Mount Torngasoak
(Elevation 5232', Latitude/Longitude 58.9451° -63.7907°, Map 14L13, UTM 545339)

Topographic Map of Torngasoak: Click for map.

In 1971, Torngasoak (then unnamed) was given a spot elevation of 5232' by federal governmant cartographers working from aerial photographs. At the same time the elevation of Cirque Mountain was demoted from 5500' (measured by A. P. Coleman in 1916) to 5144'. Thus Torngasoak was considered to be the highest peak in the region from 1971 until 1977 when Caubvick/d'Iberville - now considered to be the highest - was remeasured from the photos and given the spot elevation of 5420'.

Routes:

Route: The South-West Ravine Stephen Loutrel, Elizabeth Loutrel, Michael Adler, Virginia Adler and Warren Hofstra, 7/19/1975, first ascent. Loutrel et al. sailed in the Lacerta, a 40' Concordia Yawl, from Manchester, Massachusetts to Cape Chidley, the northern terminus of the Labrador peninsula. On their return trip south they entered Nachvak Fiord and sailed the 20 or so miles west to where the Tallek Arm extends another 8 miles south from the main body of the fiord. They established a camp at the southern end of the Arm. From their base camp, the team proceded up a ravine towards the south-east, initially over rock and then over snow, reaching a pond at around 2000'. Continuing south-east, they climbed the headwall of the ravine to a broad ridge. The route then proceeds north-east along the broad ridge to the summit. Although steep at times, the route was non-technical the entire way. The party noted a variety of extremely technical routes up virtually every other ascent route. To quote Michael Adler: "The view from the summit is exceptional offering impressive views of the Nachvak Fiord and the other 5000 foot mountains of the region including d'Iberville to the east. The sheer 3000 foot drop off the north side of the mountain is quite extrordinary. Several impressive knife edges with large chunks missing and a large glacier complete the view." (Loutrel, Stephen, Appalachia,, December 1975) (Adler, Michael, "Mt. Goetze", CAJ, Vol. 63, 1980) Route: The South Ridge Dartmouth College group (Jill Fredston, Jim Mcintyre, John Stix, Steve Thompson, Anna Burack and John Slocum), 7/31/1979, second ascent, first ascent via this route. From their base camp at the head of the valley of a tributary about 3 miles (5 km) due east of the Palmer River (at UTM 537298), the team scrambled up the steep slope bearing northeast to a point near a small lake (which lies just west of Wind Gap Tarn) gaining about 1500' of elevation. They then got onto the long ridge leading north to the summit. John Stix writes "It was exceedingly long and parts were quite steep, with loose rock and all, but for the most part I enjoyed myself immensely ... Near the top we encountered ice patches and believe it or not, a small group of caribou ... The summit was not far away and we climbed together to the top ... At the top was a small cairn with a film canister with two notes. The first recorded the first ascent in 1975 (see above) and the second by Ray Chipeniuk and Ron Wilson in 1977 (Chipeniuk, RC, "Quebec Pirate Robs Newfoundland of Highest Peak in Torngat Mtns", CAJ, Vol. 61, 1978). Chipeniuk had given the peak it's name, after the chief of the Torngat gods. Chipeniuk and Wilson had summited in near zero-visibility. That was a shame, for we could see for miles - clear as a bell. FANTASTIC DAY!!!" They returned via the same route, arriving back at their camp at 5:30, having climbed over 4100 vertical feet and covering about 8 miles of rough terrain in 11 hours. (John Stix, journal, 1979)