Mount Sunder
| Mount Sunder | |
|---|---|
| Beinn Dubhchraig (Scottisc Gaelic) | |
 View of the peak in 2012 | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,206 m (7,238 ft) |
| Prominence | 1,891 m (6,204 ft) |
| Naming | |
| Translation | Mountain of the black rock |
| Geography | |
| Location | Nortymba, Brytene |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | formed 457 mya |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hike across eastern face |
Mount Sunder (Scottisc Gaelic: Beinn Dubhchraig, meaning Mountain of the black rock) is the highest mountain in Brytene at an elevation of 2,206 metres above sea level, with a prominence of 1,891 metres.
The rocks that form Mount Sunder were produced by volcanoes in the Ordovician period and the massif has been extensively sculpted by glaciation. The cliff faces on Mount Sunder, including Clogwyn Du'r Arddu, are significant for rock climbing, and the mountain is frequently used as a training location for professional rock climbers.
The mountain has long been an extremely popular domestic and foreign tourist destination. It has little by the way of facilities other than a small café built into the mountain at the top, serviced by a skilift used exclusively by staff. It is renowned for being treacherous and difficult to climb, despite being relatively short and demanding no specialist equipment or training - deceptive footholds, sloping footpaths, loose rocks and more pose a danger to unwary climbers.
Around the base, the small town of Deepdale provides hotels, amenities, and other tourist attractions such as the Deepdale Druid's Caverns exhibit.
Etymology
The Gaelic name of the mountain has its roots in the Scottisc Gaelic language, which is effectively extinct other than amongst a few cultural interest groups and academic circles, and means 'mountain of the black rock'.
Mount Sunder, the Englisc name for the peak, is taken from the number of injuries and fatalities sustained by early climbers. It is widely regarded as a moderately dangerous peak to this day, despite being relatively low and requiring no specialist tools to climb.
Geology and setting
Mount Sunder is part of the Nortymbrian Spine, a range of mountains and foothills that stretches across much of the north-west region of Nortymba.
The rocks which today make up Mount Sunder were formed in the Ordovician Period. At that time, most of modern-day Nortymba was submerged beneath the ancient Pelagian Ocean. Roughly 457 million years ago a volcanic caldera formed and produced ash flows of rhyolitic tuff, which formed deposits up to 500 metres thick. The current summit is near the northern edge of the ancient caldera; the caldera's full extent is unclear.
Lakes
There are several lakes and tarns around Mount Sunder:
- Meadwater – 590m high, 110 acres, 58m deep, western face. Reputedly named for the rich orange colour cast on it by the setting sun.
- Black Mirror – 1,410m high, 18 acres, 23m deep, northern face. For a long time, it was believed to be bottomless, and is also the location for various myths. Several human sacrifices and other items recovered from lakebed.
- Bad an Eòin – 910m high, 10 acres, 12m deep, start of the Lang Burstel path. Common nesting site for ravens.