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Sulphur Mountain (Alberta)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see Sulphur Mountain (disambiguation).

Sulphur Mountain

Highest point
Elevation	2,451 m (8,041 ft) ^[1]
Prominence	670 m (2,200 ft) ^[2]
Coordinates	51°07′25″N 115°33′20″W
Geography
Location	Alberta, Canada
Parent range	South Banff Range, Canadian Rockies
Topo map	NTS 82O/04
Climbing
Easiest route	Scramble Gondola/Hike for Sanson's Peak (2,256 m or 7,402 ft)

Sulphur Mountain is a mountain in Banff National Parkin the Canadian Rocky Mountains overlooking the town of Banff, Alberta, Canada.

The mountain was named in 1916 for the hot springs on its lower slopes.^[1] George Dawson had referred to this landform as Terrace Mountain on his 1886 map of the area. Sanson's Peak was named in 1948 for Norman Bethune Sanson who diligently attended the observatory recording equipment atop Sulphur Mountain for nearly 30 years.^[3]

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Recreation[edit]

Banff and Tunnel Mountain seen from Sulphur Mountain (Sanson's Peak)

Two hot springs have been commercially developed. The lowest is theCave and Basin National Historic Site and the highest is the Banff Upper Hot Springs.

A gondola on the eastern slope goes to the summit ridge which has an upper terminal containing two restaurants, a gift shop, and multiple observation decks. The summit ridge provides views both westward up and east down the Bow Valley. A boardwalk can be followed on the north side to the top of Sanson's Peak (2,256 m or 7,402 ft).

The true summit of Sulphur Mountain can be found on the southern side on a scrambler's route. For purists not wanting to claim a summit without the effort, a wide trail (an old road) can be followed from theBanff Hot Springs parking lot to the upper gondola terminal. Purists should note that the gondola ride down is no longer free in the summer. There is also a 5.5 km switchback trail on the eastern slope that leads to the eastern summit.

The view from the summit of Sulphur Mountain

Scientific importance[edit]

Meteorological observatory building

The mountain has been the site of two research facilities. In 1903, a meteorological observatory building was completed atop Sanson Peak. This building still exists and visitors can look through a window to see its interior complete with rustic furnishings. In the winter of 1956-57, the National Research Council built a small laboratory on Sanson's Peak in order to study cosmic rays as part of Canada's contribution to the International Geophysical Year (IGY). TheSulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station remained in operation until 1978 and the building was removed in 1981. A plaque now marks the site's location.^[3]

The hot springs at the base of Sulphur Mountain are home to the endangered Banff Springs snail and the now-extinct Banff longnose dace.