surrounded by the following peaks, all within the Chugach Mountains: Mountain Elevation (m) Coordinates Distance and direction from Mount Muir Mount Doran 1,057 southeast Mount Gilbert 2,682 northeast Mount Curtis 1,152 east Globemaster Peak 2,724 northeast Mount Coville 1,310 east Mount Gannett 2,919 northeast

Climate Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Muir is located in a subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and mild summers. Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. This climate supports the Baker Glacier, Penniman Glaciers, and Detached Glacier on its south slopes, and tributaries of the Colony Glacier on its north, east, and west aspects. May and June are the best months for climbing in terms of favorable weather.

Access and tourism Mount Muir is prominently visible from Harriman Fjord, accessible only by sea from Whittier (approximately by sea or by air) or Valdez (over by sea). Distances are derived from Google Earth. During the tourist season, boat excursions from Whittier offer views of the Surprise Glacier and the Penniman, Baker, and Detached Glaciers on the mountain's slopes.

Gallery

Mount Muir (Alaska)

Bron en licentie