Selkirk Mountains

Selkirk Mountains
Range
Countries	Canada, United States
Provinces/States	British Columbia, Idaho, Washington
Part of	Columbia Mountains
Borders on	Monashee Mountains, Purcell Mountains, Cariboo Mountains
Highest point	Mount Sir Sandford
- elevation	3,519 m (11,545 ft)
- coordinates	51°39′24″N 117°52′03″W / 51.65667°N 117.8675°W / 51.65667; -117.8675
Length	525 km (326 mi), NS
Width	175 km (109 mi), EW
Geology	Metamorphic rock
Period	Mesozoic
Location map of the Selkirk Mountains

Off piste skiing at the Revelstoke Mountain Resort in the Selkirks.

The Selkirk Mountains are a mountain range spanning the northern portion of the Idaho Panhandle, eastern Washington, and southeastern British Columbia. They begin at Mica Peak near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and extend approximately 320 km north (200 miles) from the border. The range is bounded on its west, northeast and at its northern extremity by the Columbia River. From the Columbia's confluence with the Beaver River, they are bounded on their east by the Purcell Trench, which contains the Beaver River, Duncan River, Duncan Lake, Kootenay Lake and the Kootenay River. The Selkirks are distinct from, and geologically older than, the Rocky Mountains. Together with the neighbouring Monashee and Purcell Mountains, and sometimes including the Cariboo Mountains to the northwest, the Selkirks are part of a larger grouping known as the Columbia Mountains.

The Selkirks were named after Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk.

History

During the development of Western Canada, the Selkirks presented a formidable barrier to the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, until A.B. Rogers discovered the mountain pass that bears his name in 1881–1882. As a result of the railway's construction via that route, Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks (Canada) in the heart of the Selkirks were among the first national parks created in Canada, along with Yoho, and Banff National Parks. Until the completion of the Trans-Canada Highway via the Rogers Pass, automotive traffic between most of British Columbia and the rest of Canada necessarily was forced to follow the path of the Columbia River via its Big Bend, around the north end of the Selkirks.

Sub-ranges

• Asulkan Range
• Battle Range
• Big Bend Ranges
  • Adamant Range
  • Sir Sandford Range
  • Windy Range
• Bishops Range
• Bonnington Range
• Clachnacudainn Range
• Dawson Range
• Duncan Ranges
  • Badshot Range
• Goat Range
• Hermit Range
• Kokanee Range
• Lardeau Range
• Nelson Range
• Purity Range
• Sir Donald Range
• Valhalla Ranges
  • Ruby Range
• Valkyr Range
  • Norns Range

Fauna

The southern end of these mountains are home to the only extant woodland caribou population in the contiguous United States.^[1] This area, some of it protected in Washington's Salmo-Priest Wilderness, is also home to mule deer and white-tailed deer, elk, black bears, cougars, bobcats, red fox, bald eagles, golden eagles, osprey, blue heron, porcupine, badgers, coyote, pine martens, bighorn sheep, and moose. Although rarely seen, grizzly bears and gray wolves are also known to roam through this region.^[2]

Visiting

The Selkirks may be experienced by foot, horseback, ski, and in several areas by snowmobile. Major ski resorts are located in Sandpoint, Idaho at Schweitzer Mountain and Revelstoke Mountain Resort in Revelstoke, B.C., among other resorts in the area. The easiest way to see the range by car is via the "International Selkirk Loop" through Washington, the Idaho panhandle, and British Columbia.

External links

• http://www.selkirkloop.org/

References

Coordinates: 49°47′N 117°30′W / 49.78°N 117.5°W / 49.78; -117.5