Peak Finder

Photo: Mount Nelson at left (courtesy Dale and Frances Ebersbacher)

Mount Nelson

  • 3150 m (10,335ft)
  • First Ascent
  • Naming History
52.3461N -117.470W
Located 5 km northwest of Diadem Peak at the head of the west branch of Lynx Creek

Range: Winston Churchill
Province: Alberta
Park: Jasper
Headwater: Athabasca
Ascent Date: 1951
Ascent Party: Dale Ebersbacher, Frances Ebersbacher, Gil Roberts, Chuck Wilts, Ellen Wilts
Year Named: 1952
Named by: J. Monroe Thorington
Named for: Nelson (Members of the Ebersbacher party who first ascended the peak requested that it be named to honour a mountaineer named Nelson who was killed in a climbing accident.)

Nelson was a mountaineer who was killed in a climbing accident with a man named Rice. Both were Americans who were climbing in the Bugaboos. A mountain had already been named for Rice so we all thought it appropriate to name one for Nelson. This information was given to the Canadian authorities along with the suggestion of the name Nelson. [Dale and Frances Ebersbacher] "As none of us wanted to spend a rainy day in camp, the five of us attempted another route on Mount Nelson, the west face. As we neared the top another snow storm settled upon us. The final traverse along the summit ridge was nerve-wracking. An easterly wind drove fine snow and sleet against our faces. To the right the mounain fell away in near vertical cliffs to a small glacier hidden in the clouds. To the left steep slabs coverd with fresh snow dropped away at an angle nearly beyond the limit of our nails and bramanis. Once more we were forced to climb separately without ropes, for belayed climbing would have been too slow and too cold in such weather. The descent was made without incident and we spent the reminder of the afternoon tending a fire and trying to keep ourselves and our equipment dry." -First Ascents from Lynx Valley by Charles H. Wilts CAJ XXXV Page 33