Royal Tower | |
Elevation Ft: | 8130. |
Elevation Ref: | [1] [2] |
Prominence Ft: | 2202 |
Isolation Mi: | 4.42 |
Isolation Ref: | [3] |
Parent Peak: | Peak 8610 |
Country: | United States |
State: | Alaska |
Region: | Matanuska-Susitna |
Region Type: | Borough |
Part Type: | Protected area |
Part: | Denali National Park |
Range: | Alaska Range |
Map: | USA Alaska |
Map Size: | 270 |
Label Position: | right |
Coordinates: | 62.6999°N -151.2236°W |
Topo: | USGS Talkeetna C-3 |
First Ascent: | July 1976 |
Rock: | Granite |
Royal Tower is an 8130feet mountain summit in Alaska.
Royal Tower is located 50miles northwest of Talkeetna in Denali National Park and the Alaska Range. It is set 7.460NaN0 south of Avalanche Spire and 260NaN0 south of Denali in an area known as Little Switzerland.[2] Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises over 2600abbr=offNaNabbr=off above the Pika Glacier in 0.4 mile (0.64 km). Precipitation runoff and glacial meltwater from the mountain drains to the Kahiltna River. The first ascent of the summit was made July 19–20, 1976, by Brian Okonek, Roger Robinson, and Ken Cook via the east face and northeast ridge.[4]
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Royal Tower is located in a tundra climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and cool summers.[5] Weather systems are forced upwards by the Alaska Range (orographic lift), causing heavy precipitation in the form of snowfall. Winter temperatures can drop below −10 °F with wind chill factors below −20 °F. This climate supports the Kahiltna Glacier west of the peak and smaller unnamed glaciers surrounding the peak. The months May through June offer the most favorable weather for viewing or climbing.