Citadel Peaks

Citadel Peaks is a mountain ridge located in the Goat Haunt area of Glacier National Park, in Glacier County of the U.S. state of Montana. This arête with a row of sharp points is part of the Livingston Range, and is approximately four miles east of the Continental Divide.United States Geographic Board, Frank Bond, Sixth Report of the United States Geographic Board 1890 to 1932, US Government Printing Office, 1933, page 221. Neighbors include Olson Mountain, to the north, Mount Cleveland to the east, and Kootenai Peak to the south. Topographic relief is significant as Citadel Peaks rises over above Waterton Lake in less than two miles, and above Lake Janet in one mile. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains to the south end of Waterton Lake. The first ascent of Citadel Spire, a major pinnacle on the ridge, was made in 1967 by Jerry Kanzler, Jim Kanzler, Ray Martin, and Clare Pogreba. This geographical feature's name was officially adopted in 1929 by the United States Board on Geographic Names. To the Pikuni people, Citadel Peaks is known as "Ataniawxis", meaning "The Needles".Erik Molvar, Best Easy Day Hikes Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks, 2019, Falcon Guides, , page 80.

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Citadel Peaks is located in an alpine subarctic climate zone characterized by long, usually very cold winters, and short, cool to mild summers. Temperatures can drop below −10 °F with wind chill factors below −30 °F.

Geology

Like the mountains in Glacier National Park, Citadel Peaks is composed of sedimentary rock laid down during the Precambrian to Jurassic periods. Formed in shallow seas, this sedimentary rock was initially uplifted beginning 170 million years ago when the Lewis Overthrust fault pushed an enormous slab of precambrian rocks thick, wide and long over younger rock of the cretaceous period.

Gallery

Citadel Peaks

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