Sheep Mountain (Yukon)
Summit of the Saint Elias Mountains in Kluane National Park of Yukon, Canada / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sheep Mountain is a 1,953-metre (6,407-foot) mountain summit of the Saint Elias Mountains, in Kluane National Park of Yukon, Canada. It is known as Thechàl Dhâl by the Southern Tutchone people, meaning "Skin Scraper Mountain", referring to the thechàl, a flat stone scraper that was used to prepare animal hides.[3] Sheep Mountain is habitat for Dall sheep, and was once a favorite sheep hunting area for the Southern Tutchone before the park was established.[4] The mountain is a prominent landmark along the Alaska Highway, and topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,140 meters (3,740 feet) above the Thechàl Dhâl Visitor Centre at Kluane Lake in 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles). The mountain can be climbed via an 11 km (6.8 mi) loop which gains 1,310 meters of elevation, part of which is on the Sheep Creek Trail, one of the most popular hikes in Kluane Park.[5] The route provides good opportunities to see Dall sheep, which the mountain is named for.[6] The summit offers views up the Slims River valley to Mount Maxwell, south to Vulcan Mountain, and 2.4 km (1.5 mi) northwest to Mount Wallace, which is the nearest higher neighbor.[2]
Sheep Mountain | |
---|---|
Thechàl Dhâl | |
Highest point | |
Elevation | 1,953 m (6,407 ft)[1] |
Prominence | 244 m (801 ft)[2] |
Parent peak | Mount Wallace (2347 m)[2] |
Isolation | 1.46 km (0.91 mi)[2] |
Coordinates | 61°02′03″N 138°32′46″W[1] |
Geography | |
Location | Yukon, Canada |
Parent range | Saint Elias Mountains |
Topo map | NTS 115G2 Congdon Creek |
Climbing | |
Easiest route | class 2 hiking |