Watermelon Peak is a 3,095-metre (10,154-foot) summit located in Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Its nearest higher peak is Deluc Peak, 13.5 km (8.4 mi) to the east.[2]
Watermelon Peak | |
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![]() Watermelon Peak seen from Molar Pass with summit to right of center and outlier S2 to left | |
Highest point | |
Elevation | 3,095 m (10,154 ft)[1] |
Prominence | 674 m (2,211 ft)[2] |
Parent peak | Deluc Peak (3182 m)[2] |
Listing | Mountains of Alberta |
Coordinates | 51°42′56″N 116°20′35″W[2] |
Geography | |
![]() ![]() Watermelon Peak Location of Watermelon Peak in Alberta Show map of Alberta![]() ![]() Watermelon Peak Watermelon Peak (Canada) Show map of Canada | |
Country | Canada |
Province | Alberta |
Protected area | Banff National Park |
Parent range | Canadian Rockies |
Topo map | NTS 82N9 Hector Lake |
Geology | |
Age of rock | Cambrian |
Climbing | |
First ascent | 1966 D. Michael, W.V.G. Matthews, W.L. Putnam, M. Stearns, L.R. Wallace[3] |
Easiest route | Scrambling YDS 3[4] |
Watermelon Peak was named in 1966 by William L. Putnam, member of the first ascent party which carried a four kilogram watermelon to the summit, and consumed it there.[5] The July 1966 first ascent party included David Michael, W.V.G. Matthews, William L. Putnam, M. Stearns, and L.R. Wallace.[3] However, the name is not officially recognized by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.[Notes 1]
Like other mountains in Banff Park, Watermelon Peak is composed of sedimentary rock laid down during the Precambrian to Jurassic periods.[6] Formed in shallow seas, this sedimentary rock was pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny.[7]
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Watermelon Peak is located in a subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.[8] Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. Precipitation runoff from Watermelon Peak drains into the Bow River and Siffleur River which are both tributaries of the Saskatchewan River.
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