Big Chiwaukum

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Big Chiwaukum
Big Chiwaukum.jpg
Big Chiwaukum
Highest point
Elevation 8,081 ft (2,463 m) [1]
Prominence 3,681 ft (1,122 m) [1]
Coordinates 47°42′09″N120°56′05″W / 47.702385°N 120.934657°W / 47.702385; -120.934657 [1]
Geography
USA Washington relief location map.jpg
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Big Chiwaukum
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Big Chiwaukum
Big Chiwaukum (the United States)
Parent range Chiwaukum Mountains
Wenatchee Mountains
Cascade Range
Topo map USGS Chiwaukum Mountains
Geology
Type of rock Schist
Climbing
Easiest route Scrambling Class 3 [2]

Big Chiwaukum is a prominent 8,081-foot (2,463-metre) mountain summit located in Chelan County of Washington state. Big Chiwaukum is situated northeast of Frosty Pass, and within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Big Chiwaukum is the highest peak in the Chiwaukum Mountains, a subset of the Cascade Range. In the Wenatchee dialect, Chiwaukum means many little creeks running into one big one. [3] Its nearest higher peak is Cashmere Mountain, 10.35 mi (16.66 km) to the south-southeast. [1] Precipitation runoff from Big Chiwaukum drains into tributaries of the Wenatchee River.

Contents

Climate

Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east toward the Cascade Mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks of the Cascade Range, causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the Cascades (Orographic lift). As a result, the Cascades experience high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. During winter months, weather is usually cloudy, but, due to high pressure systems over the Pacific Ocean that intensify during summer months, there is often little or no cloud cover during the summer.

Geology

The Alpine Lakes Wilderness features some of the most rugged topography in the Cascade Range with craggy peaks and ridges, deep glacial valleys, and granite walls spotted with over 700 mountain lakes. [4] Geological events occurring many years ago created the diverse topography and drastic elevation changes over the Cascade Range leading to the various climate differences.

Big Chiwaukum Big Chiwaukum blue sky.jpg
Big Chiwaukum

Big Chiwaukum is composed of schist, part of the Nason terrane laid down 210 million years ago. [5] During the Pleistocene period dating back over two million years ago, glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured the landscape leaving deposits of rock debris. [6] The last glacial retreat in the Alpine Lakes area began about 14,000 years ago and was north of the Canada–US border by 10,000 years ago. [6] The U-shaped cross section of the river valleys is a result of that recent glaciation. Uplift and faulting in combination with glaciation have been the dominant processes which have created the tall peaks and deep valleys of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area.

See also

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Cape Horn is a 7,316-foot (2,230-metre) mountain summit located in Chelan County of Washington state. Cape Horn is situated 12 mi (19 km) west-northwest of Leavenworth, within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, on land managed by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. Cape Horn is part of the Chiwaukum Mountains, a subset of the Cascade Range. Its nearest higher neighbor is Ladies Peak, 0.9 mi (1.4 km) to the northwest, and Grindstone Mountain is set 1.4 mi (2.3 km) to the south. Precipitation runoff from Cape Horn drains west to Icicle Creek, whereas the east slopes drain into Chiwaukum Creek, and both are tributaries of the Wenatchee River. Although modest in elevation, relief is significant since this peak rises over 4,300 feet above Icicle Creek Valley in approximately two miles. This mountain was named by Albert Hale Sylvester in 1909 for its sharp profile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ladies Peak</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

Ladies Peak is a 7,708-foot (2,349-metre) mountain summit located in Chelan County of Washington state. Ladies Peak is situated 13 mi (21 km) west-northwest of Leavenworth, within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, on land managed by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. Ladies Peak is part of the Chiwaukum Mountains, a subset of the Cascade Range. Its nearest higher neighbor is Snowgrass Mountain, 1.27 mi (2.04 km) to the north, and Cape Horn is set 0.9 mi (1.4 km) to the southeast. Precipitation runoff from Ladies Peak drains west to Icicle Creek, whereas the east slopes drain into Chiwaukum Creek, and both are tributaries of the Wenatchee River. Although modest in elevation, relief is significant since this peak rises over 4,700 feet above Icicle Creek Valley in approximately two miles. This unofficially named peak is named in association with the nearby officially named Ladies Pass, which like many geographical features in this region was named by Albert Hale Sylvester.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Witches Tower (Washington)</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

Witches Tower is an 8,520+ ft granite summit located 10 mi (16 km) southwest of Leavenworth in Chelan County of Washington state. Witches Tower is part of The Enchantments within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, and is set on land managed by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. It belongs to the Stuart Range which is subset of the Wenatchee Mountains. Witches Tower is situated 0.8 mi (1.3 km) northwest of Little Annapurna, and 0.4 mi (0.64 km) east-southeast of Dragontail Peak, which is its nearest higher neighbor. Witches Tower is surrounded by remnants of Snow Creek Glacier. Precipitation runoff drains into tributaries of the Wenatchee River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Jim Mountain</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

Big Jim Mountain is a 7,763-foot (2,366-metre) mountain summit located in Chelan County of Washington state. It is situated 9 mi (14 km) northwest of Leavenworth, within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, on land managed by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. Big Jim Mountain is the fourth-highest peak in the Chiwaukum Mountains, a subset of the Cascade Range. Its nearest higher neighbor is Big Lou, 1.75 mi (2.82 km) to the south-southwest, and Cape Horn is set 4 mi (6.4 km) to the west. Precipitation runoff from Big Jim drains into tributaries of the Wenatchee River. Although modest in elevation, relief is significant since Big Jim rises 2,300 feet above Painter Creek Valley in one mile. Big Jim Mountain is named for Jim Whittaker, the first American to summit Mount Everest and twin brother of Lou Whittaker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Lou</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

Big Lou is a 7,780+ ft mountain summit located in Chelan County of Washington state. It is situated 8.5 mi (13.7 km) west-northwest of Leavenworth, on the boundary of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, and on land managed by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. Big Lou is the highest point on Icicle Ridge, and is the third-highest peak in the Chiwaukum Mountains, a subset of the Cascade Range. Its nearest higher neighbor is Snowgrass Mountain, 5 mi (8.0 km) to the northwest, and slightly lower Big Jim Mountain is set 1.75 mi (2.82 km) to the north-northeast. Precipitation runoff from Big Lou drains into Icicle Creek and other tributaries of the Wenatchee River. Although modest in elevation, relief is significant since Big Lou rises 5,200 feet above Icicle Creek Valley in approximately two miles. Big Lou is named for mountaineer Lou Whittaker, the twin brother of Jim Whittaker, the first American to summit Mount Everest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Three Brothers (Washington)</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

Three Brothers is a 7,303-foot-elevation triple-peak mountain summit located in Chelan County of Washington state. It is situated 1.3 miles east of Navaho Peak, on the boundary of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, on land managed by Wenatchee National Forest. Three Brothers is the third-highest point in the Teanaway area of the Wenatchee Mountains. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into tributaries of the Wenatchee River. The view from the summit of this peak showcases the impressive Mount Stuart and Stuart Range for those who climb it.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Big Chiwaukum, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  2. Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
  3. Day Hiking Central Cascades, Craig Romano, The Mountaineers Books, 2013.
  4. Smoot, Jeff (2004). Backpacking Washington's Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Helena, Montana: The Globe Pequot Press.
  5. "GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE CHELAN 30-MINUTE BY 60-MINUTE QUADRANGLE, WASHINGTON" (PDF). United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
  6. 1 2 Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.