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Fake Peak

Fake Peak, seen from above at true elevation

Fake Peak rises to 1,627 m in Alaska. Denali stands 6,190 m to the northwest, 19 miles off. The nearest named place is Mount Glisen, a peak 0.6 miles away. The George Parks Highway Scenic Byway passes 16 miles off.

The story

Fake Peak is a small outcrop on a ridge beside the Ruth Glacier in Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska, US, 19 miles southeast of the summit of Denali. It has been shown by Robert M. Bryce that the "summit photograph" produced by Frederick Cook as evidence supporting his claim to have made the first ascent of Denali was taken on Fake Peak. At 5,338 feet (1,627 m), this is almost 15,000 feet (4,600 m) lower than the true summit of Denali.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Wikidata Q383915, referenced by the OpenStreetMap record.

What the record says

Elevation
1627 m

How to reach it

Coordinates62.90500, -150.50611

Overlooks nearby

Named places within 25 miles

Peaks
  • Mount Glisen: 0.6 mi
  • Mount Mazama: 0.6 mi
  • Mount Lee: 1.0 mi
  • Rock Peak: 1.6 mi
  • Mount Sholes: 1.6 mi
Attractions: 3
  • Ruth Glacier Landing: 9.0 mi
  • Upper Troublesomel Creek: 20.9 mi
  • Denali South Viewpoint: 23.2 mi
Historic sites: 1
Nature reserves: 1

Other summits around it

The highest named summits within 23.7 miles of Fake Peak. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.

SummitBearingElevationDistance
DenaliNW 306°6,190 m19.4 mi
North PeakNW 310°5,913 m20.6 mi
Archdeacons TowerNW 306°5,911 m19.9 mi
Mount HunterW 280°4,442 m18.8 mi
Mount StevensW 274°4,233 m17.7 mi
Kahiltna PeaksWNW 295°4,063 m20.1 mi
Mount SilverthroneNNW 340°4,014 m15.5 mi
Mount CarpeNNW 327°3,826 m20.4 mi

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox08:0319:1720:17
June solstice03:5722:3100:12
September equinox07:4719:0420:05
December solstice10:38—15:24

Local time (America/Anchorage).

Climate normals

Months averaging 50–80 °F: Jun–Jul.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °F101417294151545040271612
Precip in1.91.71.41.11.41.93.25.55.42.82.92.5

1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Chulitna RVR, 20 mi away.

Inside the official boundary of Denali National Park. Quietest months by visitation: Jan and Nov; busiest: Aug.

NPS visitation statistics, monthly averages 2021–2025 (2020 excluded).

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

OpenStreetMapWikidata

OpenStreetMap element node/4563145264

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