Mount Sinclair is located nine kilometres (5.6 mi) north of Radium Hot Springs in Kootenay National Park. The peak is the third-highest point of the Stanford Range which is a subrange of the Canadian Rockies.[1][2] Precipitation runoff from this mountain's east slope drains to the Kootenay River, whereas the west slope drains to the Columbia River via Sinclair Creek. Topographic relief is significant with the summit rising over 1,400 metres (4,593 ft) above Sinclair Creek in four kilometres (2.5 mi). The nearest higher peak is Mount Kindersley 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) to the north-northwest.[2] Mount Sinclair is named after James Sinclair (1811–1856), a trader and explorer with the Hudson's Bay Company.[5] In 1841, Sinclair travelled through nearby Sinclair Pass while leading an expedition consisting of 121 people from 23 Métis families from Red River Colony.[6] The mountain's toponym was officially adopted on March 31, 1924, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.[4]
Climate
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Sinclair is located in a subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.[7] Winter temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C.
