Peak Finder

Photo: Christian Peak (courtesy Rienk Lakeman)

Christian Peak

  • 3398 m (11,150ft)
  • First Ascent
  • Naming History
51.9439N -117.098W
Located on the continental divide above the Lyell Icefield at the head of Arctomys Creek and the head of Lyell Creek

Province: Alberta/BC
Park: Banff
Headwater: Saskatchewan/Columbia
Ascent Date: 1926
Ascent Party: Alfred Ostheimer, M.M. Strumia, J. Monroe Thorington
Ascent Guide: Edward Feuz jr.
Year Named: 1972
Named by: Sydney R. Vallance
Named for: Hasler, Christian jr. (Christian Hasler jr. was a mountain guide who worked in the Rockies during the early 1900's)

"There are five peaks in the Lyell group (see Mount Lyell) that rise in a semi-circle above the Lyell Icefield. Although the summits are relatively high in elevation, the peaks present only a modest rise above the surrounding glaciers." -courtesy Chic Scott The five peaks of Mount Lyell were named, at the suggestion of Sydney Vallance, after prominent mountaineering guides originally brought to Canada by the CPR and who became residents of Canada. The five were Edward Feuz jr., Ernest Feuz, and Walter Feuz, Rudolph Aemmer, and Christian Hasler jr. and they took up permanent residence in Golden in 1912. They are part of what was called the "Swiss Guide Group." The five peaks form an arc which opens to the east on the Alberta side of the Lyell Icefield, Ernest Peak being at the centre. Rudolph Peak is at the northeast end of the arc with Edward Peak lying midway between Ernest Peak and Rudolph Peak. Rudolph Peak and Edward Peak are not on the Continental Divide. The other three peaks are. The southeast end of the arc is Christian Peak with Walter Peak lying between Christian Peak and Ernest Peak.

Photo: The peaks of Mount Lyell (l-r) Christian Peak, Walter Peak, Ernest Peak, Edward Peak, and Rudolph Peak; from the southeast (courtesy Rienk Lakeman)

Christian Peak from Rudolph Peak (courtesy Brad Harrison)

The south face of Christian Peak (courtesy Brad Harrison)

Christian Peak (courtesy Brad Harrison)