Fairweather Range

The Fairweather Range is a remote, rugged mountain range in the Alaska Panhandle near the border with British Columbia. It contains high, glaciated peaks and dramatic coastal relief, with its highest point, Mount Fairweather, reaching 4,671 metres (15,325 feet).

The range is characterized by extensive glaciers, steep fjords and a narrow coastal strip that drops quickly into the Pacific. Outdoor activities in the area are primarily mountaineering, glacier travel and wilderness exploration, all of which require careful planning due to remoteness and challenging weather.

The mountains were formed as part of the tectonic uplift and glacial sculpting that shaped the North American Pacific coast, and their glaciers have carved deep valleys and fjords. Over the 19th and 20th centuries the area has been explored by mountaineers and surveyed for mapping and scientific study.

Geographically the Fairweather Range runs along the Gulf of Alaska and the Alaska-British Columbia boundary, south-west of the interior of Alaska and north of the Pacific. The nearest settlements are small coastal communities; larger regional centres are hundreds of kilometres away, so approaches are typically via coastal vessels or charter aircraft.

• Highest peak: Mount Fairweather, the range's highest peak, rises to 4,671 metres (15,325 feet) and sits on the Alaska-British Columbia border.
• Access: The range is heavily glaciated with steep coastal relief; access is remote and typically requires boat or aircraft for approach to most valleys and glaciers.