Mount Sheldon

Mount Sheldon
East aspect, summit at upper right
Highest point
Elevation	5,686 ft (1,733 m)[1]
Prominence	2,020 ft (616 m)[2]
Isolation	4.68 mi (7.53 km)[3]
Coordinates	63°35′27″N 150°07′02″W[1]
Naming
Etymology	Charles Alexander Sheldon
Geography
Mount Sheldon Location in Alaska
Interactive map of Mount Sheldon
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Borough	Denali
Protected area	Denali National Park
Parent range	Alaska Range
Topo map	USGS Denali C-1

Mount Sheldon is a 5,686 ft (1,730 m) summit in Alaska, United States.

Description

Mount Sheldon is located in the Alaska Range and in Denali National Park and Preserve. It is situated 6.19 miles (9.96 km) northwest of Polychrome Mountain.^[3] Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the Toklat River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises nearly 3,100 feet (940 meters) above the river in 1.7 mile (2.7 km).

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Sheldon is located in a tundra climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.^[4] Winter temperatures can drop below −20 °F with wind chill factors below −30 °F. The months May through June offer the most favorable weather for climbing or viewing.^[5]

Etymology

The mountain's name was shown on a 1916 U.S. Geological Survey document and the toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names.^[6] The name honors Charles Alexander Sheldon (1867–1928), naturalist and author of The Wilderness of Denali, who studied Dall sheep and other wildlife in the Mount McKinley (Denali) area in 1906–1908. He was the instrumental figure in Mount McKinley's establishment as a National Park.^[1]

Gallery

• 
  South aspect of Mt. Sheldon on the skyline
• 
  Charles Sheldon

See also

• List of mountains and mountain ranges of Denali National Park and Preserve
• Geology of Alaska

References

1. "Mount Sheldon". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
2. "Sheldon, Mount - 5,670' AK". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
3. "Mount Sheldon, Alaska". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
4. Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11. ISSN 1027-5606.
5. Denali FAQ, American Alpine Institute, alpineinstitute.com, Retrieved 2024-03-27.
6. Dictionary of Alaska Place Names, Donald J. Orth, United States Government Printing Office (1967), page 863.

External links

• Weather forecast: Mount Sheldon
• National Park Service site: Charles Sheldon and the Mount McKinley Park Movement