Governors Ridge

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Governors Ridge
Governors Ridge at Mount Rainier.jpg
Governors Ridge seen from the east near Tipsoo Lake
Highest point
Elevation 6,600 ft (2,000 m) [1]
Prominence 1,240 ft (380 m) [1]
Coordinates 46°51′53″N121°34′24″W / 46.86472°N 121.573252°W / 46.86472; -121.573252 Coordinates: 46°51′53″N121°34′24″W / 46.86472°N 121.573252°W / 46.86472; -121.573252
Geography
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Governors Ridge
Location of Governors Ridge in Washington
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Governors Ridge
Governors Ridge (the United States)
Location Mount Rainier National Park
Pierce County, Washington, U.S.
Parent range Cascades
Topo map USGS Chinook Pass
Climbing
Easiest route Scrambling class 3

Governors Ridge [2] is located in Mount Rainier National Park in Pierce County of Washington state. It is part of the Cascade Range and is situated west of Cayuse Pass and 1.09 mile east of Tamanos Mountain, which is its nearest higher peak. [1] The name honors all the governors who have served the state of Washington. The highest rocky crag on the ridge is known as Governors Peak. There is also a 40-foot leaning spire known as Governors Needle, [3] and Barrier Peak is at the southern culmination of the ridge. The normal climbing access is from the Owyhigh Lakes Trail.

Contents

Climate

Governors Ridge is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America. [4] Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel northeast toward the Cascade Mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks of the Cascade Range (Orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the Cascades. As a result, the west side of the North Cascades experiences 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. Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger. Precipitation runoff from Governors Ridge drains into tributaries of the White River and Cowlitz River. [1]

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Frisco Mountain

Frisco Mountain is a 7,760-foot (2,370-metre) mountain summit in the Cascade Range in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located two miles southwest of Rainy Pass on the borders of the Stephen Mather Wilderness and North Cascades National Park. The mountain derives its name from a mining claim on the south side that was worked in the 1920s. Its nearest higher peak is Rainy Peak, 0.54 mi (0.87 km) to the east-southeast. Precipitation runoff from Frisco Mountain drains into Rainy Lake and tributaries of Bridge Creek. The retreating Lyall Glacier in its northeast cirque contributes to waterfalls which tumble 1,000 ft (300 m) into Rainy Lake.

Antler Peak (Washington)

Antler Peak is a 7,017 feet (2,139 m) summit located in Mount Rainier National Park in Pierce County of Washington state. It is part of the Sourdough Mountains, a subset of the Cascade Range. Antler Peak is situated west of Dege Peak and northeast of Sunrise Historic District, with the Sourdough Ridge Trail traversing the south slope of Antler between the two. Mount Fremont is its nearest higher peak, 1.55 mi (2.49 km) to the west. Precipitation runoff from Antler Peak drains into the White River.

Mount Fremont

Mount Fremont is a 7,214-foot-elevation mountain summit located in Mount Rainier National Park in Pierce County of Washington state. Mount Fremont is a minor peak at the southwest corner of the Sourdough Mountains which are a subset of the Cascade Range. It also the juncture for a small ridge of peaks of similar size running to the northeast. Mount Fremont is situated northwest of the Sunrise Historic District, with a popular trail leading to the Mount Fremont Fire Lookout. However, this trail does not reach the true summit which is 0.25 mi (0.40 km) north of Frozen Lake. Peak 7317, also known as Mount Fremont North, located 0.31 mi (0.50 km) west-northwest along the ridge is its nearest higher neighbor. Access is limited by snowpack closing the Sunrise Road much of the year. July, August, and September are typically the months when the Sunrise Road is seasonally open for vehicle traffic. Precipitation runoff from Mount Fremont drains into the White River.

Chinook Peak

Chinook Peak is a 6,904 feet (2,104 m) summit located on the eastern border of Mount Rainier National Park. It is also on the shared border of Pierce County and Yakima County in Washington state. Chinook Peak is situated north of Chinook Pass on the crest of the Cascade Range. Its nearest higher peak is Crystal Mountain, 1.31 mi (2.11 km) to the north. Crystal Peak lies 0.75 mi (1.21 km) to the northwest, and Cupalo Rock is 1.0 mi (1.6 km) to the east-northeast. Precipitation runoff from Chinook Peak drains into tributaries of the White River and Yakima River.

Naches Peak

Naches Peak is a 6,452-foot mountain summit located on the shared border of Mount Rainier National Park and William O. Douglas Wilderness. It is also on the shared border of Pierce County and Yakima County in Washington state. Naches Peak is situated on the crest of the Cascade Range and immediately southeast of Chinook Pass. Its nearest higher neighbor is Tahtlum Peak, 1.45 mi (2.33 km) to the east. The name Naches Peak was proposed by the Yakima Chamber of Commerce and approved by Asahel Curtis in 1927. The Naches Peak Loop Trail is a popular 3.5 mile trail encircling the peak. Precipitation runoff from the west side of Naches Peak drains into Chinook Creek, which is a tributary of the Ohanapecosh River, whereas the east side drains into tributaries of the American River.

Yakima Peak

Yakima Peak is a 6,226-ft summit located on the eastern border of Mount Rainier National Park. It is also on the shared border of Pierce County and Yakima County in Washington state. Yakima Peak is situated northwest of Tipsoo Lake and west of Chinook Pass on the crest of the Cascade Range. Its nearest higher neighbor is Deadwood Peak, 0.59 mi (0.95 km) to the north. The name Yakima Peak honors the Yakima Tribe of eastern Washington state. From Chinook Pass, a short scramble up a gully on the north side leads to a flat summit with unobstructed views of Mount Rainier and Naches Peak.

Deadwood Peak

Deadwood Peak is a 6,280-foot-elevation mountain summit located on the eastern border of Mount Rainier National Park. It is also situated on the shared border of Pierce County and Yakima County in Washington state. Deadwood Peak is set on the crest of the Cascade Range, immediately north of Yakima Peak and Chinook Pass, with the Pacific Crest Trail traversing its east slope. Its nearest higher peak is Naches Peak, 0.59 mi (0.95 km) to the southeast. Deadwood Peak takes its name from Deadwood Lakes and Deadwood Creek to its northwest, and their names came from the large number of downed trees in the area. From Chinook Pass, a short scramble up the south side leads to the summit with unobstructed views of Mount Rainier.

Tamanos Mountain

Tamanos Mountain is a 6,790-foot summit located in Mount Rainier National Park in Pierce County of Washington state. It is part of the Cascade Range. Tamanos Mountain is situated west of Governors Ridge and northeast of the Cowlitz Chimneys, all of which can be seen from the Sunrise Historic District. The name tamanos derives from Chinook Jargon and has the meaning of guardian spirit. The normal climbing access is from the Owyhigh Lakes Trail, and from the lakes scramble up the south slope to the summit.

Sluiskin Mountain

Sluiskin Mountain is a prominent pair of summits located in Mount Rainier National Park in Pierce County of Washington state. It is situated northwest of Burroughs Mountain and is part of the Cascade Range. The higher rocky peak is known as The Chief (7026 ft), and the second peak to the west is known as The Squaw. West of The Squaw are pinnacles called The Papooses. Sluiskin was the native American guide who assisted with the first successful ascent of Mount Rainier by Hazard Stevens and P. B. Van Trump in 1870. Sluiskin Falls within the park also honors him.

Double Peak (Washington)

Double Peak is the descriptive name of a 6,199 feet (1,889 m) double summit located in Mount Rainier National Park in Pierce County of Washington state. Part of the Cascade Range, it is situated northwest of Shriner Peak, south of Governors Ridge, and southeast of the Cowlitz Chimneys.

Barrier Peak

Barrier Peak is a small 6,521 ft summit located in Mount Rainier National Park in Pierce County of Washington state. It is part of the Cascade Range and is situated west of Cayuse Pass, 0.53 mile west-northwest of Buell Peak, and 0.4 mile south-southwest of Governors Ridge, which is its nearest higher peak. The normal climbing access is from the Owyhigh Lakes Trail. The peak was so named because it served as a barrier between the Cayuse Pass region and the rest of Mount Rainier National Park.

Buell Peak

Buell Peak is a small 5,756 ft summit located in Mount Rainier National Park in Pierce County of Washington state. It is part of the Cascade Range and is situated 1.5 miles southwest of Cayuse Pass and 0.53 mile east-southeast of Barrier Peak, which is its nearest higher peak. The normal climbing access is from the Owyhigh Lakes Trail. The peak's name honors John Latimore Buell who arrived in Orting, Washington in 1890 and went into the hardware business.

Crystal Peak (Washington)

Crystal Peak is a 6,595-foot summit located in eastern Mount Rainier National Park, in Pierce County of Washington state. Crystal Peak is situated 0.75 mi (1.21 km) northwest of Chinook Peak, and nearly on the crest of the Cascade Range. Crystal Mountain and Crystal Lakes lie immediately to the northeast, and Three Way Peak is 1.09 mi (1.75 km) to the east. Access to the summit is via a hiking trail which branches off from the Crystal Lakes Trail. That trailhead starts along Highway 410, which traverses the western base of the mountain. Precipitation runoff from Crystal Peak drains into tributaries of the White River.

Old Desolate

Old Desolate is a 7,137 feet (2,175 m) multi-summit, ridge-like mountain located in Mount Rainier National Park, in Pierce County of Washington state. It is part of the Cascade Range, and lies 5 mi (8.0 km) due north of the summit of Mount Rainier. The Wonderland Trail provides an approach to this mountain, and the summit offers views of Sluiskin Mountain and Mount Rainier. Burroughs Mountain is its nearest higher neighbor, 2.37 mi (3.81 km) to the southeast. Precipitation runoff from Old Desolate drains east into the West Fork White River, or west into the Carbon River.

Goat Island Mountain

Goat Island Mountain is a 7,288 feet (2,221 m) ridge-like mountain located in Mount Rainier National Park, in Pierce County of Washington state. It is part of the Cascade Range, and lies 5.76 mi (9.27 km) east-northeast of the summit of Mount Rainier. This mountain is quite visible from the Sunrise Historic District and the many trails surrounding the Sunrise area. The Wonderland Trail provides an approach to this mountain, and the summit offers views of Cowlitz Chimneys, Fryingpan Glacier, and Mount Rainier. Burroughs Mountain is its nearest higher neighbor, 2.51 mi (4.04 km) to the northwest. Precipitation runoff from Goat Island Mountain drains into the White River. The mountain's descriptive name derives from mountain goats that were often seen on the peak. The name was officially adopted in 1932 by the United States Board on Geographic Names.

Mother Mountain (Washington)

Mother Mountain is a 6,480+ ft multi-summit, 3-mile long ridge-like mountain located in Mount Rainier National Park, in Pierce County of Washington state. It is part of the Cascade Range, and lies 7 mi (11 km) northwest of the summit of Mount Rainier. The Wonderland Trail provides one approach option to this mountain, and the summit offers views of Mount Rainier. East Fay Peak is its nearest higher neighbor, 0.42 mi (0.68 km) to the south. Precipitation runoff from Mother Mountain is drained by Cataract Creek on the south side of the mountain, and Ipsut Creek drains the north side of it, and both are tributaries of the Carbon River. The west side drains into Mowich Lake, and thence Mowich River.

Fay Peak

Fay Peak is a double-summit mountain located in Mount Rainier National Park, in Pierce County of Washington state. It is part of the Cascade Range, and lies 7 mi (11 km) northwest of the summit of Mount Rainier. The 6,492-foot elevation summit of Fay Peak lies a quarter-mile west of the highest point, East Fay Peak, 6,520+ ft. Echo Rock is its nearest higher neighbor, 2.7 mi (4.3 km) to the southeast. Precipitation runoff from Fay Peak is drained by Cataract Creek on the east side of the mountain, and the west side drains into Mowich Lake and Mowich River.

Mount Wow

Mount Wow is a prominent 6,040+ ft mountain summit located in the southwest corner of Mount Rainier National Park, in Pierce County of Washington state. It is part of the Cascade Range, and lies 8.6 mi (13.8 km) southwest of the summit of Mount Rainier. Its nearest higher neighbor is Iron Mountain, 3.6 mi (5.8 km) to the east-northeast. Precipitation runoff from Mount Wow is drained by Tahoma Creek on the east side of the mountain, whereas Goat Creek drains the west side of it, and both are tributaries of the Nisqually River.

Crescent Mountain (Washington)

Crescent Mountain is a 6,715-ft ridge-like mountain located in north-central Mount Rainier National Park, in Pierce County of Washington state. It is part of the Cascade Range, and lies 6.6 mi (10.6 km) due north of the summit of Mount Rainier. Sluiskin Mountain is its nearest higher neighbor, 0.85 mi (1.37 km) to the east. Precipitation runoff from Crescent Mountain drains west into tributaries of the Carbon River.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Governors Ridge, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  2. "Governors Ridge". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey . Retrieved 2018-08-10.
  3. "Governors Needle, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  4. Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.