second highest peak (18,008 feet 【5,489 m】) of the St. Elias Mountains, on the Canada–United States (Alaska) border, 70 miles (110 km) northwest of Yakutat, Alaska. The mountain rises north of Malaspina Glacier. Vitus Bering (Bering, Vitus) became the first official European discoverer of northwestern America when he sighted the peak from his ship, the St. Peter, on July 16, 1741. The first ascent was made by a party led by the Duke of Abruzzi on July 31, 1897.