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Mt. Tikishla (5100')
by Greg Higgins, Scree 8/82
History Corner. One half mile to the southeast of Emerald Lake lies the true summit of Mt. Tikishla. At 5100+ feet, this is the first 5000 footer encountered above Campbell Creek's North Fork.
This mountain was listed as trip #6 in the original 30 Hikes in Alaska. Its name was derived from the language of the Tanaina Indians and is their word for the black bear. Viewed from Anchorage, the mountain appears to have twin pointed summits with the one to the left thought to be the higher. Some exposed terrain lies between these two points.
To the northeast the ridge links up with Tanaina Peak. This ridge has one difficult section that most people bypass by skirting along the Campbell Creek side of the slope. To the southwest the other ridge from the top descends steeply then gradually rises again to 4600+ Point Knoya (which is Tanaina for beaver).
The traditional approach to Tikishla is made by going over Near Point, to the North Fork of Campbell Creek, and then onto the southern slopes of the mountain. It may also be approached from the north via the drainage system of Emerald Lake.
Rod Wilson and his son Brain made the 1st recorded ascent of this peak on September 4, 1966. They found no evidence of previous visitors (see SCREE: 8:11:2). Tikishla did not receive a Winter ascent until January 10, 1973 when Bill Barnes Jr. and Sam Means went to the top (see SCREE: 16:2:6).
There is a good register on the top taken up by a group led by Tim Neale in 1981. The original was lost years ago when the container housing it was destroyed by weather.
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