Mount Muir (Alaska)

Mount Muir is a prominent glaciated mountain summit located in the Chugach Mountains, in Chugach National Forest, in the U.S. state of Alaska, approximately north of in Prince William Sound.

Etymology and history

The mountain was named in 1908 by geologists Grant and Higgins and officially adopted in 1910 by the United States Geological Survey, probably after of the American naturalist, conservationist and writer John Muir, who visited the Alaska area four times, including as a member of the 1899 Harriman Alaska expedition that explored this immediate area. The first recorded ascent of Mount Muir was completed in April 2014 by climbers Ryan Fisher and Nathan Lane via the north face.

Geography and physical features

Mount Muir is situated in the northern reaches of the Chugach Mountains, near the edge of the Chugach National Forest. It serves as the origin point for several glaciers, including the, Baker Glacier, Detached Glacier, and the Colony Glacier. The Colony Glacier flows northward, draining into Inner Lake George, while the others are hanging glaciers on the mountain’s southern slopes, descending toward Harriman Fjord.
Significant prominences relative to Mount Muir include:

Mountain	Elevation	Range	Coordinates	Distance	Prominence
Mount Gannett	2,919	Chugach Mountains		18	1,310
Denali	6,190	Alaska Range		258	6,140
Mount Everest	8,848	Himalaya		8,949	8,848

Nearby glaciers

The following glaciers are located near Mount Muir:

Glacier	Elevation at coordinates	Coordinates	Distance and direction from Mount Muir
Detached Glacier	1,142		south
	1,208		south
	924		southwest
	713		south
Baker Glacier	1,141		south
	553		east
Colony Glacier	316		west

Nearby mountains

Mount Muir is surrounded by the following peaks, all within the Chugach Mountains:

Mountain	Elevation	Coordinates	Distance and direction from Mount Muir
Mount Doran	1,057		southeast
Mount Gilbert	2,682		northeast
Mount Curtis	1,152		east
Globemaster Peak	2,724		northeast
Mount Coville	1,310		east
Mount Gannett	2,919		northeast

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Muir is located in a subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and mild summers. Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. This climate supports the Baker Glacier, Penniman Glaciers, and Detached Glacier on its south slopes, and tributaries of the Colony Glacier on its north, east, and west aspects. May and June are the best months for climbing in terms of favorable weather.

Access and tourism

Mount Muir is prominently visible from Harriman Fjord, accessible only by sea from Whittier or Valdez. Distances are derived from Google Earth. During the tourist season, boat excursions from Whittier offer views of the Surprise Glacier and the Penniman, Baker, and Detached Glaciers on the mountain’s slopes.