Mount Doran

Mount Doran is a mountain summit in Alaska, United States.

Description

Mount Doran is situated southeast of Mount Muir and northeast of Whittier in the Chugach Mountains and Chugach National Forest. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises above Lagoon Creek in, and above tidewater in. The mountain's toponym was applied in 1911 by U.S. Grant of the USGS to remember Peter A. Doran, captain of the steamer SS George W. Elder which was the ship used by the Harriman Alaska expedition that explored this area in 1899. The toponym was officially adopted in 1911 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. Peter Doran perished during the sinking of the SS Columbia on 21 July 1907. He is also the namesake of Point Doran and Doran Strait which are northeast of this mountain.

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Doran is located in a subpolar oceanic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and cool summers. Weather systems coming off the Gulf of Alaska are forced upwards by the mountains, causing heavy precipitation in the form of rainfall and snowfall. Winter temperatures can drop below 0 °F with wind chill factors below −10 °F. This climate supports the Toboggan Glacier on the west slope of this peak. The months May through July offer the most favorable weather for viewing or climbing Mount Doran.