Roche Miette
Roche Miette
Highest point
Elevation	2,316 m (7,598 ft)[1][2]
Prominence	45 m (148 ft)[1]
Listing	Mountains of Alberta
Coordinates	53°09′48″N 117°55′11″W / 53.16333°N 117.91972°W / 53.16333; -117.91972[3]
Geography
Roche Miette Location of Roche Miette in Alberta Show map of Alberta Roche Miette Roche Miette (Canada) Show map of Canada
Location	Jasper National Park Alberta, Canada
Parent range	Miette Range[1] Canadian Rockies
Topo map	NTS 83F4 Miette[3]
Geology
Type of rock	sedimentary rock
Climbing
Easiest route	Scrambling[4]

Roche Miette (/rɒʃ maɪˈɛt/) is a 2,316-metre (7,598-foot) mountain at the northwestern tip of the Miette Range in Jasper National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. The peak is a prominent landmark in the Athabasca Valley that is situated approximately thirty kilometres north-northeast of the municipality of Jasper, and four kilometres northeast of the Jasper House National Historic Site. It is visible from Highway 16 and the Canadian. Its nearest higher peak is Capitol Mountain, 5.0 km (3.1 mi) to the southeast.^[5] Roche Miette translates from French as Crumb Rock.

History

According to James Hector and folklore, Bonhomme Miette, a French Canadian voyageur and gifted fiddler, made the first ascent by climbing it from its south side.^[2][6] (The Fiddle River and Fiddle Range are located immediately northeast of Roche Miette and Miette Range.)

In 1907 Arthur P. Coleman wrote of it: "The most impressive bit of architecture along the Athabasca, pushing its bold front out into the valley like a commanding fort with unscalable walls three thousand feet high, and a flat top somewhat parapeted and loop-holed."^[2]

The mountain's name was officially adopted in 1956 by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.^[3]

Geology

Roche Miette is composed of sedimentary rock laid down during the Precambrian to Jurassic periods and later pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny.^[7] The summit block is made of Palliser Formation limestone.^[4]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Roche Miette is in a subarctic climate with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.^[8] Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. In terms of favourable weather, June through September are the best months to climb. Precipitation runoff from Roche Miette drains into the Athabasca River.