Blue Mountain | |
---|---|
Highest point | |
Elevation | 6,004 ft (1,830 m) [1] |
Prominence | 1,107 ft (337 m) [2] |
Parent peak | Maiden Peak (6,434 ft) [2] |
Isolation | 3.14 mi (5.05 km) [2] |
Coordinates | 47°57′16″N123°15′34″W / 47.9545206°N 123.2594388°W [1] |
Geography | |
Country | United States |
State | Washington |
County | Clallam |
Protected area | Olympic National Park |
Parent range | Olympic Mountains |
Topo map | USGS Maiden Peak |
Geology | |
Rock age | Eocene |
Climbing | |
Easiest route | class 1 walking |
Blue Mountain is a 6,004-foot-elevation (1,830-meter) mountain summit located within Olympic National Park in Clallam County of Washington state. Blue Mountain is situated in the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness, 13 miles southeast of Port Angeles and 11 miles southwest of Sequim. Topographic relief is significant as the south aspect rises 4,000 feet (1,200 meters) above Gray Wolf River in approximately 2.5 miles. The mountain's name is due to a soft, blue haze that forms around the mountain in the summer. [3] New settlers to the Olympic Peninsula near the end of the 19th century brought devastating fires started by land clearing and logging activities. [4] The Dungeness Fire of 1891 burned about 30,000 acres, destroying much of the forest around Blue Mountain. [3]
Access is via the 19-mile Deer Park Road, and the summit can be reached by walking the half-mile Rain Shadow Loop Trail which gains 170 feet of elevation from road's end. [5] The trail is so named because Blue Mountain lies within the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, receiving 50 inches of precipitation annually compared to more than 200 inches on Mount Olympus, 23 miles distant. [6] Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains north to the Strait of Juan de Fuca via Maiden Creek, Siebert Creek, McDonald Creek, Canyon Creek, and Gray Wolf River. The summit offers a view of the San Juan Islands, Victoria across the strait on Vancouver Island, Canada, and on a clear day the eye can see as far as Mount Baker, 87 miles away. The endemic Olympic bellflower can be found near the summit. [5]
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Blue Mountain is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America. [7] Weather fronts originating in the Pacific Ocean travel northeast toward the Olympic Mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks (orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snow. As a result, the Olympics experience high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. [8] Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger. 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. [8]
The Olympic Mountains are composed of obducted clastic wedge material and oceanic crust, primarily Eocene sandstone, turbidite, and basaltic oceanic crust. [9] The mountains were sculpted during the Pleistocene era by erosion and glaciers advancing and retreating multiple times.
Mount Deception is a peak in the Olympic Mountains of Cascadia. It is in Olympic National Park on the Olympic Peninsula in the U.S. state of Washington.
Mount Angeles is located just south of Port Angeles, Washington in the Olympic National Park. It is the highest peak in the Hurricane Ridge area. The summit, which offers panoramic views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and many of the peaks of the interior Olympic Mountains can be climbed from the Klahane Ridge trail.
Obstruction Peak is a 6,450-foot-elevation (1,966-meter) summit in the Olympic Mountains and is located in Clallam County of Washington state. It is set within Olympic National Park and is situated at the eastern end of Obstruction Point Road which is a narrow eight-mile dirt road on Hurricane Ridge. The road ends below the south slope of Obstruction Peak, and a short hike leads to the summit. The nearest higher peak is Elk Mountain, 0.46 mi (0.74 km) to the northeast. Obstruction Peak is a major triple divide point such that precipitation runoff drains into tributaries of the Elwha River, Dungeness River, and Morse Creek. All three thence empty into the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Eagle Point is a 6,247-foot-elevation (1,904-meter) summit in the Olympic Mountains and is located in Clallam County of Washington state. It is set on Hurricane Ridge within Olympic National Park. It is situated midway between Steeple Rock and Obstruction Peak, 1.42 mi (2.29 km) to the southeast. Precipitation runoff drains into tributaries of the Elwha River and Morse Creek, thence the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Rocky Peak is a 6,218-foot-elevation (1,895-meter) mountain summit in the Olympic Mountains and is located in Clallam County of Washington state. It is situated eight miles south of Port Angeles, Washington, within Olympic National Park. The nearest higher neighbor is Mount Angeles, 1.87 mi (3.01 km) to the west. Klahhane Ridge connects these two peaks. Travelers on the scenic Hurricane Ridge Road traverse the lower south slope of Rocky Peak en route to the Hurricane Ridge visitor center. The mountain was named Rocky Peak by local people from the time of the earliest settlers in the area. Precipitation runoff from the north side of the peak drains into Rocky Creek, whereas the south slope drains into Morse Creek, thence into the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Muncaster Mountain is a 5,910-foot (1,801-metre) mountain summit located within Olympic National Park in Jefferson County of Washington state. It is situated 4.4 mi (7.1 km) south-southeast of Mount Christie, and 14.6 mi (23.5 km) southeast of Mount Olympus. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into Rustler Creek, which is a tributary of the Quinault River. Although modest in elevation, relief is significant as the summit rises 4,000 feet above the Rustler Creek valley in one mile.
Crystal Peak is a 6,896-foot-elevation (2,102-meter) mountain summit located within Olympic National Park in Jefferson County of Washington state. Crystal Peak is situated two miles north of Enchanted Valley, near the heads of Hayes River and Quinault River. Topographic relief is significant as the northeast aspect rises 3,300 feet above Hayes River in less than one mile. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains north to the Elwha River via Hayes River and Godkin Creek. Neighbors include line parent Chimney Peak, 2.2 mi (3.5 km) to the south, and proximate parent West Peak, 2.0 mi (3.2 km) to the east. The lower slopes of the mountain are surrounded by Western Red Cedar, Sitka Spruce, Western Hemlock, Alaskan Cedar, Mountain Hemlock, and Douglas-fir of the Quinault Rainforest.
Mount Cameron is a 7,190-foot-elevation (2,192-meter) triple-summit mountain located within Olympic National Park in Jefferson County of Washington state. Mount Cameron is situated 21 miles southwest of Sequim, and set within the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness. Topographic relief is significant as the southeast aspect rises over 3,300 feet above the Dosewallips River in approximately one mile. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains south into the Dosewallips River, north to the Gray Wolf River via Cameron Creek, and west into headwaters of Lost River. Neighbors include line parent Mount Deception, 4.5 mi (7.2 km) to the east, and proximate parent Mount Johnson, 4.5 mi (7.2 km) to the east.
Unicorn Peak is a 5,100-foot-elevation (1,554-meter) mountain summit located within Olympic National Park in Clallam County of Washington state. Unicorn Peak is situated seven miles southwest of Port Angeles and three miles north-northwest of the park's Hurricane Ridge visitor center, in Daniel J. Evans Wilderness. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains west to the Elwha River via Little River and Griff Creek. Topographic relief is significant as the west aspect rises 4,800 feet above the Elwha valley in approximately three miles.
McCartney Peak is a 6,784-foot-elevation (2,068-meter) mountain summit located within Olympic National Park in Jefferson County of Washington state. Part of the Olympic Mountains, McCartney Peak is situated 18 miles south of Port Angeles, and set within the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness. Topographic relief is significant as the southwest aspect rises 3,800 feet above the Lost River in approximately 1.5 mile. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains north into headwaters of the Lillian River, east to the Gray Wolf River via Cameron Creek, and west to the Elwha River via Lost River. The nearest higher neighbor is line parent Mount Cameron, 3.1 mi (5.0 km) to the southeast.
Mount Noyes is a 6,173-foot (1,882 m) mountain summit located deep within Olympic National Park in Jefferson County of Washington state. Part of the Olympic Mountains, Mount Noyes is situated seven miles southeast of Mount Olympus, and set within the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness. The nearest higher neighbor is Mount Meany, 0.6 miles (0.97 km) to the north, and Mount Seattle rises one mile to the southeast. Noyes is a major triple divide point with precipitation runoff from the mountain draining east into the headwaters of the Elwha River, west into headwaters of Saghalie Creek which is a tributary of the Queets River, and south into headwaters of Seattle Creek which is a tributary of the Quinault River. Topographic relief is significant as the east, west, and south aspects of the peak each rise 2,200 feet (670 m) in approximately one mile.
Mount Seattle is a 6,246-foot (1,904-metre) mountain summit deep within Olympic National Park in Jefferson County of Washington state. Part of the Olympic Mountains, Mount Seattle is situated 7.5 miles southeast of Mount Olympus, and set within the Quinault Rainforest and Daniel J. Evans Wilderness. The nearest higher neighbor is Mount Meany, 1.65 miles (2.66 km) to the north-northwest, and Mount Noyes rises one mile to the northwest. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains north into headwaters of the Elwha River, and south into tributaries of the Quinault River. Topographic relief is significant as the northeast aspect of the peak rises over 3,800 feet (1,200 m) above the Elwha valley in approximately 1.5-mile. Low Divide forms the saddle between Mt. Seattle and Mount Christie.
Mount Lincoln is a 5,868-foot (1,789-meter) mountain summit located in the Olympic Mountains, in Mason County of Washington state, United States. It is situated on the boundary shared by Daniel J. Evans Wilderness and Mount Skokomish Wilderness, as well as the shared common border of Olympic National Park with Olympic National Forest. Lincoln is the second-highest point on Sawtooth Ridge, and the nearest higher neighbor is Mount Cruiser, 1.1 mi (1.8 km) to the northeast. Lincoln has two sub-peaks: a North Peak, and a Southwest Peak. Flapjack Lakes lie immediately west below the north sub-peak. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises over 5,100 feet (1,600 m) above the Staircase Ranger Station at Lake Cushman in approximately two miles. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the North Fork Skokomish River, and partly into Mildred Lakes, thence Hamma Hamma River.
Mount Delabarre is a remote 6,024-foot (1,836-metre) mountain summit deep within Olympic National Park in Jefferson County of Washington state. Part of the Olympic Mountains, Mount Delabarre is 12.4 miles southeast of Mount Olympus, set within the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness. The nearest higher neighbor is line parent Mount Christie, 2.5 miles to the west-northwest. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains north into headwaters of Delabarre Creek, which is a tributary of the Elwha River, and south into Rustler Creek, which is a tributary of the North Fork Quinault River. Topographic relief is significant as the southwest aspect of the peak rises 3,400 feet (1,036 m) above Rustler Creek in approximately one mile.
Mount Steel is a 6,225-foot-elevation (1,897-meter) mountain summit located in the Olympic Mountains, in Jefferson County of Washington state. It is situated in Olympic National Park and the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness. The nearest higher neighbor is Mount Duckabush, 1.36 mi (2.19 km) to the southwest. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains south into tributaries of the North Fork Skokomish River, and north into headwaters of the Duckabush River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises over 3,400 feet (1,036 m) above the Duckabush River in approximately one mile.
Cat Peak is a 5,940-foot (1,811-metre) mountain summit within Olympic National Park in Clallam County of Washington state.
O'Neil Peak is a 5,758-foot-elevation (1,755-meter) mountain summit located in the Olympic Mountains, in Jefferson County of Washington state. It is situated in Olympic National Park and the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness. The nearest higher neighbor is Mount Duckabush, 1.6 mi (2.6 km) to the east-northeast, and O'Neil Pass lies 1.5-mile to the northeast. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the Quinault River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises over 4,300 feet (1,310 m) above the Quinault River in approximately 1.5-mile, and 2,700 feet above O'Neil Creek in one-half-mile.
Adelaide Peak is a 7,300-foot-elevation mountain summit located in the Olympic Mountains, in Jefferson County of Washington state. It is situated within Olympic National Park and the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness. It is part of The Needles range, which is a subset of the Olympic range. The nearest higher peak is Mount Clark, 0.3 mi (0.48 km) to the south, and Mount Walkinshaw rises 0.66 mi (1.06 km) to the north-northwest. The peak is in the rain shadow of the Olympic Range, resulting in less precipitation than Mount Olympus and the western Olympics receive. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains east into Royal Creek, and west into Gray Wolf River, which are both within the drainage basin of the Dungeness River. Topographic relief is significant as the east aspect rises 2,600 feet (793 m) above Royal Creek in less than one mile.
Mount Elk Lick is a 6,517-foot-elevation (1,986 meter) mountain summit located in the Olympic Mountains, in Jefferson County of Washington state. It is situated within Olympic National Park, and is set within the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness at the head of Elk Lick Creek. The nearest neighbor is Mount La Crosse, 2.54 mi (4.09 km) to the west, and the nearest higher neighbor is Diamond Mountain, 3.73 mi (6.00 km) to the north-northwest. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains south into the Duckabush River, and north into the Dosewallips River. Topographic relief is significant as the south aspect rises over 4,300 feet (1,310 m) above the Duckabush valley in approximately one mile. The mountain is remote and an ascent can take four days and involves 46 miles of hiking.
Maiden Peak is a 6,434-foot (1,961 m) summit located in Olympic National Park, in Clallam County of Washington state. It is part of the Olympic Mountains and is situated near the eastern end of Hurricane Ridge within the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness. The nearest higher neighbor is Elk Mountain, 1.62 mi (2.61 km) to the west-southwest, and Blue Mountain is set 3.14 mi (5.05 km) to the east-northeast. The peak is set approximately midway along the trail which connects Deer Park and Obstruction Point. Precipitation runoff from the south slope of the mountain drains into Grand Creek, whereas the north slope is drained by Maiden Creek, and all ultimately reaches the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 3,000 feet (910 m) above Grand Creek in one mile. This landform's name was officially adopted in 1961 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. One story has the origin of the name being derived from nearby Maiden Lake where young men and women camped around 1913, and the other being from a group of hikers that passed this area.
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