Gunsight Mountain, Mountain summit in Glacier National Park, Montana, United States
Gunsight Mountain is a summit in the Lewis Range within Glacier National Park that rises to about 9,260 feet with two distinctive peaks. The northeast face is covered by Sperry Glacier, which is a defining feature of the mountain's appearance.
The first recorded ascent took place in 1905 when mountaineer Lyman Sperry reached the summit, establishing its importance in the park's climbing history. Following this achievement, the mountain gained recognition among climbers and attracted future expeditions.
The mountain was named by George Bird Grinnell in 1891 because its two peaks resembled a gun sight when viewed from certain vantage points. This naming shows how early explorers connected unfamiliar landscapes to objects from their everyday experience.
The route begins at the Sperry Chalet Trailhead near Lake McDonald Lodge and passes through challenging terrain with significant elevation changes. Visitors should expect a strenuous climb and should have good physical fitness and mountaineering experience before attempting the ascent.
The mountain displays rock layers from different geological periods that were pushed upward through ancient tectonic movement. These visible formations reveal the dramatic geological history compressed into the mountainside.
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