Mount Cayley

mountain in British Columbia, Canada

Mount Cayley is an eroded stratovolcano. It is 11 km southeast of Callaghan Lake and 24 west of Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. It is part of the Garibaldi Volcanic Belt which is a segment of the Cascade Volcanic Arc.

Mount Cayley
Mount Cayley as seen from its southeast slopes
Highest point
Elevation2,377 m (7,799 ft)
Prominence674 m (2,211 ft)
ListingList of volcanoes in Canada
List of Cascade volcanoes
Coordinates50°07′13″N 123°17′26″W / 50.12028°N 123.29056°W / 50.12028; -123.29056
Geography
LocationSquamish River, British Columbia, Canada
Parent rangePacific Ranges
Topo mapNTS 92J/03
Geology
Age of rockPleistocene
Mountain typeStratovolcano
(potentially active)
Volcanic arc/beltCanadian Cascade Arc
Garibaldi Volcanic Belt
Last eruptionPleistocene
Climbing
First ascent1928 by E.C. Brooks, W.G. Wheatley, B.Clegg, R.E. Knight, and Tom Fyles[1]
Easiest routerock/ice climb

A scenario of an eruption of Mount Cayley shows how western Canada is vulnerable to an eruption. The scenario is based on past activity in the Garibaldi Volcanic Belt and involves both effusive and explosive eruptions. The scenario impact is largely a result of the concentration of vulnerable infrastructure in valleys.

In 2003, Catherine Hickson, a scientist with the Geological Survey of Canada, was one of the three scientists to report on the hypothetical eruption at Mount Cayley. The first signs of activity at the volcano would probably be enlarged seismic activity in and close to the mountain. Flooding would turn out to be a huge issue for the community of Squamish and could eventually overrun parts of Highway 99.[2]

The Mount Cayley volcanic field is named after Mount Cayley.

References

change
  1. "Mount Cayley". BC Geographical Names. Retrieved 2015-03-07.
  2. "Volcanology in the Geological Survey of Canada". Geological Survey of Canada. Archived from the original on 2006-10-08. Retrieved 2015-03-07.