Hiking in the mountains is guaranteed a new outlook on life. It’s fresh breath, hope and inspiration. It is a reassessment of values and a focus on the important. This is good for all aspects of health and character formation. Today, let us recall the most important, beautiful and famous mountain peaks of the States. And who knows how many of them you once decide to conquer.
Sierra Nevada
Image credit: egorshitikov
“Snow-covered mountains” (in Spanish) pass almost through the entire eastern part of California. Sierra Nevada is a mountain system occupying 466mi 50yd of the coast. The rivers that flow from here one day become part of the Pacific Ocean. One of the most popular local reservoirs is Lake Tahoe. There are canyons with beautiful landscapes (Kern Canyon and Kings Canyon), and the majestic grove of sequoia denroona with the most massive trees in the world. The eastern slope is dotted with pine, juniper forests, and alpine meadows.
Yosemite National Park is also here! But the main local queen is Mount Whitney. This is the highest point of the Sierra Nevada range.
Denali
Image credit: skeeze
This two-headed mountain settled in the south of the central part of Alaska. She proudly wears the title of the highest mountain of North America. The location of Denali is the National Park of the same name.
Until 2015, the mountain was called as McKinley, in honor of the 25th US president. And today’s name from the language of the Athabaski Indian is translated as “great.” Which is not easy – the height of Denali is 3mi 1.5e.
Before us is a huge granite block, which began to move out of the earth’s surface 60 million years ago. The reason is tectonic activity. The top of Denali is always covered with snowflakes – it is a source of food for local glaciers.
How about climbing such a monster? In 1906, individuals emerged who claimed that the mountain had submitted to them. But after a few years, the surface surfaced data on the falsification of materials – the photos were faked. Years passed, and Denali found her true heroes. For example, on June 7, 1913, Hadsan Stuck managed to get to the top. And in 1932 the first victims appeared – they were two brave men. Today, the number of such climbers already exceeds a hundred. Only 58% reach the end.
The fastest climb to Denali is 11 hours and 40 minutes. Such a record in 2014 was established by Catalan Kilian Burgada.
Foracre
Image credit: 12019
Mount Foraker is part of the Alaska Range and is located on the territory of the Denali National Park that we have already mentioned. For the first time the mountain was conquered in 1934 by mountain climbers.
Previously, many did not distinguish Mount Foracor and Denali. But the Indians, who came later, clearly understood that there is something. They called the mountains of Sultan (in translation – “Woman”) and Menlale (“Denali’s wife”).
Mitchell
In North Carolina, the famous peak is Mount Mitchell – the highest point in the Appalachians. With the sea, the mountain is divided by 1mi 4.7e. And it was named after Professor Elisha Mitchell. He for many years explored the area, and died here, falling into a waterfall. They buried the drowned Mitchell, too, on the local mountain open spaces.
From the vegetation here is popular red fir and Fraser spruce – this is the most beautiful sight to watch first hand. Moreover, the climate is favorable: in summer the temperature is mild, winters are moderately cold.
St. Helens
Image credit: WikiImages
In our list there is a place and stratovolcano. In addition, the acting. So we do not agitate to go up to St. Helens, we just pay attention to the special creation of nature. At 52mi from Seattle, in the vastness of Washington, this dangerous miracle is located. During the eruption in 1980, 57 people died here. And the volcano itself in the process decreased by 1,300 feet.
The phenomenon of a terrible beauty was photographed to photographer Robert Landsburg. The photos are preserved, but the author died at the scene. Artists could not ignore the beauty of St. Helens. So, despite the danger, in the crater of the volcano they shot one of the scenes for the movie Dante Peak (1997).
Elbert
Image credit: Wiki
This mountain, the ascent to which is quite real, is located in the state of Colorado. The highest peak of the Rocky Mountains can boast a growth of 2mi 1.3e.
There are several routes to it. Most often, climbers choose to start a trek from the east, from the Colorado trail. But if you are not looking for easy ways, the most difficult here is the Black Cloud Trail. In the latter case, save 10-15 hours of time on the way.
Mount Ilya
Mount Saint Elias is considered the property of both Canada and the United States. Because it is located on the border of Alaska and the Territory of the Yukon. Its height above sea level is 3mi 7.2e, which raises the mountain to second place among the tops of Canada.
The first legs set foot here in July 1897, and the second ascent was recorded only in 1946. The part that is located on the territory of America, is part of the national park of Rangel-St-Elias, the largest national park in the United States, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Parks and Reserves of Clouayne, Rangel-St-Elias, Glacier Bay and Tatshensini-Alsek.”
Cadillac Mountain
Image credit: skeeze
We finish the hit parade with such a small, but compulsory to visit a mountain peak like the Cadillac Mountain. Its height is only 470 m above sea level, and the mountain is located on the outskirts of the Mount Desert Island.
Earlier, Cadillac was called the Green Mountain, and its today’s name was received in honor of the French traveler and researcher, governor of New France Antoine Lome de Lamota de Cadillac. You need to go here in clear weather to be able to enjoy the view of the highest point of Maine – Katadin and on the coast of Nova Scotia.
Here you can first see the dawn, if in autumn or winter, when you want to sleep longer, still sacrifice your comfort, and climb to the summit at the right time. In gift – the virgin beauty of nature, pure waking up sky, coniferous forests, giving clean air.