Mount Bute, also known as Bute Mountain, is a 2,810-metre (9,220-foot) mountain located in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, Canada. Situated at the southern extreme of the Homathko Icefield, Mount Bute has an impressive 800-metre sheer granite west face, and Bute Glacier dominates the north aspect. This imposing mountain is visible from Waddington Harbour at the head of Bute Inlet, in a remote wilderness area that few visit. Its nearest higher peak is Mount Grenville, 13.0 km (8.1 mi) to the east-northeast.[1] Mount Grenville is the highest summit of the icefield. Mount Bute is 63.0 km (39.1 mi) southeast of Mount Waddington, the highest peak of the entire Coast Mountains range.
| Mount Bute | |
|---|---|
 Mount Bute with the west face featured | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,810 m (9,220 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 640 m (2,100 ft)[1] |
| Parent peak | Mount Grenville (3126 m)[1] |
| Isolation | 12.1 km (7.5 mi)[2] |
| Listing | Mountains of British Columbia |
| Coordinates | 50°56′06″N 124°42′04″W / 50.93500°N 124.70111°W[3] |
| Naming | |
| Etymology | John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute |
| Geography | |
  Mount Bute Location of Mount Bute in British Columbia  Mount Bute Mount Bute (Canada) | |
| Location | British Columbia, Canada |
| District | Range 1 Coast Land District |
| Parent range | Coast Mountains |
| Topo map | NTS 92K15 Southgate River[3] |
| Geology | |
| Type of rock | granite |
History edit
Like Bute Inlet, the mountain was named in 1792 by Captain George Vancouver to honor John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute who was Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1762 to 1763.[4] Stuart's grandson Charles Stuart was a master's mate on George Vancouver's Discovery.[5] The mountain's toponym was officially adopted in 1963 by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.[3]
Climate edit
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Bute is located in a marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[6] Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east toward the Coast Mountains where they are forced upward by the range (Orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall. As a result, the Coast Mountains experience high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. Precipitation runoff from Mount Bute drains into the Southgate River which empties into Bute Inlet, except where the Bute Glacier meltwater drains into Galleon Creek.
Climbing edit
The imposing west face was first climbed in 1986 by Greg Foweraker and Don Serl. The second ascent was accomplished three days later by Fred Beckey, Kit Lewis, and Jim Nelson.[7]
The School of Rock route (YDS 5.11 50 pitches) was first climbed in 2009 by Jimmy Martinello, Bruce Kay, and Jason Sinnes.[8]
References edit
- ^ a b c d "Mount Bute". Bivouac.com. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
- ^ "Mount Bute, British Columbia". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2020-12-24.
- ^ a b c "Mount Bute". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
- ^ Scott, Andrew (2009). The Encyclopedia of Raincoast Place Names: A Complete Reference to Coastal British Columbia. Madeira Park, BC: Harbor Publishing. p. 96. ISBN 978-1-55017-484-7.
- ^ Robson, John (2007). "Hakluyt edition of Vancouver's journals". W. Kaye Lamb, editor, Vol. 2, p 605. Archived from the original on 2007-06-22. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Mt. Bute, West Face, First Free Ascent". American Alpine Journal. American Alpine Club. 2014. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
- ^ "Adventure on Mount Bute to Free 50-Pitch School of Rock". Gripped Magazine. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
External links edit
- "Mount Bute". BC Geographical Names.
- Aerial photo of north face PBase
- Aerial photo of west face PBase
- Aerial photo of east face PBase
- Mount Bute Weather forecast