Mount Nelson (British Columbia)


Mount Nelson is a prominent mountain summit located in the Purcell Mountains of southeast British Columbia, Canada. It is situated on the west side of Rocky Mountain Trench, west of Invermere, and west of Panorama Mountain Resort. Sitting atop the peak is a 5 foot tall aluminum cross that marks the summit and acts as a storage unit for the summit register. It was built and erected in 1986 by the Kloos family out of Invermere, BC.

History

The mountain was named in 1807 by David Thompson after Lord Admiral Nelson to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar. The mountain's name was officially adopted March 31, 1924, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada. The first ascent of the peak was made in September 1910 by C. D. Ellis via the south ridge.

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Nelson is located in a subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers. Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. Precipitation runoff from Mount Nelson drains into tributaries of the Columbia River.

Climbing Routes

Established climbing routes on Mt. Nelson: