Mount Shishaldin

Mount Shishaldin
Mount Shishaldin, May 1994
Elevation	9,373 ft (2,857 m)
Prominence	9,373 ft (2,857 m)
Listing	Ultra
Location
Mount Shishaldin Unimak Island, Alaska, USA
Range	Aleutian Range
Coordinates	54°45′21″N 163°58′03″W / 54.75583°N 163.9675°W / 54.75583; -163.9675Coordinates: 54°45′21″N 163°58′03″W / 54.75583°N 163.9675°W / 54.75583; -163.9675
Topo map	USGS False Pass D-6
Geology
Type	Stratovolcano
Volcanic arc/belt	Aleutian Arc
Last eruption	2004
Climbing
First ascent	May 16, 1932 by G. Peterson et al. (first recorded ascent)
Easiest route	East face:snow/glacier climb

Shishaldin and Isanotski Volcanoes.

Map showing volcanoes of Alaska Peninsula.

Mount Shishaldin ( /ʃɨˈʃældən/) is a moderately active volcano on Unimak Island in the Aleutian Islands chain of Alaska. It is the tallest mountain in the Aleutian Islands. The most symmetrical cone-shaped glacier-clad large mountain on earth, the volcano's topographic contour lines are nearly perfect circles above 6,500 feet (2,000 m). The lower north and south slopes are somewhat steeper than the lower eastern and western slopes. The volcano is the westernmost of three large stratovolcanoes along an east–west line in the eastern half of Unimak Island. The Aleuts named the volcano Sisquk, meaning "mountain which points the way when I am lost." The upper 2,000 meters is almost entirely covered by glacial snow and ice. In all, Shishaldin's glacial shield cover about 35 square miles (91 km²). It is flanked to the northwest by 24 monogenetic parasitic cones, an area blanketed by massive a lava flows. The Shishaldin cone is less than 10,000 years old and is constructed on a glacially eroded remnant of an ancestral soma and shield. Remnants of the older ancestral volcano are exposed on the west and northeast sides at 1,500–1,800 meters elevation. The Shishaldin edifice contains about 300 cubic kilometers of material. A very steady steam plume rises from its small summit crater which is about 500 feet (150 m) across and slightly breached along the north rim.

Activity

This volcano has had many recorded eruptions during the 19th and 20th centuries, and a couple reports of volcanic activity in the area during the 18th century may have referred to Shishaldin as well. Therefore the volcano's entire recorded history is spotted with reports of activity.

Mount Shishaldin's most recent eruptions were in 1995–96 and 1999. Since the 1999 eruption, it has maintained seismic activity, typically having very low-magnitude volcanic earthquakes (most are below magnitude 1) every 1–2 minutes. During this period of non-eruptive seismic activity, it has been puffing steam, with puffs also occurring about every 1–2 minutes. There were reports in 2004 of small quantities of ash being emitted with the steam.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory monitors the volcano for more hazardous activity with seismometers and satellite images. Visual observations are rare, because of the remote location of the volcano.

Climbing

The first recorded ascent of Shishaldin was in 1932, by G. Peterson and two companions. Given the straightforward nature of the climbing (Alaska Grade 1, snow up to 40 degree slope), it is possible that an earlier ascent occurred, either by native Aleuts, Russians, or other visitors. Shishaldin is a popular ski descent (6,000 feet/1,830 m vertical) for local climbers (of whom there are few). Due to its remoteness Shishaldin is not often climbed by outsiders.

See also

• Mountain peaks of the United States

Sources

• "Shishaldin". Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1101-36-. 
• Peterson, T., J. Caplan-Auerbach, and S. McNutt. Sustained Long-period Seismicity at Shishaldin Volcano, Alaska. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, Volume 151, Issue 4, 15 March 2006, pages 365-381. Available online [1].
• Volcanoes of the Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian Islands-Selected Photographs
• Alaska Volcano Observatory (Shishaldin webcam)
• Michael Wood and Colby Coombs, Alaska: a climbing guide, The Mountaineers, 2001.