Mount Hawkins (Alaska)

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

Description

Mount Hawkins is situated east-northeast of Mount Tom White and east of Cordova in the Chugach Mountains and Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises above the surrounding glaciers in one mile. The mountain's toponym was applied in 1930 by Lawrence Martin of the U.S. Geological Survey to honor Erastus Corning Hawkins, the chief engineer who built the Copper River and Northwestern Railway. The toponym was officially adopted in 1930 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. The first ascent of the remote summit was made on April 13, 2000, by Paul Claus, Jay Claus, and Ruedi Hornberger.

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Hawkins is located in a tundra climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and cool summers. Weather systems coming off the Gulf of Alaska are forced upwards by the Chugach Mountains, causing heavy precipitation in the form of rainfall and snowfall. Winter temperatures can drop below 0 °F with wind chill factors below −20 °F. This climate supports massive glaciers and icefields surrounding this peak. The months May through June offer the most favorable weather for viewing or climbing Mount Hawkins.