Donoho Peak is a 6,696-foot-elevation (2,041 meter) mountain summit located in the
Wrangell Mountains, in the
U.S. state of
Alaska
Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S., ...
. The peak is situated in
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, north-northwest of
Kennecott, and north 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 ...
, at the confluence of the
Kennicott Glacier and Root Glacier. The peak's name was reported in 1931 by the
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey (USGS), formerly simply known as the Geological Survey, is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, ...
.
The mountain lies within 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. Bears frequent the Donoho Peak and Donoho Lakes area. An ascent of the mountain involves 14 miles round-trip from Kennecott to the summit, including crossing the Root Glacier and gully scramble via the south aspect of the mountain. Ruins of the Regal Mine remain at an elevation of 5,440 feet on the south slope of the mountain. Only small amounts of copper ore were ever produced, however. On a clear day the summit of Donoho Peak offers views of
Mount Blackburn
Mount Blackburn is the highest peak in the Wrangell Mountains of Alaska in the United States. It is the fifth-highest peak in the United States and the twelfth-highest peak in North America. The mountain is an old, eroded shield volcano, the se ...
to the northwest and the Stairway Icefall on
Regal Mountain
Regal Mountain is an eroded stratovolcano or shield volcano in the Wrangell Mountains of eastern Alaska. It is located in Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park about east of Mount Blackburn, the second highest volcano in the United States, and ...
to the north-northeast.
Climate
Based on the
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...
, Donoho Peak 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 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. The months May through June offer the most favorable weather for viewing and climbing.
Geology
Donoho Peak and the ridge extending to the north separate Gates and Root Glaciers. The north-dipping section exposes most of the definitive Triassic and Jurassic units of the
Wrangellia Terrane
The Wrangellia Terrane (named for the Wrangell Mountains, Alaska) is a crustal fragment (terrane) extending from the south-central part of Alaska and along the Coast of British Columbia in Canada. Some geologists contend that Wrangellia extends ...
, overlain unconformably at the north end of the ridge by the Miocene Frederika Formation and the Miocene to Holocene
Wrangell Lava. The peak is underlain by a conspicuous overturned syncline, which is cored by Nizina limestone, and forms a gray-colored zigzag on the east face of the peak.
See also
*
List of mountain peaks of Alaska
*
Geography of Alaska
*
Kennecott, Alaska
Gallery
File:Donoho Peak, west aspect.jpg, Donoho's west side shows limestone overlying darker greenstone
File:Kennicott Mill Site in fall with Donoho Peak.jpg, Donoho Peak (left) with historic Kennecott Mill site
File:Kennecott Mill Town.jpg, Mt. Blackburn, Donoho Peak, and Kennecott Mill town.
File:Donoho Peak (2) (21587612106).jpg, Donoho Peak's east aspect above Root Glacier
File:Donoho Peak (21602411252).jpg, Aerial view of north aspect
File:Kennicott Glacier Terminus with Donoho Peak.jpg, Donoho Peak centered
File:Donoho Basin.jpg, Donoho Lakes in Donoho Basin
References
{{reflist
External links
* Weather forecast
Donoho Peak* 2021 fatality
Anchorage Daily News
Mountains of Alaska
Landforms of Copper River Census Area, Alaska
Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve
North American 2000 m summits