Mount Klooch

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

Description

Mount Klooch is situated northwest of Mount Dagelet and southwest of Mount Crillon in Glacier Bay [National Park and Preserve]. It is part of the Fairweather Range which is the southernmost range of the Saint Elias Mountains. Topographic relief is significant as both the north and south faces of the peak rise in one-half mile. The mountain's toponym was published by members of the 1933–34 Harvard-Dartmouth Expedition, and the toponym has been officially adopted by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. "Klooch" is a Chinook Jargon word that means "Native American woman", and it's a variant of the word "klootchman." It is derived from the Nootka word "hlotssma," meaning "woman" or "wife."

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Klooch has a tundra climate 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 glaciers surrounding the slopes of this peak, including the Klooch Glacier on the southwest slope. The months May through July offer the most favorable weather for viewing or climbing Mount Klooch.