Saint Nicholas Peak is a mountain summit in the Rocky Mountains of Canada. It is located on the Continental Divide, on the Alberta-British Columbia border, in both Banff National Park and Yoho National Park. It lies at the eastern edge of the Wapta Icefield, and is part of the Waputik Mountains which are a sub-range of the Canadian Rockies.
Name It was named in 1916 by Arthur O. Wheeler; a particular gendarme on the mountain is said to resemble Santa Claus.
Geology The peak is composed of sedimentary rock laid down during the Precambrian to Jurassic periods. Formed in shallow seas, this sedimentary rock was pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny.
Climate Based on the Köppen climate classification, it is located in a subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers. Temperatures can drop below -20 C with wind chill factors below -30 C.
Gallery
See also
Geography of British Columbia List of peaks on the British Columbia–Alberta border
References
Further reading Dave Birrell, 50 Roadside Panoramas in the Canadian Rockies, P 51
External links Parks Canada web site: Banff National Park Parks Canada web site: Yoho National Park Saint Nicholas Peak weather: Mountain Forecast Saint Nicholas Peak photo (with Mt. Olive in the back left): Flickr