Enchantment Peak

Enchantment Peak
Enchantment Peak seen from Gnome Tarn
Highest point
Elevation	8,538 ft (2,602 m) [1]
Prominence	518 ft (158 m) [1]
Parent peak	Cannon Mountain
Isolation	0.92 mi (1.48 km) [1]
Coordinates	47°29′15″N120°48′23″W / 47.487609°N 120.806379°W / 47.487609; -120.806379 [1]
Geography
Enchantment Peak Location in Washington Show map of Washington (state) Enchantment Peak Enchantment Peak (the United States) Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	Chelan
Protected area	Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Parent range	Stuart Range Cascade Range
Topo map	USGS Enchantment Lakes
Geology
Type of rock	Granite
Climbing
First ascent	May 1948 by Fred Beckey [2]
Easiest route	Scrambling class 2

Enchantment Peak is an 8,538-foot (2,602-metre) granite summit located in Chelan County of Washington state. Enchantment Peak is part of The Enchantments within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Enchantment Peak belongs to the Stuart Range which is subset of the Cascade Range. Enchantment Peak is situated midway between Prusik Peak to its east, and Aasgard Pass and Dragontail Peak to the west. Precipitation runoff drains to Icicle Creek which is a tributary of the Wenatchee River.

Climate

Weather fronts originating in the Pacific Ocean 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 snow onto the Cascades (Orographic lift). As a result, the Cascades experience high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger. ^[3] 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. ^[3]

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.

The history of the formation of the Cascade Mountains dates back millions of years ago to the late Eocene Epoch. ^[5] With the North American Plate overriding the Pacific Plate, episodes of volcanic igneous activity persisted. ^[5] In addition, small fragments of the oceanic and continental lithosphere called terranes created the North Cascades about 50 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. ^[5] 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. ^[5] 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

• List of peaks of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness
•   Mountainsportal

Gallery

• 
  Enchantment Peak seen from Leprechaun Lake
• 
  Enchantment Peak from Little Annapurna

References

1. "Enchantment Peak, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
2. Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
3. Beckey, p. 16
4. Smoot, Jeff (2004). Backpacking Washington’s Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Helena, Montana: The Globe Pequot Press.
5. Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.

External links

• Alpine Lakes Wilderness (Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest) U.S. Forest Service
• Mountain Forecast: Enchantment Peak