Nugget Towers
Nugget Towers, northwest aspect
Highest point
Elevation5,378 ft (1,639 m)[1]
Prominence778 ft (237 m)[1]
Parent peakMount Wrather[1]
Isolation1.73 mi (2.78 km)[2]
Coordinates58°27′04″N 134°27′41″W / 58.45111°N 134.46139°W / 58.45111; -134.46139[1]
Geography
Nugget Towers is located in Alaska
Nugget Towers
Nugget Towers
Location of Nugget Towers in Alaska
LocationTongass National Forest
Juneau Borough
Alaska, United States
Parent rangeCoast Mountains
Boundary Ranges
Juneau Icefield[1]
Topo mapUSGS Juneau B-2
Climbing
Easiest routeclass 5.4[2]

Nugget Towers is a mountain ridge with a series of peaks, two primarily, the highest of which is 5,378-ft (1,639 m) elevation, and located on the southern periphery of the Juneau Icefield, in the Boundary Ranges of southeast Alaska.[3] These peaks are situated east of Mendenhall Glacier, 10 mi (16 km) north of Juneau, and 1.9 mi (3 km) northeast of Bullard Mountain, on land managed by Tongass National Forest. Stroller White Mountain lies 4.5 mi (7 km) west-northwest on the opposite side of the glacier, and Heintzleman Ridge lies 3 mi (5 km) to the south. Although modest in elevation, relief is significant since the mountain rises 3,500 feet (1,067 m) above Nugget Creek's upper basin in less than one mile. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into Mendenhall Lake via Nugget Creek and Nugget Falls. This geographic feature's local name was reported in 1965 by U.S. Geological Survey.[4]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Nugget Towers is located in a subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.[5] Weather systems coming off the Gulf of Alaska are forced upwards by the Coast 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 Mendenhall Glacier to the mountain's west, and Juneau Icefield to its north. The month of July offers the most favorable weather for viewing and climbing Nugget Towers.

See also

Left to rightː Mendenhall Towers, Mt. Wrather, Bullard Mountain, Nugget Towers seen from Douglas Island

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Nugget Towers-East Tower, Alaska". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  2. 1 2 "Nugget Towers - 5,378' Alaska". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  3. ↑ "Nugget Towers". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  4. ↑ Dictionary of Alaska Place Names, Donald J. Orth author, United States Government Printing Office (1967), page 707
  5. ↑ Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11. ISSN 1027-5606.
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