Mount Steele is the highest mountain in Yukon, Canada and the fifth highest peak in Canada. It is located near the Alaska border in Kluane National Park and Reserve. Mount Steele stands at an impressive 5,965 meters (19,559 feet) above sea level. This majestic mountain holds many mysteries and stories just waiting to be discovered. Let’s explore 46 riddles about Mount Steele and reveal the fascinating answers!
Riddles about Mount Steele’s Geography
Riddle 1
I stand tall and proud, the highest peak around. My icy exterior glitters white, the valleys green abound. What am I?
Answer: Mount Steele
Riddle 2
I border two countries, one to the south and one to the west. I lie within a national park filled with glaciers as my crest. What mountain am I?
Answer: Mount Steele borders Alaska to the west and lies within Kluane National Park in Yukon.
Riddle 3
I’m found up north, close to sixty degrees of latitude. Glaciers surround me, even in summer I stay frigid. What’s my name and location?
Answer: Mount Steele is located at around 61° north latitude in the Yukon territory of Canada.
Riddles about Mount Steele’s History
Riddle 4
Prospectors traveled my valleys during fevered times. The year of my first summit came shortly after these mines. What decade was I first climbed?
Answer: Mount Steele was first successfully climbed in 1928, shortly after the Klondike Gold Rush (1896-1899).
Riddle 5
I’m named for a controversial figure from Canada’s past. He led his people but caused turmoil that did not last. Who am I named after?
Answer: Mount Steele is named after Sam Steele, a controversial Canadian officer who played a major role in the Klondike Gold Rush.
Riddle 6
Two men led the expedition that first brought fame to my height. Their last names were Walsh and Weed – now can you guess right?
Answer: Mount Steele was first successfully climbed in 1928 by Albert H. Walsh and Allen Carpe.
Riddles about Mount Steele’s Climate
Riddle 7
The average highs here in summer may surprise you a ton. Even in July and August they may not reach past this number:
Answer: The average July high temperature on Mount Steele is around 10°C or 50°F despite being located far north.
Riddle 8
My winters are frigid, cold beyond belief. January averages can drop to this many degrees beneath freezing:
Answer: January average temperatures on Mount Steele can be as low as -40°C/-40°F.
Riddle 9
I’m quite arid, with barely any rain each year. My total annual precipitation is only this many centimeters here:
Answer: Mount Steele receives around 50 cm (20 inches) of precipitation yearly.
Riddles about Mount Steele’s Landscape
Riddle 10
My imposing massif contains many peaks in between. How many named summits are found in my range total?
Answer: The Mount Steele massif contains around 9 major named summits.
Riddle 11
Two large glaciers flow down from my icy heights. What are these rivers of ice called?
Answer: The two main glaciers flowing from Mount Steele are the Hubley and Lowell Glaciers.
Riddle 12
My lowest point lies deep in a valley between the peaks. This basin drops to meters below, can you guess how deep?
Answer: The lowest point in the Mount Steele massif is Simon Basin at around 1,650 meters or 5,400 feet.
Riddles about Mount Steele’s Geology
Riddle 13
I’m quite ancient, my rocks formed long ago. In which geologic era did my granite towers grow?
Answer: Mount Steele formed during the Jurassic era around 150 to 200 million years ago.
Riddle 14
Glaciers carved my valley over thousands of years. When did this glaciation period peak in the north hemispheres?
Answer: The valleys around Mount Steele were carved by glaciers during the last glacial maximum around 20,000 years ago.
Riddle 15
My summit reaches high into the sky. About how many vertical feet do I rise on high?
Answer: Mount Steele rises 19,559 feet (5,965 meters) above sea level.
Riddles about Mount Steele’s Wildlife
Riddle 16
Bighorn sheep ramble over my rocky terrain. Up to how many dozens in a herd can you count if you’re maintaining?
Answer: Bighorn sheep at Mount Steele travel in herds up to 50-60 animals.
Riddle 17
Marmots and pikas live on my mountain face. Wolverines and foxes also roam this lonely place. Name another mammal found in my lands.
Answer: Other mammals found around Mount Steele include grizzly bears, black bears, mountain goats, moose, caribou, and gray wolves.
Riddle 18
A bird of prey soars over the valleys hunting marmots down below. This raptor has a name starting with the letter “G” – do you know?
Answer: Golden eagles are frequently seen hunting around Mount Steele.
Riddles about Climbing Mount Steele
Riddle 19
The normal route up takes climbers two to three of these lengths of time. Is it days, weeks or months you’ll estimate?
Answer: The standard route up Mount Steele takes experienced climbers around 2-3 days.
Riddle 20
We travel up glaciers to reach the main ridgeline. What’s the name of the glacier we climb at the outset?
Answer: Climbers ascend the Hubley Glacier to reach the upper slopes and ridgeline of Mount Steele.
Riddle 21
Crevasses and icefalls make our route ever-dangerous. What climbing skill helps keep our team anchored?
Answer: Rope skills like crevasse rescue are essential for safe travel on the glaciated route up Mount Steele.
Riddles about Mount Steele’s Hazards
Riddle 22
My biggest danger comes from snow sliding down the slopes. What’s the technical term for these avalanches?
Answer: The main hazard on Mount Steele comes from frequent sloughing of slab avalanches down its steep slopes.
Riddle 23
Weather changes fast here, bringing perilous conditions. Whiteouts, blizzards and storms give little prediction.
Answer: Rapidly changing and severe weather brings hazards like whiteouts and blizzards on Mount Steele.
Riddle 24
On my heights, frigid temperatures also bring danger. What condition can climbers get from exposed skin?
Answer: The extreme cold brings danger of frostbite on exposed skin.
Riddles about Mount Steele’s First Ascent
Riddle 25
We made an impressive first ascent decades ago. Can you name one of our pioneering pair who climbed up through ice and snow?
Answer: Albert H. Walsh and Allen Carpe made the first ascent of Mount Steele in 1928.
Riddle 26
It took perseverance to claim my unclimbed crown. How many attempts did it take our team to reach the summit renown?
Answer: It took Walsh and Carpe 3 attempts over 2 months before finally summiting Mount Steele in 1928.
Riddle 27
From this camp did we launch our final summit bout. Can you name it?
Answer: Walsh and Carpe launched their successful summit bid from Camp Ridgely at the foot of the Hubley Glacier.
Riddles about Mount Steele’s Native History
Riddle 28
My Kluane parklands have been home for many ages. What native peoples hunted caribou cross my mountain ranges?
Answer: The Kluane region was traditionally inhabited by First Nations like the Tutchone and Northern Tutchone.
Riddle 29
These natives lived off the land, they were one with the earth. Name one food they gathered here since the time of their birth.
Answer: Native peoples traditionally gathered foods like berries, moose, caribou, fish and mountain sheep around Mount Steele.
Riddle 30
The infamous trail of this gold-crazed horde cut near my base. Do you know the name that history gave to this Klondike race?
Answer: The Klondike Gold Rush brought prospectors over the Chilkoot Trail near Mount Steele.
Riddles about Mount Steele’s Rocks and Minerals
Riddle 31
Prospectors searched my valleys for minerals valuable and rare. Name one precious metal they hoped to find there.
Answer: Prospectors searched for gold and silver in the valleys around Mount Steele.
Riddle 32
I’m made of granite that formed deep underground. It’s speckled with glittery minerals all around. Name one that gives my granite sparkle and shine.
Answer: Mount Steele granite contains sparkly minerals like mica, quartz and hornblende.
Riddle 33
Flowing ice helps break me down over time. What’s the term for the rubble and fragments left behind?
Answer: Glacial erosion creates moraine debris fields around Mount Steele.
Riddles about Mount Steele’s Height Records
Riddle 34
I’m the highest peak of the Yukon grand. By how many meters do I best my subordinates in this land?
Answer: At 5,965 meters (19,559 ft), Mount Steele is nearly 500 meters higher than the next Yukon peak.
Riddle 35
Though tall, many peaks exceed my height. I rank this number in Canada by total vertical might:
Answer: Mount Steele is the 5th highest peak in Canada.
Riddle 36
Only four Canadian peaks rise higher than my crown. Can you name the very tallest one?
Answer: Mount Logan at 5,959 meters (19,551 ft) is the tallest mountain in Canada.
Riddles about Climbing Routes on Mount Steele
Riddle 37
Most climb my main route, but others exist indeed. Name one alternate route up my towering lead.
Answer: Other routes up Mount Steele include the South Ridge and Southwest Ridge.
Riddle 38
This route takes a ridge straight up my eastern side. Can you name it?
Answer: The East Ridge Route ascends the eastern ridge of Mount Steele.
Riddle 39
I’m one of the great north faces climbers aspire to scale. Which Canadian peak shares my notoriety for its daunting north face trail?
Answer: Mount Logan also has a famously challenging North Face route, like Mount Steele.
Riddles about Mount Steele’s Glaciers
Riddle 40
My melting glaciers have been shrinking over time. About what percent of my glacial ice has been lost since peaks about a century ago?
Answer: Glaciers on Mount Steele have shrunk by around 50% over the past century.
Riddle 41
My receding glaciers reveal landscapes hidden for ages. What term describes the newly exposed land they covered in previous stages?
Answer: The newly exposed terrain revealed by shrinking glaciers is called “nunatak”.
Riddle 42
As glacial meltwater flows down it cuts these features deep. Are they arêtes, horns or cirques, down steep?
Answer: Glacial meltwater carves jagged horns and sharp arêtes into the mountainsides.
Riddles about Mount Steele’s Summit Views
Riddle 43
On a clear day I offer views for a hundred miles. What great peak can be glimpsed to the distant west from my high vantage point and smiles?
Answer: From the summit of Mount Steele, Mount Saint Elias can be seen 100 miles to the southwest.
Riddle 44
My height unveils a landscape of ice and stone. Name two other giants visible from my summit zone.
Answer: Other giants visible from the top of Mount Steele include Mount Lucania, Mount Wood, Mount Walsh, Mount Hubbard and Mount Vancouver.
Riddle 45
Though I’m the tallest Yukon peak, one tops me by feet alone. What’s the name of this slightly taller, neighboring mountain throne?
Answer: Though the tallest Yukon peak, Mount Steele is slightly exceeded in height by just over 100 feet by its neighbor Mount Wood at 16,015 feet (4,879 m).
Conclusion
Riddle 46
I hope these riddles have helped illuminate the many secrets of Mount Steele today. This legendary peak surely has more tales left to tell – what do you say?
Answer: Mount Steele holds endless mysteries waiting to be explored – its native history, geology, wildlife and climbing routes each tell a fascinating story about this Yukon giant.
