Overview
Mount Iliamna. At 10,016 feet, it is the second tallest mountain in both the Chigmit Mountains and the Aleutian Range. Mount Iliamna is a stratovolcano, and has had major eruptions in the past. Climbing the peak is a major undertaking, and requires a great deal of mountaineering experience.
The Aleutian Range is a large mountain range in southwestern Alaska, stretching from the Cook Inlet to the end of the Aleutian Islands. It is part of the larger Aleutian Arc, which stretches all the way from Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula to the Gulf of Alaska. Much of the range is volcanic, due to its proximity to the subduction zone of the Pacific tectonic plate beneath the North American plate.
Kasatochi volcano erupting. It is one many volcanos in the Aleutian Islands.
Map of the Aleutian Range. The range stretches for over a thousand miles in total length.
The Aleutian Range contains many active volcanos, some of which have had recent eruptions. Over the last two hundred years, over three quarters of the volcanic eruptions in the United States have occured in Alaska and the Aleutian Range.
One of the most active volcanos in the range is Mount Redoubt. Eruptions from this volcano can produce enormous volumes of smoke and ash. Some eruptions are so massive that they disrupt air traffic and deposite ash as far away as Anchorage and beyond. In 1989, an ash cloud from Mount Redoubt caused a jet flying northeast of Anchorage to loose power and nearly crash.
Augustine Volcano erupting. Mount Augustine is located on a small island of the coast of the Alaska Peninsula.
Mt Redoubt-10,197 feet tall. It is the highest point in both the Chigmit Mountains and the Aleutian Range
The tallest peak in the range is Mount Redoubt at 10,197 feet tall. It is an active stratovolcano covered in glaciers. Despite its modest elevation, climbing Mount Redoubt is a major endeavor, and is not to be taken lightly. The peak is extremely remote, and if you run into trouble rescue may be days away. Due to Mount Redoubt's close proximity to the coast, severe weather is a common occurance.
The 6679 ft tall Mashuskin Volcano. The volcano is covered by many glaciers, and is a significant peak to climb despite its modest elevation.
A large glacier in the Aleutian Range. Glacier travel is required in order to climb many of the high peaks in the Aleutian range.
Vast swathes of the range are covered in ice. Many glaciers exist within the range, some of which are several miles long. Innumerable lakes in the region recieve most of their water from these glaciers, including Lake Iliamna(the largest lake in Alaska). Lake Iliamna and Lake Clark(located to the north of Lake Iliamna) are primary spawning locations for large poplulations of salmon. Salmon fishing is a cornerstone of life for many of the natives of the region.There are almost no roads in the range and much of it is only acessable by boat or plane. Many of the peaks are extremely remote, and require the services of a float or ski equipped bush plane in order to access them. This requires a chartered flight or boat ride from either Anchorage, or one of the villages that dot the region and range.
Many lakes exist within the Aleutian range. Most of the communities in the range are located near water
Flying into Kontrashibuna lake in the Chigmit mountains via floatplane.
The Aleutian Range has several sub-ranges:
The Volcanos of the Aleutian Islands:
The Volcanos of the Aleutian Islands:
Amagat Island, in the Aleutian Islands region of the Aleutian Range.
Shishaldin volcano, one of the most commonly climbed peaks in the Aleutian range. It is located on Unimak Island, in the Aleutian Island region of the Aleutian Range.
The Volcanos and Mountains of the Alaska Peninsula:
Mount Douglas, and Fourpeaked, volcanoes located in Katmai National Park. Douglas is dormant at the moment, but there have been eruptions from Fourpeaked as recently as 2006.
Mount Katmai, a volcano in Katmai National Park-The park is located in the Alaska Peninsula section of the Aleutian range.
The Chigmit Mountains:
Mount Iliamna as seen from Kachemak Bay near Homer, Alaska.
Gladiator Basin, deep in the Chigmit mountains. The Chigmit mountains are located in Lake Clark National Park in the northern section of the Aleutian range.
The soaring peaks of the Neacola Mountains. Mount Neacola, the tallest peak in the Neacola Range is on the right.
Mount Neacola-9426 ft. The tallest peak in the Neacola Mountains of the Aleutian Range. These mountains are very rugged and remote, and were home to Dick Prennokee. He was a famous local who lived off the land, in a small cabin deep in the Neacola mountains. The Neacola mountains are located in and around Lake Clark National Park.
Getting There
Taking off from Anchorage on a flight to Port Allsworth, a town in the northern Aleutian range. Mount Foraker(left) and Denali(right) can be seen in the distance.
Flying into the Aleutian Range. Aircraft are all but required to access many peaks of the range.
While much of the range is relatively inaccessible, the Alaska Marine Highway (a ferry service) does provide access to peaks near a few of the communities on the Alaska Peninsula. These include the villages of Cold Bay, King Cove, and Chignik. Much of the Aluetian range can only be feasibly acessed by boat or plane(these are the only ways to reach the Aleutian Islands). Some of the peaks in the Aleutian Islands can be reached on foot from villages on the islands.
Horned Puffins on Amagat Island
The crater lake at the top of Mount Kasatochi. This photo was taken 8 months after a major eruption. Photographer: Jeff Williams. Image courtesy of the photographer and the USFWS.
Katmai National Park:
Many of the most commonly climbed peaks in the range are those in Katmai National Park. Katimai is located on the Alaska Peninsula, and thus is very remote. At trip to Katmai will take you deep into the heart of the Alaskan bush. From Anchorage, fly Penair to King Salmon, which is where the park headquarters are located. Katmai Air can take you to Brooks Camp, or any of the other lodges in the area. If water levels are high enough, you can take a boat from King Salmon to Brooks Camp. The peaks in the Barrier Range and the Kejulik Mountains can be acessed from Katmai as well.
Many of the most commonly climbed peaks in the range are those in Katmai National Park. Katimai is located on the Alaska Peninsula, and thus is very remote. At trip to Katmai will take you deep into the heart of the Alaskan bush. From Anchorage, fly Penair to King Salmon, which is where the park headquarters are located. Katmai Air can take you to Brooks Camp, or any of the other lodges in the area. If water levels are high enough, you can take a boat from King Salmon to Brooks Camp. The peaks in the Barrier Range and the Kejulik Mountains can be acessed from Katmai as well.
View to the north, May 2011. Mountains of the Aleutian Peninsula can be seen in the background. © J. Fox 2011.
A floatplane in Katmai National Park. Due to its remote location, Katmai can only be reached by boat or plane.
Lake Clark National Park:
Lake Clark National Park, AK.
Mount Redoubt(right) and Mount Iliamna(left) both practically require aircraft in order reach them. They are the two tallest peaks in the Chigmit mountains and the northern Aleutian range.
The Chigmit and Neacola mountains lie(for the most part) within Lake Clark National Park. These mountains are very remote and almost necessitate air travel as a means of access. Alpine Air and Alaska West Air are two sources of air access to the major peaks, including both Mount Redoubt and Mount Iliamna. Mount Iliamna is visible from the town of Homer, on the Alaska peninsula. The volcano can be reached by a boat ride from Homer, followed by a long hike to the basecamp. This would require a good deal of logistics and planning, which is why most climbers choose to fly to Iliamna.
Mount Iliamma
Map showing the Volcanos of the Northern Aleutian Range. Several volcanos in this region of the Aleutian range are active.
Port Allsworth is a small village within Lake Clark National Park, and is also the park headquarters. From here both the Chigmit and Neacola mountain ranges can be accessed via a short hop in a float/ski-plane. Port Alsworth can only be reached by air, usually via a two hour flight from Anchorage. Make sure you bring all of your supplies on the flight in, as Port Alsworth has practically no places to buy food or gear.
View from the shore of Lake Kontrashibuna, which is a short hike from the "town" of Port Alsworth. The trail from Port Alsworth is one of the very few maintained trails in Lake Clark National Park.
The remote end of Lake Kontrashibuna, which is over thirteen miles long and hundreds of feet deep in places. A canoe or floatplane must be used to get to the end of Lake Kontrashibuna. Gladiator Basin(one of the most spectacular places in the Chigmit mountains and Lake Clark NP) can be reached from here.
Further Information
The Alaska Volcano Observatory website: www.avo.alaska.edu/. This website contains up to date information and photos relating to the major volcanos of the Aleutian Range. Visiting this site is a must for anyone who intends to climb one of the active volcanos in the range(such as Mount Redoubt). The USGS has observation equipment stationed on the active volcanos, and they regularly post recent volcanic activity to the website.
Mount Redoubt
