Mount Currie (Alberta)

Mount Currie is a 2,770-metre (9,090-foot) mountain summit located in the upper Spray River Valley of southern Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada.^[4] Mount Currie's nearest higher peak is Red Man Mountain, 3.3 km (2.1 mi) to the southwest on the Continental Divide.^[1]

Mount Currie
Mount Currie Location in Alberta Show map of Alberta Mount Currie Location in Canada Show map of Canada
Highest point
Elevation	2,770 m (9,090 ft)[1]
Prominence	429 m (1,407 ft)[1]
Parent peak	Red Man Mountain (2891 m)[1]
Listing	Mountains of Alberta
Coordinates	50°48′11″N 115°29′32″W[2]
Geography
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Protected area	Banff National Park
Parent range	Blue Range[1] Canadian Rockies
Topo map	NTS 82J14 Spray Lakes Reservoir[2]
Geology
Rock age	Cambrian
Rock type	Sedimentary rock
Climbing
First ascent	1916 by Interprovincial Boundary Commission[3]

History

Mount Currie was named in 1918 for General Sir Arthur William Currie (1875–1933), the first Canadian commander of the Canadian Corps and later the Canadian Army during World War I.^[5][3]

The mountain's name was made official in 1924 by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.^[2]

Geology

Mount Currie is composed of sedimentary rock laid down during the Precambrian to Jurassic periods and was later pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny.^[6] The southeast face of the mountain displays chevron folds in the calcareous shale.^[3]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Currie is located in a subarctic climate with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.^[7] Temperatures can drop below −20 °C. with wind chill factors below −30 °C. In terms of favourable weather, June through September are the best months to climb.

Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into Currie Creek and White Man Creek, which are both tributaries of the Spray River.

See also

• Geography of Alberta