Mount Magnificent (Alaska)

Mount Magnificent is a 4271 ft mountain summit in Alaska, United States.

Description
Mount Magnificent is located 15 mi northeast of Anchorage in the western Chugach Mountains and within Chugach State Park. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains to Knik Arm via Meadow Creek and Eagle River. Although modest in elevation, topographic relief is significant as the summit rises approximately 1,700 feet (518 m) above Meadow Creek in 0.6 mi and 3,870 feet (1,180 m) above the Eagle River in 2 mi. An ascent of the summit involves hiking five miles with 2,300 feet of elevation gain. The months of May through September offer the best time for climbing the peak. The mountain's descriptive name was given in 1953 by Mrs. Ollie A. Trower of Anchorage and the toponym was officially adopted in 1959 by the United States Board on Geographic Names. However, based on a sketch submitted with her naming proposal, it appears that the mountain she intended to be named Mount Magnificent is actually Mile High Peak. The Denaʼina name for this peak is K'ulch'ey which means "Wind blows against it."



Climate
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Magnificent is located in a subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and mild summers. Weather systems coming off the Gulf of Alaska are forced upwards by the Chugach Mountains (orographic lift), causing heavy precipitation in the form of rainfall and snowfall. Winter temperatures can drop below −10 °F with wind chill factors below −20 °F.