Peak Finder

Photo: Looking southeast to Cirrus Mountain

Cirrus Mountain

  • 3270 m (10,729ft)
  • First Ascent
  • Naming History
52.1697N -116.978W
Located in the North Saskatchewan River Valley southwest of Cataract Creek

Province: Alberta
Park: White Goat/Banff
Headwater: Saskatchewan
Major Valley: Saskatchewan
Visible from Highway: 93N
Ascent Date: 1939
Ascent Party: C.B. Sissons, H.J. Sissons
Year Named: 1935
Named for: Cirrus clouds form at high altitudes.

The Icefield Parkway is so close to this high mountain that the summit cannot be seen as one travels along its base. However the steep cliffs of the "Weeping Wall" may be seen with numerous slender waterfalls spilling down the cliffs. This is a favourite spot for ice climbers during the winter months when spectacular pillars and curtains of ice form. The top of the big hill to the south of Sunwapta Pass provides a good view of the upper portions of Cirrus Mountain. The single peak at the northern end of the mountain is higher than the double peak at the southern end. The mountain wraps around the Huntington Glacier that lies to the southeast of the highest peak. There are subsidiary peaks to the south and to the east-northeast. An attractive glacier flows from a cirque on the northwest side of the mountain as well. In 1928 Morrison Bridgland suggested the name Mount Huntington for this peak but it was not adopted. It is not known who Huntington was.

Photo: Looking southeast to Cirrus Mountain from the Icefields Parkway

Photo: Looking southeast to south summit of Cirrus Mountain (weeping wall at lower right)

Looking north to Cirrus Mountain from col west of Mount Coleman

Photo: Looking east-southeast to Cirrus Mountain (eastern summit to left)

Looking east to the Weeping Wall and Cirrus Mountain from the Icefields Parkway

Looking east-southeast to Cirrus Mountain from the Icefields Parkway

This sign on the Icefields Parkway near the Weeping Wall gives park visitors a mistaken impression as to what an elevation of 10,645' really means

Looking north to Cirrus Mountain from the west ridge of Mount Coleman (courtesy Sonny Bou)