The 'Tantalus Range' is a small but spectacular subrange of the
Pacific Ranges of the
Coast Mountains in southern
British Columbia,
Canada. The range is well-known to travellers to and from the ski resort at
Whistler as the stunning vista on the highway to the resort from
Squamish.
The range's southern end is on the western edge of that town and it runs only about 35 km northwest on the west bank of the
Squamish River and is less than 16 km wide at its widest. It is about 46000 ha (4600 km² or 1775 mi²) in area.
Mount Tantalus 2603 m (8540 ft) is the highest in the range.
The origin of the name, as well as the names of many of its peaks, are from
Greek mythology.
Tantalus was doomed in
Hades to be half-submerged in cold water with fruit dangling close but not close enough to eat, which is where the word ''tantalize'' has its root. Allegedly the name was conferred by a local mountain climber who was "tantalized" by the sight of the range's impressive spires and icefalls from across the turbulent waters of the
Squamish River. Alternately another version of the legend has Tantalus and his family frozen before a banquet, unable to move - very descriptive of the ice-draped and somehow regal character of the peaks and icefields of the range. The names of
Tantalus' wife
Dione, his daughter
Niobe and his son
Pelops and that of
Thyestes',
Pelops' son, are found on lesser summits in the range.
The Tantalus Range is a favourite with climbers, and also with photographers and filmmakers. The best views of it can be had just north of
Squamish from the Brohm Ridge and
Cheakamus Canyon stretches of BC's Hwy 99 (the
Sea-to-Sky Highway).
Neighbouring ranges:
★
Garibaldi Ranges
★
North Shore Mountains
★
Clendinning Range
''(unnamed ranges not listed at present)''
Gallery
References