Photo: St. Nicholas Peak from the north on the Wapta Icefield (courtesy www.canadasmountains.com)
St. Nicholas Peak
- 2970 m (9,745ft)
- First Ascent
- Naming History
Located on the eastern edge of the Wapta Icefield
Province: Alberta
Park: Banff
Headwater: Bow
Visible from Highway: 93N
Ascent Party: J. Monroe Thorington
Ascent Guide: Peter Kaufmann
Named by: Arthur Wheeler
Named for: Arthur Wheeler, while surveying the Alberta-British Columbia Boundary, through the icefield thought that a particular gendarme on the mountain resembled Santa Claus.
Although not a high mountain, St. Nicholas Peak is quite prominent from the Icefield Parkway in the vicinity of Num-te-jah Lodge. A sharp spire, with steep cliffs to the north and east, the mountain lies on the eastern edge of the Wapta Icefield. The Boundary Report refers to St. Nicholas Peak as, "a somewhat remarkable peak. . .owing to an outstanding gendarme of rock that closely resembles the patron saint of Christmas time has been named St. Nichlas Peak."
Photo: Looking to St. Nicholas Peak (left) and Mount Olive (courtesy Marta Wojnarowska)
Looking south to St. Nicholas Peak from the Bow Hut (courtesy Vern De Wit)
St. Nicholas Peak from the Icefields Parkway near Bow Lake
Looking south to St. Nicholas Peak (courtesy Marta Wojnarowska)
Looking south to St. Nicholas Peak (courtesy Marta Wojnarowska)