Middle Triple Peak is the second highest peak in the
Kichatna Mountains
The Kichatna Mountains are a small mountain range in the northwestern part of Matanuska-Susitna Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska, approximately southwest of Denali. Unlike the major snow peaks of much of the rest of the Alaska Range, the Kicha ...
, a subrange of the
Alaska Range
The Alaska Range is a relatively narrow, 600-mile-long (950 km) mountain range in the southcentral region of the U.S. state of Alaska, from Lake Clark at its southwest endSources differ as to the exact delineation of the Alaska Range. ThBoar ...
in
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., ...
,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. It is a striking
rock tower
A pinnacle, tower, spire, needle or natural tower (german: Felsnadel, ''Felsturm'' or ''Felszinne'') in geology is an individual column of rock, isolated from other rocks or groups of rocks, in the shape of a vertical shaft or spire.
Examples ar ...
, with immense, sheer walls on the east and west sides.
Its ''East Buttress'' route (roughly 3,600 feet/1,100 m high) is a classic hard
rock climbing
Rock climbing is a sport in which participants climb up, across, or down natural rock formations. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a usually pre-defined route without falling. Rock climbing is a physically and ...
route, although the first pitch was destroyed by rockfall (discovered by Nancy Hansen in 2012) and the route has not been climbed since. Due to the remoteness of the range and the usually terrible weather, this peak has seen only a few ascents. The first ascent of the peak was in 1976 by Russell McLean and
Charlie Porter
Charlie Porter (June 12, 1950 in Massachusetts – February 23, 2014 in Punta Arenas) was an American mountaineer and climate change scientist. He is best known for his bold first ascents in Yosemite (particularly on El Capitan), Canada and ...
(fresh from the first solo of the ''Cassin Ridge'' on
Denali
Denali (; also known as Mount McKinley, its former official name) is the highest mountain peak in North America, with a summit elevation of above sea level. With a topographic prominence of and a topographic isolation of , Denali is the thir ...
).
Notable ascents and routes
* 1976 ''West Face''.
Charlie Porter
Charlie Porter (June 12, 1950 in Massachusetts – February 23, 2014 in Punta Arenas) was an American mountaineer and climate change scientist. He is best known for his bold first ascents in Yosemite (particularly on El Capitan), Canada and ...
and Russell McLean, June 21 to July 1, 1976.
* 1976 ''Illusory Ridge (north ridge)'' (NCCS V, F8 A3). David Black, Andrew Embick, Michael Graber, Alan Long. Summit reached July 10, 1976.
* 1977 ''East Buttress'' Andy Embick, Mike Graber, Al Long and George Schunk, June 2 to June 9, 1997.
* 1997 ''Ride the Lightning'', VI 5.10 A4 WI3.
Dan Osman,
Kitty Calhoun
Catherine Howell "Kitty" Calhoun (formerly Kitty Calhoun Grissom; born 1960) is an American mountain climber.
Early life
Calhoun was raised in Greenville, South Carolina. Her father, a corporate lawyer and a descendant of John C. Calhoun, sent he ...
, Steve Gerberding and Jay Smith
Further reading
*
References
External links
Middle Triple Peak on Topozone
Alaska Range
Mountains of Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska
Mountains of Alaska
{{MatanuskaSusitnaAK-geo-stub