Tordrillo Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Tordrillo Mountains are a small mountain range in the Matanuska-Susitna
and Kenai Peninsula
Boroughs in the southcentral region of the U.S. state
of Alaska
. They lie approximately 75 miles (120 km) west-northwest of Anchorage
. The range extends approximately 60 miles (97 km) north-south and 35 miles (56 km) east-west.
The highest point is Mount Torbert
(11,413 feet/3,479 m). On a clear day, they are easily visible from Anchorage.
The Tordrillos are bordered on the south by the Chigmit Mountains
, the northernmost extension of the Aleutian Range
. (The Tordrillos are sometimes counted as part of the Aleutian Range, but this is not official usage.) On the west and north they meet the southern tip of the Alaska Range
, while on the east they fade into the hills and lowlands of southcentral Alaska. The north side of the range feeds the Skwentna River
, and the south drains into Chakachamna Lake and the Chakachatna River
.
The Tordrillos are primarily a volcanic range, like most of the neighboring Aleutian Range; however some of the peaks (for example, Mount Torbert) are not volcanoes. Mount Spurr
, the southernmost peak in the range, had its most recent eruption in June 1992. They are heavily glaciated, partly due to their location near Cook Inlet
. Major glaciers include the Capps Glacier, Triumvirate Glacier, Hayes Glacier, and Trimble Glacier.
Despite their proximity to Anchorage, the Tordrillos see little recreational or climbing activity. However Mount Spurr and nearby Crater Peak
are regularly visited and monitored by the Alaska Volcano Observatory
.
Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska
-National protected areas:* Chugach National Forest * Denali National Park and Preserve ** Denali Wilderness * Lake Clark National Park and Preserve ** Lake Clark Wilderness -Demographics:...
and Kenai Peninsula
Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska
-National protected areas:* Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge ** Chiswell Islands** Tuxedni Wilderness* Chugach National Forest * Katmai National Park and Preserve ** Katmai Wilderness...
Boroughs in the southcentral region of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. They lie approximately 75 miles (120 km) west-northwest of Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
. The range extends approximately 60 miles (97 km) north-south and 35 miles (56 km) east-west.
The highest point is Mount Torbert
Mount Torbert
Mount Torbert is the highest point of the Tordrillo Mountains, a small, primarily volcanic range, northwest of Anchorage, Alaska. It is a heavily glaciated peak, and is not itself a volcano, although nearby Mount Spurr and Crater Peak are active volcanoes....
(11,413 feet/3,479 m). On a clear day, they are easily visible from Anchorage.
The Tordrillos are bordered on the south by the Chigmit Mountains
Chigmit Mountains
The Chigmit Mountains are a subrange of the Aleutian Range in the Kenai Peninsula and Lake and Peninsula Boroughs of the U.S. state of Alaska.-Location:...
, the northernmost extension of the Aleutian Range
Aleutian Range
The Aleutian Range is a major mountain range of southwest Alaska, extending from Chakachamna Lake to Unimak Island, at the tip of the Alaska Peninsula. It includes all of the mountains of the Peninsula. It is especially notable for its large number of active volcanoes, which are also part of the...
. (The Tordrillos are sometimes counted as part of the Aleutian Range, but this is not official usage.) On the west and north they meet the southern tip of the Alaska Range
Alaska Range
The Alaska Range is a relatively narrow, 650-km-long mountain range in the southcentral region of the U.S. state of Alaska, from Lake Clark at its southwest end to the White River in Canada's Yukon Territory in the southeast...
, while on the east they fade into the hills and lowlands of southcentral Alaska. The north side of the range feeds the Skwentna River
Skwentna River
The Skwentna River is a river in the southwestern part of Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska.-History:Tanaina Indian name reported in 1898 by Spurr , USGS, as "Skwent River."-Watershed:...
, and the south drains into Chakachamna Lake and the Chakachatna River
Chakachatna River
The Chakachatna River is a river in northwestern Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska. It flows from Chakachamna Lake southeastward into the McArthur River, which flows into the Gompertz Channel of Cook Inlet....
.
The Tordrillos are primarily a volcanic range, like most of the neighboring Aleutian Range; however some of the peaks (for example, Mount Torbert) are not volcanoes. Mount Spurr
Mount Spurr
Mount Spurr is a stratovolcano in the Aleutian Volcanic Arc of Alaska, named after United States Geological Survey geologist and explorer Josiah Edward Spurr, who led an expedition to the area in 1898...
, the southernmost peak in the range, had its most recent eruption in June 1992. They are heavily glaciated, partly due to their location near Cook Inlet
Cook Inlet
Cook Inlet stretches from the Gulf of Alaska to Anchorage in south-central Alaska. Cook Inlet branches into the Knik Arm and Turnagain Arm at its northern end, almost surrounding Anchorage....
. Major glaciers include the Capps Glacier, Triumvirate Glacier, Hayes Glacier, and Trimble Glacier.
Despite their proximity to Anchorage, the Tordrillos see little recreational or climbing activity. However Mount Spurr and nearby Crater Peak
Crater Peak
Crater Peak may refer to one of the following:*One of eight mountain peaks in the United States:**Crater Peak **Crater Peak **Crater Peak - summit of the Grand Mesa**Crater Peak...
are regularly visited and monitored by the Alaska Volcano Observatory
Alaska Volcano Observatory
The Alaska Volcano Observatory is a joint program of the United States Geological Survey, the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys...
.
Named peaks of the Tordrillo Mountains
- Mount TorbertMount TorbertMount Torbert is the highest point of the Tordrillo Mountains, a small, primarily volcanic range, northwest of Anchorage, Alaska. It is a heavily glaciated peak, and is not itself a volcano, although nearby Mount Spurr and Crater Peak are active volcanoes....
(11,413 feet/3,479 m) - Mount Gerdine (11,258 feet/3,431 m)
- Mount SpurrMount SpurrMount Spurr is a stratovolcano in the Aleutian Volcanic Arc of Alaska, named after United States Geological Survey geologist and explorer Josiah Edward Spurr, who led an expedition to the area in 1898...
(11,070 feet/3,374 m) - Hayes VolcanoHayes VolcanoHayes Volcano is a stratovolcano in southwestern Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, 135 km northwest of Anchorage, that was not discovered until 1975. It is responsible for a series of six major tephra layers in the Cook Inlet region of Alaska...
(9,147 feet/2,788 m) - Crater PeakCrater PeakCrater Peak may refer to one of the following:*One of eight mountain peaks in the United States:**Crater Peak **Crater Peak **Crater Peak - summit of the Grand Mesa**Crater Peak...
(7,575 feet/2,309 m) (A subsidiary peak of Mount Spurr)