Chiwaukum Lake

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Chikamin Lake
USA Washington relief location map.jpg
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Chikamin Lake
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Red pog.svg
Chikamin Lake
Location Chelan County, Washington
Coordinates 47°43′30″N120°53′13″W / 47.7251°N 120.88706°W / 47.7251; -120.88706 Coordinates: 47°43′30″N120°53′13″W / 47.7251°N 120.88706°W / 47.7251; -120.88706
Primary outflows Chiwaukum Creek [1]
Basin  countriesUnited States
Surface area58 acres (23 ha)
Average depth72 feet (22 m)
Max. depth128 feet (39 m)
Water volume5.06 cubic hectometres (179,000,000 cu ft) [2]
Shore length11.6 miles (2.6 km)
Surface elevation5,213 feet (1,589 m) [3]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Chiwaukum Lake is an alpine freshwater lake located on the Ewing Basin south of Lake Donald and the McCue Ridge in King County, Washington. Because of its proximity to surrounding peaks and mountains at the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the lake is a popular area for hiking. Outflow from Chiwaukum Lake is Chiwaukum Creek and an unnamed creek flows into Chiwaukim Lake from Larch Lake. A short distance north of Donald Lake are other Scottish Lakes including Loch Eileen and Lake Julius.

Contents

Climate

Chikamin Lake is located in a hemiboreal climate, [4] part of the marine west coast climate zone of western North America. [5] The average temperature is 36 °F (2 °C). The warmest month is August, with an average temperature of 61 °F (16 °C), and the coldest month is January, at an average of 18 °F (−8 °C). The average rainfall is 105.8 in (2,687 mm) per year. The wettest month is January, with 9.2 in (233 mm) of rain, and the least in July, with 1.1 in (28 mm) millimeters of rain. [6]

Chiwaukum Lake
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
233
 
 
1
−9
 
 
173
 
 
2
−8
 
 
181
 
 
6
−5
 
 
108
 
 
11
−2
 
 
102
 
 
17
2
 
 
66
 
 
21
5
 
 
28
 
 
27
9
 
 
34
 
 
27
9
 
 
66
 
 
21
6
 
 
161
 
 
13
0
 
 
193
 
 
5
−5
 
 
210
 
 
1
−9
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

Waptus Lake

Waptus Lake is an alpine freshwater lake located on the southern stretch of the Okanogan National Forest in Kittitas County, Washington. Because of its proximity to Cooper Lake and the Pacific Crest Trail, Waptus Lake is a popular area for hiking, camping and fishing. Waptus Lake is surrounded by trails that lead to other Alpine lakes in the vicinity, including the Pete Lake and Spectacle Lake at the base of Chikamin Peak.

Snowgrass Mountain

Snowgrass Mountain is a 7,993-foot (2,436-metre) mountain summit located in Chelan County of Washington state. Snowgrass Mountain is situated northeast of Frosty Pass and within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Snowgrass Mountain is the second-highest peak in the Chiwaukum Mountains, a subset of the Cascade Range. Its nearest higher peak is Big Chiwaukum, 1.23 mi (1.98 km) to the north. Precipitation runoff from Snowgrass drains into tributaries of the Wenatchee River.

Big Chiwaukum

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. Its nearest higher peak is Cashmere Mountain, 10.35 mi (16.66 km) to the south-southeast. Precipitation runoff from Big Chiwaukum drains into tributaries of the Wenatchee River.

Cape Horn (Washington)

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 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.

Ladies Peak

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 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.

Eightmile Lake

Eightmile Lake is a reservoir lake located on the eastern slope of Eightmile Mountain, in Chelan County in Washington. It is a reservoir lake formed along the beginning route of Eightmile Creek as it exits Jack Ridge.

Klonaqua Lakes

Klonaqua Lakes are a set of freshwater reservoir lakes located on the western slope of The Enchantments, in Chelan County, Washington. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Klonaqua Lakes area.

Rampart Lakes

Rampart Lakes area a set of contiguous freshwater reservoir lakes located on the south slope of Alta Mountain, in Kittitas County, Washington. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Klonaqua Lakes area. The lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing cutthroat trout.

Lake Julius (Washington)

Lake Julius is a freshwater lakes located on the north slope of the Chiwaukum Mountains, in Chelan County, Washington. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Klonaqua Lakes area. The lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing Cutthroat trout.

Lake Augusta (Washington)

Lake Augusta is a freshwater lake located on the southwest skirt of Big Jim Mountain, East of Icicle Ridge, in Chelan County, Washington. Because of its close proximity to Icicle Ridge Trail, the lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing cutthroat trout. Smaller Lake Ida is a short distance on the opposite side of Icicle Ridge and Big Jim Mountain Lakes or on the northeast slope of the mountain. Lake Augusta is located approximately 15 miles west of the city of Leavenworth. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Lake Augusta area.

Lake Ida (Washington)

Lake Ida is a freshwater lake located along Icicle Ridge, approximately 10 miles west of the city of Leavenworth in Chelan County, Washington. Because of its close proximity to Icicle Ridge Trail, the lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing cutthroat trout. Lake Augusta is a short distance on the opposite side of Icicle Ridge. Lake Ida sits on a highly glaciated alpine cirque, surrounded by a coniferous forest primarily larch pines and outflows into Ida Creek, a tributary of Icicle Creek. At least one unrated waterfall is found downstream as Ida Creek runs the south slope of Icicle Ridge. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Lake Ida and Augusta area.

Lake Edna

Lake Edna is a freshwater lake located along Icicle Ridge, approximately 10 miles west of the city of Leavenworth in Chelan County, Washington. Because of its close proximity to Icicle Ridge Trail, the lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing. Lake Alice is a short distance in a prominent cirque on the opposite side of Icicle Ridge.

Alaska Lake

Alaska Lake is a freshwater lake located on the western skirt of Alaska Mountain at the border between King County and Kittitas County, Washington. The lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing. Other Alpine lakes are in the vicinity, including the Rampart Lakes a short distance south, at the base of Mount Margaret. To the east is Hibox Mountain.

Angeline Lake

Angeline Lake is a freshwater lake located on the northern slope of Iron Cap Mountain between Otter Lake, Azure Lake and Big Heart Lake, in King County, Washington. Self-issued Alpine Lake Wilderness permit required for transit within the Big Snow Mountain area. West Fork Foss River exits Angeline Lake into a canyon that produces Angeline Falls downstream from Chetwoot Lake to Delta Lake. Because Angeline Lake is at the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing golden trout, rainbow trout, and cutthroat trout.

Avalanche Lake (Washington)

Avalanche Lake is a small alpine freshwater lake located on the northern skirt of Chikamin Peak and Lemah Mountain in King County, Washington. Because of its proximity to surrounding peaks and mountains at the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the lake is a popular area for hiking. Other Alpine lakes are in the vicinity, including the Iceberg Lake a short distance East, at the base of Chimney Rock West. To the South is Chikamin Lake.

Chikamin Lake Lake in Washington state, U.S.

Chikamin Lake is a small alpine freshwater lake located on the northern skirt of Chikamin Peak and Lemah Mountain in King County, Washington. Because of its proximity to surrounding peaks and mountains at the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the lake is a popular area for hiking. Other Alpine lakes are in the vicinity, including the Icebox Lake, Glacier Lake and Spectacle Lake a short distance South, at the base of Chikamin Ridge. To the North is Avalanche Lake and Iceberg Lake.

Spectacle Lake (Washington)

Spectacle Lake is an alpine freshwater lake located on the northern skirt of Chikamin Peak and Lemah Mountain in Kittitas County on its western border with King County, Washington. Because of its proximity to surrounding peaks and mountains at the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the lake is a popular area for hiking, camping and fishing cutthroat trout. Other Alpine lakes are in the vicinity, including the Chikamin Lake, a short distance North, at the base of Chikamin Peak. To the South is Hibox Mountain.

Glacier Lake (Washington)

Glacier Lake is a small alpine freshwater lake located on the northern skirt of Chikamin Peak and Lemah Mountain in Kittitas County, Washington. Because of its proximity to surrounding peaks and mountains at the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the lake is a popular area for hiking, camping, and fishing golden trout. Glacier Lake is a short distance between Chikamin Lake and Spectacle Lake at the base of Chikamin Ridge. The Pacific Crest Trail is a short distance from Glacier Lake as well as other Alpine lakes located in the vicinity. To the North is Avalanche Lake and Iceberg Lake at the base of Lemah Mountain.

Icicle Ridge

Icicle Ridge is a mountain ridge located in the eastern border of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, in the Washington state, United States. Several trails lead to Icicle Ridge which borders several prominent mountains, peaks, and lakes. Icicle Ridge is located at the western edge of the city of Leavenworth on land managed by Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

Gravel Lake

Gravel Lake is a small freshwater lake located at the edge of the Pacific Crest Trail on the western skirt of Mount Thomson at the border between King County and Kittitas County, Washington. The lake is a popular area for hiking, swimming, and fishing golden trout and rainbow trout. Other Alpine lakes are in the vicinity, including the Alaska Lake a short distance east, and Joe Lake and Edds Lake northbound on the PCT. To the east is Hibox Mountain.

References

  1. "Ewing Basin Topo Map in Chelan County WA". topozone.com. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  2. David P. Dethier, Paul L. Heller. "Reconnaissance Data on Lakes in the Alpine" (PDF). US Geological Society. p. 102. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Chiwaukum Lake
  4. Peel, M C; Finlayson, B L. "Updated world map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification" (PDF). Hydrology and Earth System Sciences. 11: 1639–1640. doi:10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007 . Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  5. Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
  6. 1 2 "Alaska Lake, Washington Climate Averages". WeatherWX. Retrieved 29 March 2021.