Pilot Peak is an elevation glaciated summit located northwest of
Valdez in the
Chugach Mountains
The Chugach Mountains of southern Alaska are the northernmost of the several mountain ranges that make up the Pacific Coast Ranges of the western edge of North America. The range is about long and wide, and extends from the Knik and Turnagain ...
of 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., ...
. Set on land managed by
Chugach National Forest
The Chugach National Forest is a United States National Forest in south central Alaska. Covering portions of Prince William Sound, the Kenai Peninsula and the Copper River Delta, it was formed in 1907 from part of a larger forest reserve. The Ch ...
, this remote peak is situated east of
Mount Einstein, and southwest of
Tazlina Tower.
The mountain was so named in 1955 by Lawrence E. Nielsen "because it is a very distinctive landmark that helped guide us back to camp in our explorations during 1955."
[''Dictionary of Alaska Place Names'', Donald J. Orth author, United States Government Printing Office (1967), page 756.] Nielsen was leader of the Chugach Mountains Expedition which was sponsored by the Arctic Institute of North America. This name was officially adopted by the
U.S. Board on Geographic Names
The United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN) is a federal body operating under the United States Secretary of the Interior. The purpose of the board is to establish and maintain uniform usage of geographic names throughout the federal governm ...
in 1965.
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 ...
, Pilot 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 Chugach 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. This climate supports the
Columbia Glacier surrounding this mountain. The months May through June offer the most favorable weather for climbing.
See also
*
List of mountain peaks of Alaska
*
Geography of Alaska
References
{{reflist
Gallery
File:Glaciers and Sea Level Rise (8741348783).jpg, Pilot Peak from Columbia Glacier
File:Prince William sound Chugach mountains.jpg, Pilot Peak right of center, south aspect
File:Pilot Pk.jpg
External links
* Weather
Pilot Peak
Mountains of Alaska
Landforms of Copper River Census Area, Alaska
North American 2000 m summits