Mount Turner (Alberta)

This article is about the peak in Alberta. For the peak in British Columbia, see Mount Turner (Fairweather Range).

Mount Turner is a 2,806-metre (9,206-foot) mountain summit located in the upper Spray River Valley of southern Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Mount Turner in not visible from any road in Banff Park, however, it can be seen from Alberta Highway 742, also known as the Smith-Dorrien/Spray Trail in Kananaskis Country. Mount Turner's nearest higher peak is Cone Mountain, 2.91 km (1.81 mi) to the north.^[2]

Mount Turner
Mount Turner seen from Spray Lakes
Highest point
Elevation	2,806 m (9,206 ft)[1][2]
Prominence	389 m (1,276 ft)[1]
Parent peak	Mount Byng (2965 m)[1]
Listing	Mountains of Alberta
Coordinates	50°51′16″N 115°28′39″W[3]
Geography
Mount Turner Location in Alberta Show map of Alberta Mount Turner Mount Turner (Canada) Show map of Canada
Interactive map of Mount Turner
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Parent range	Blue Range[1] Canadian Rockies
Topo map	NTS 82J14 Spray Lakes Reservoir[3]
Geology
Rock age	Cambrian
Rock type	Sedimentary rock
Climbing
Easiest route	Scramble

History

Mount Turner was named in 1918 for Sir Richard Ernest William Turner (1871–1961), a Lieutenant-general in the Canadian Army who served during the Second Boer War and the First World War, and was a recipient of the Victoria Cross.^[4][5] Earlier in his career, he served in the Royal Canadian Dragoons with Sir Edward Whipple Bancroft Morrison in 1900.^[1] Not coincidentally, Mount Morrison is situated two kilometres south of Mount Turner.^[3]

The mountain's name was officially adopted in 1924 by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.^[3]

Geology

Mount Turner 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]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Turner is located in a subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.^[7] Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. In terms of favorable weather, June through September are the best months to climb. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into Owl Creek and Bryant Creek, which empty into Spray Lakes Reservoir.

Gallery

• 
  Mount Turner seen from Watridge Lake
• 
  Mt. Turner centered, with Mt. Assiniboine to right, and Mt. Morrison left

See also

• Geography of Alberta