title: Mount Marathon
text: # Mount Marathon
  
  Mount Marathon, or officially Marathon Mountain, is a 4,826-foot (1,471 m) mountain summit directly west of Seward in the Kenai Mountains in the U.S. state of Alaska. The peak is situated in Chugach National Forest, rising above Resurrection Bay, 2.35 mi (4 km) south of Mount Benson, and 2 mi (3 km) north of Bear Mountain. The namesake of the mountain is the Mount Marathon Race held every Fourth of July.
  
  ## Climate
  
  Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Marathon is located in a subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and mild summers. Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. This climate supports a spruce and hemlock forest on the lower slopes. The months May and June offer the most favorable weather for viewing.
  
  