Montana Mountain

Montana Mountain
Elevation	2,205 m (7,234 ft)
Prominence	923 m (3,028 ft)
Location
Location	Yukon, Canada
Coordinates	60°03′28.8″N 134°41′27.6″W / 60.058°N 134.691°W / 60.058; -134.691Coordinates: 60°03′28.8″N 134°41′27.6″W / 60.058°N 134.691°W / 60.058; -134.691
Topo map	NTS 115D/02
Geology
Type	Stratovolcano
Age of rock	Late Cretaceous

Montana Mountain is a deeply eroded Late Cretaceous stratovolcano located south of Carcross, Yukon, Canada. As well as its main peak, the mountain includes many sub-peaks and contains felsic pyroclastics and flows;^[1] typically altered and orange-weathering. Montana Mountain was formed when the ancient Kula Plate was subducting under southwestern Yukon during the Late Cretaceous period.

A flurry of quartz mining activity took place on Montana Mountain in the early 1900s. American financier John Conrad consolidated claims on Montana Mountain^[2] and built a tramway from Windy Arm on Tagish Lake 4 miles up the mountain to carry the ore back down.^[3]

Montana mountain is also an important landmark for the Tagish and Carcross First Nations living in the area. According to legend, Montana Mountain is one of the peaks Game Mother used to hang a swing for her animal creations. On this swing each kind of animal danced and sang a different song. Following this "celebration" Game Mother gave each animal their characteristic attributes of today.^[4] In addition to its spiritual importance, the mountain was also an important source of food, medicines, and refuge.

During the Klondike Gold Rush, an extensive network of trails were constructed on the mountain to connect the silver rich Pooley Canyon with Tagish Lake. In 2005 the Carcross/Tagish First Nation took back the mountain in its land claim settlement and set out to restore the old trail network and make it accessible for public use and enjoyment.^[5]

Through a programme called "SingleTrack to Success" an extensive network of mountain bike trails have been developed on the lower slopes of Montana Mountain. Maps are available online as well as in Carcross and in Whitehorse.

See also

Volcanism of Canada portal

• Volcanism of Northern Canada
• List of volcanoes of Canada

References

1. ^ Jurassic to Cretaceous volcanics Retrieved on 2007-07-04
2. ^ Yukon News, January 17, 1997
3. ^ The Yukon Territory: It’s History and Resources (Minister of the Interior, Ottawa, 1907)
4. ^ Carcross Tagish First Nation Parks and Recreation Branch Pamphlet
5. ^ Carcross Tagish First National Parks and Recreation Branch Pamphlet

External links

• Montana Mountain in the Canadian Mountain Encyclopedia
• [1] Tagish Carcross First Nation Community Portal