Chitistone Mountain is a 6,844-foot (2,086-meter) mountain summit located at the southeastern edge of the
Wrangell Mountains, in the
U.S. state of
Alaska. The peak is situated in
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, east-northeast of
McCarthy McCarthy (also spelled MacCarthy or McCarty) may refer to:
* MacCarthy, a Gaelic Irish clan
* McCarthy, Alaska, United States
* McCarty, Missouri, United States
* McCarthy Road, a road in Alaska
* McCarthy (band), an indie pop band
* Château MacC ...
, east of
Bonanza Peak, and north of
Williams Peak, where it is wedged between the confluence of the
Nizina River and Chitistone River.
The mountain takes its name from the Chitistone River as reported in 1959 by the
United States Geological Survey.
In turn, the Chitistone River which is part of the
Copper River Copper River may refer to several places:
*Copper River (Alaska), in the United States
* Copper River (British Columbia), a tributary of the Skeena River
The Skeena River is the second-longest river entirely within British Columbia, Canada (afte ...
drainage basin, was derived from "''chiti''," an Indian word for copper, added to the English word "stone."
The area west of this mountain at the Kennecott Mines was actively mining copper from 1911 through 1938.
Climate
Based on the
Köppen climate classification, Chitistone Mountain is located in a
subarctic climate
The subarctic climate (also called subpolar climate, or boreal climate) is a climate with long, cold (often very cold) winters, and short, warm to cool summers. It is found on large landmasses, often away from the moderating effects of an ocean, ge ...
zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and cool summers.
Weather systems coming off the
Gulf of Alaska are forced upwards by the Wrangell Mountains (
orographic lift), causing heavy precipitation in the form of rainfall and snowfall. Temperatures can drop below −20 °F with wind chill factors below −30 °F. The months May through June offer the most favorable weather for viewing and climbing.
See also
*
Kennecott, Alaska
*
Geography of Alaska
References
{{reflist
External links
* Weather forecast
Chitistone Mountain* Chitistone Mountain
Flickr photo
Landforms of Copper River Census Area, Alaska
Mountains of Alaska
Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve
North American 2000 m summits