Ice-covered Stratovolcano in Alaska - Mount Bona

Mount Bona is a towering, ice-covered stratovolcano in eastern Alaska, part of the Saint Elias Mountains within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. Standing at approximately 16,550 feet (5,045 meters), it’s the fifth-highest independent peak in the U.S. and the highest volcano in the country, though it’s been dormant since its last eruption around 847 AD. Its neighbor, Mount Churchill, shares its massive, glaciated massif, and together they dominate the region’s rugged, remote wilderness. The mountain’s nearly complete coverage by icefields and glaciers makes it a key source for the Klutlan Glacier, flowing east over 40 miles into Canada’s Yukon Territory, and the Russell Glacier to the north. 

Named in 1897 by Prince Luigi Amedeo, Duke of the Abruzzi, after his racing yacht "Bona" while he climbed Mount Saint Elias, it was first summited in 1930 by Allen Carpé, Terris Moore, and Andrew Taylor via the Russell Glacier. Today, the standard route is the East Ridge, often paired with a climb of Mount Churchill for those tackling its heights.

Mount Bona’s environment is stark—think snow, ice, and extreme conditions. It’s a magnet for mountaineers seeking high-altitude challenges, requiring 10-14 days for a typical ascent, with its glaciers, crevasses, and unpredictable weather testing even seasoned climbers. This is a world of cold, isolation, and raw natural power.