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Chugach Mountains

Coordinates: 61°10′N 145°20′W / 61.167°N 145.333°W / 61.167; -145.333
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Chugach Mountains
View of the Chugach Mountains from the Glenn Highway, north of Anchorage
Highest point
PeakMount Marcus Baker
Elevation13,094 ft (3,991 m)
Coordinates61°26′14″N 147°45′10″W / 61.43722°N 147.75278°W / 61.43722; -147.75278
Dimensions
Length300 mi (480 km) E–W
Geography
Map
CountryUnited States
StateAlaska
Range coordinates61°10′N 145°20′W / 61.167°N 145.333°W / 61.167; -145.333
Parent rangePacific Coast Ranges
Alpine lakes in the Chugach Mountains
A peak 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 250 miles (402 km) long and 60 miles (97 km) wide, and extends from the Knik and Turnagain Arms of the Cook Inlet on the west to Bering Glacier, Tana Glacier, and the Tana River on the east. It is bounded on the north by the Matanuska, Copper, and Chitina rivers. The highest point of the Chugach Mountains is Mount Marcus Baker, at 13,094 feet (3,991 m), but with an average elevation of 4,006 feet (1,221 m), most of its summits are not especially high.[1] Even so, its position along the Gulf of Alaska ensures more snowfall in the Chugach than anywhere else in the world, an annual average of over 1500 cm (800 in).[2]

The mountains are protected in the Chugach State Park and the Chugach National Forest. Near to Anchorage, they are a popular destination for outdoor activities.

The Richardson Highway, Seward Highway, Portage Glacier Highway, and the Glenn Highway run through the Chugach Mountains. The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel of the Portage Glacier Highway provides railroad and automobile access underneath Maynard Mountain between Portage Lake and the city of Whittier on Prince William Sound.

On Mount Gordon Lyon, at about the 4,000 feet (1,200 m) level, is a 300 feet (91 m) five-pointed star using around 350 light globes. This faces Anchorage to be visible from the city at night. It is illuminated to commemorate Christmas, being lit from Thanksgiving until Christmas Day; and, on 9/11. Maintenance is undertaken by the US Air Force’s Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, although it was established in around 1960 and formerly maintained by the US Army having been near the former Army (Nike missile Site Summit) in the mountains.[3]

History

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The name "Chugach" comes from Chugach Sugpiaq "Cuungaaciiq," Alaska Natives inhabiting the Kenai Peninsula and Prince William Sound on the south coast of Alaska. The Chugach people are an Alutiiq (Pacific Eskimo) people who speak the Chugach dialect of the Alutiiq language. In 1898 United States Army Captain William R. Abercrombie spelled the name "Chugatch" and applied it to the mountains.[1] It is possible that the Koniagmiut (Sugpiat or Alutiit of the Kodiak Archipelago and the Alaska Peninsula) may also have called these northern Sugpiat "Cuungaaciirmiut" in ancient times but it is also possible that this was a neologism during Russian times.

Mountains

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The twelve highest peaks in the Chugach Mountains are listed below:

Rank Name Elevation Prominence Coordinates
1 Mount Marcus Baker 13,176 feet (4,016 m)[4] 61°26′16″N 147°45′02″W / 61.43778°N 147.75056°W / 61.43778; -147.75056
2 Mount Thor 12,251 feet (3,734 m)[5] 61°29′10″N 147°08′50″W / 61.48611°N 147.14722°W / 61.48611; -147.14722
3 Mount Valhalla 12,135 feet (3,699 m)[6] 61°27′36″N 147°04′45″W / 61.46000°N 147.07917°W / 61.46000; -147.07917
4 Mount Witherspoon 11,745 feet (3,580 m)[7] 61°23′43″N 147°12′05″W / 61.39528°N 147.20139°W / 61.39528; -147.20139
5 Mount Einstein 11,401 feet (3,475 m)[8] 61°21′26″N 147°05′47″W / 61.35722°N 147.09639°W / 61.35722; -147.09639
6 Mount Tom White 11,155 feet (3,400 m)[9] 60°39′09″N 143°41′44″W / 60.65250°N 143.69556°W / 60.65250; -143.69556
7 Icing Peak 10,955 feet (3,339 m)[10] 61°32′10″N 147°42′17″W / 61.53611°N 147.70472°W / 61.53611; -147.70472
8 Mount Grace 10,540 feet (3,213 m)[11] 61°19′06″N 147°53′14″W / 61.31833°N 147.88722°W / 61.31833; -147.88722
9 Mount Goode 10,384 feet (3,165 m)[12] 61°19′38″N 147°59′02″W / 61.32722°N 147.98389°W / 61.32722; -147.98389
10 Mount Steller 10,082 feet (3,073 m)[13] 60°31′07″N 143°05′59″W / 60.51861°N 143.09972°W / 60.51861; -143.09972
11 Mount Gannett 9,629 feet (2,935 m)[14] 61°14′32″N 148°11′36″W / 61.24222°N 148.19333°W / 61.24222; -148.19333
12 Mount Gilbert 9,101 feet (2,774 m)[15] 61°10′20″N 148°16′15″W / 61.17222°N 148.27083°W / 61.17222; -148.27083

Other important peaks in the Chugach Mountains include:

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Chugach Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  2. ^ Steep, Freeskiing Documentary, 2007
  3. ^ Airmen help save holiday tradition in Alaska’s largest city, The Associated Press/militarytimes.com, December 3, 2021
  4. ^ "Mount Marcus Baker". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  5. ^ "Mount Thor". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  6. ^ "Mount Valhalla". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  7. ^ "Mount Witherspoon". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  8. ^ "Mount Einstein". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  9. ^ "Mount Tom White". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  10. ^ "Icing Peak". Chugach Mountains. peakbagger.com. 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  11. ^ "Mount Grace". Chugach Mountains. peakbagger.com. 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  12. ^ "Mount Goode". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  13. ^ "Mount Steller". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  14. ^ "Mount Gannett". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  15. ^ "Mount Gilbert". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  16. ^ "Mount Michelson". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  17. ^ "Mount Billy Mitchell". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  18. ^ "Mount Palmer". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  19. ^ "Eagle Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  20. ^ "Polar Bear Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  21. ^ "Mount Williwaw". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  22. ^ "The Ramp". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  23. ^ "Ptarmigan Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  24. ^ "Flattop Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
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