Chugach Mountains

Chugach Mountains
View of the Chugach Mountains from the Glenn Highway, north of Anchorage
Highest point
Peak	Mount Marcus Baker
Elevation	13,094 ft (3,991 m)
Coordinates	61°26′14″N 147°45′10″W
Dimensions
Length	300 mi (480 km) E–W
Geography
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Range coordinates	61°10′N 145°20′W
Parent range	Pacific Coast Ranges

A peak in the Chugach Mountains

The Chugach Mountains in southcentral Alaska are the farthest north of the mountain ranges that make up the Pacific Coast Ranges of western North America. The range is about 310 miles (500 kilometers) long. Its highest point is Mount Marcus Baker, at 13,176 feet (4,016 meters), but most of its summits are not very high. Because of the wet weather on the coast, these mountains get a lot of snow.

There are several parks in and around the mountains, like Chugach State Park the Chugach National Forest, and the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. They are popular destinations for outdoor activities. The World Extreme Skiing Championship is held yearly in the Chugach near Valdez.

Three highways run through the Chugach Mountains. There is also a tunnel from Portage that lets cars and trains go under the mountains to Whittier.

The name "Chugach" is from the Eskimo tribal name Chugachmiut recorded by the Russians and written by them "Chugatz" and "Tchougatskoi"; in 1898 U.S. Army Captain W. R. Abercrombie spelled the name "Chugatch" and applied it to the mountains.

Mountains

Some of the taller mountains in this range are:

• Mount Marcus Baker: 13,176 feet (4,016 meters)
• Mount Thor: 12,251 feet (3,734 meters)
• Mount Steller: 10,617 feet (3,236 meters)
• Mount Michelson: 8,701 feet (2,652 meters)
• Mount Palmer: 6,940 feet (2,115 meters)
• Flattop Mountain: 3,510 feet (1,070 meters)
• Eagle Peak: 6,955 feet (2,120 meters)
• Polar Bear Peak: 6,614 feet (2,016 meters)