Kings Mountain (Alaska)

Kings Mountain, also commonly called King Mountain, is a prominent 5,809-foot (1,771 m) elevation mountain summit located 22 mi (35 km) northeast of Palmer, in the northwestern Chugach Mountains of the U.S. state of Alaska.[2] This landmark of the Matanuska Valley is set between Anchorage and Glennallen, at mile 75 of the Glenn Highway. It is situated 18 mi (29 km) west of Amulet Peak, and 12 mi (19 km) east-southeast of Granite Peak. The mountain was named after Al King, a prospector who had a cabin nearby at the confluence of Kings River and Matanuska River.[3] The name was used by prospectors, reported about 1905 by the U.S. Geological Survey, and officially adopted in 1906 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.[2][4] This peak is known as Bashtl'ech' in the Denaʼina language, and Bes Tl'ets' in the Ahtna language, meaning "black stone".[5]

Kings Mountain
Kings Mountain from the west
Highest point
Elevation5,809 ft (1,771 m) [1]
Prominence2,009 ft (612 m) [1]
Isolation2.42 mi (3.89 km) [1]
Coordinates61°44′52″N 148°30′36″W [1]
Geography
Kings Mountain
Location of Kings Mountain in Alaska
LocationMatanuska-Susitna Borough
Alaska, United States
Parent rangeChugach Mountains
Topo mapUSGS Anchorage C-5

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Kings Mountain is located in a subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.[6] Weather systems coming off the Gulf of Alaska are forced upwards by the Chugach Mountains (orographic lift), causing heavy precipitation in the form of rainfall and snowfall. Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. The months May through June offer the most favorable weather for climbing or viewing. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the Matanuska River.

See also

References
  1. "Kings Mountain, Alaska". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  2. "Kings Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  3. "Kings River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  4. Dictionary of Alaska Place Names, Donald J. Orth author, United States Government Printing Office (1967), page 523.
  5. James Kari and James A. Fall, Shem Pete's Alaska, 2nd Ed. 2003, page 301.
  6. Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11. ISSN 1027-5606.
  • Kings Mountain from the northeast
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