Mount Shuksan is a glaciated massif in the North Cascades National Park. Shuksan rises in Whatcom County, Washington immediately to the east of Mount Baker, and 11.6 miles (18.7 km) south of the Canada–US border. The mountain's name Shuksan is derived from the Lummi word [šéqsən], said to mean "high peak". The highest point on the mountain is a three sided peak known as Summit Pyramid.
Lower Curtis Glacier is in North Cascades National Park in the U.S. state of Washington. Named for photographer Asahel Curtis, the glacier is in a cirque on the western slopes of Mount Shuksan. Lower Curtis Glacier is rapidly retreating and has a negative mass balance, meaning that the rate of snow and ice that is falling in the accumulation zone is less than that which is lost each year in the ablation zone. Between 1908 and 1984, the glacier experienced a loss of thickness by 45 meters (147 ft). Between 1984 and 2002, the glacier lost another 6 meters (19 ft) in thickness. Lower Curtis Glacier also lost 28% of its surface area between the end of the little ice age and 1950. Between the years 1951 and 1979, the glacier actually lengthened by 245 meters (800 ft) but has retreated 184 m (600 ft) since 1985, partly due to the tongue of the glacier being on a steep precipice which may have increased the loss of ice at the termini.
Mount Blum, or Mount Bald, is a 7,685-foot (2,342 m) summit of the North Cascades range in Washington state, on the western edge of North Cascades National Park. It is the highest summit of a string of mountain peaks located east of Mount Shuksan and west of the Picket Range. Two small active glaciers rest on its northern flank. Mount Blum was named after John Blum, a United States Forest Service fire patrol pilot who crashed nearby in 1931.
Challenger Glacier is in North Cascades National Park in the U.S. state of Washington and is on the north slopes of Mount Challenger. Challenger Glacier descends from 8,000 to 5,000 ft. Over 2 mi (3.2 km) wide, Challenger Glacier descends along a wide terminus with heavy crevassing and numerous icefalls, with a tongue of the glacier in the north descending to a proglacial lake. The ascent up Challenger Glacier is one of the most common routes to the summit of Mount Challenger.
Crystal Glacier is in North Cascades National Park in the U.S. state of Washington, on the south slopes of Mount Shuksan. Descending 1.25 mi (2.01 km) from just east of the summit of Mount Shuksan, near its origination point, Crystal Glacier is connected to the larger Sulphide Glacier to the west. Crystal Glacier descends from 8,200 to 5,800 ft, and is also connected to East Nooksack Glacier as well as Hanging Glacier near it uppermost margins. Both Crystal and Sulphide Glaciers have a series of 300-to-1,000-foot high cascades which are collectively referred to as Sulphide Basin Falls. Below these cascades lies Sulphide Lake, which empties over Sulphide Creek Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in North America with a nearly 2,200 ft (670 m) drop.
Sulphide Glacier is in North Cascades National Park in the U.S. state of Washington, on the south slopes of Mount Shuksan. Descending 1.85 mi (2.98 km) from the summit tower of Mount Shuksan, it is connected to Crystal Glacier to the east. Sulphide Glacier descends from 8,600 to 5,600 ft. Sulphide Glacier is along the route taken when Mount Shuksan was first climbed in 1906. Both Sulphide and Crystal Glaciers have a series of 300-to-1,000-foot high cascades which are collectively referred to as Sulphide Basin Falls. Below these cascades lies Sulphide Lake, which empties over Sulphide Creek Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in North America with a nearly 2,200 ft (670 m) drop.
East Nooksack Glacier is in North Cascades National Park in the U.S. state of Washington, on the eastern slopes of Mount Shuksan. East Nooksack Glacier is only .70 mi (1.13 km), but fills the upper portions of the Nooksack Cirque, spanning more than 2 mi (3.2 km). East Nooksack Glacier is connected to Crystal Glacier at its uppermost section at 7,800 ft (2,400 m). East Nooksack Glacier extends from Nooksack Tower to the northwest to Seahpo Peak to the southeast and meltwater from the glacier flows into the Nooksack River.
Upper Curtis Glacier is in North Cascades National Park in the U.S. state of Washington, on the west slopes of Mount Shuksan. Upper Curtis Glacier is not connected to Lower Curtis Glacier downslope to the southwest, but is to Hanging Glacier to the north and to Sulphide Glacier to the east.
Price Glacier is in North Cascades National Park in the U.S. state of Washington, on the northeast slopes of Mount Shuksan, below the subpeak known as Nooksack Tower. Price Glacier descends from 8,600 to 4,200 ft and is the steepest and most heavily crevasseed glacier on Mount Shuksan. The disconnected lowest portions of Price Glacier calve small icebergs into Price Lake.
White Salmon Glacier is in North Cascades National Park in the U.S. state of Washington, on the west slopes of Mount Shuksan. White Salmon Glacier is a series of small glaciers that descend to the north from a ridge feature known as Shuksan Arm. A climbers route follows the White Salmon Glacier to Fisher Chimney which provides a faster approach than others to the summit of Mount Shuksan.
West Nooksack Glacier is in North Cascades National Park in the U.S. state of Washington, on the eastern slopes of Mount Shuksan, immediately northeast of the subpeak called Nooksack Tower. West Nooksack Glacier is only .10 mi (0.16 km) in length and is a glacial remnant. West Nooksack Glacier provides meltwater for the Nooksack River.
Nooksack Cirque is in North Cascades National Park in the U.S. state of Washington, on the eastern slopes of Mount Shuksan. Nooksack Cirque was formed by glaciers and the East Nooksack Glacier is located in the cirque below the headwall known as Jagged Ridge. The cirque extends from a subpeak of Mount Shuksan called Nooksack Tower to Seahpo Peak, a distance of over 2 mi (3.2 km) in width. Nooksack Cirque streams and meltwater from the East Nooksack Glacier form the headwaters for the Nooksack River.
Nooksack Tower is in North Cascades National Park in the U.S. state of Washington. Nooksack Tower is part of the Mount Shuksan Massif and is .75 mi (1.21 km) northeast of the main summit of Shuksan. Nooksack Tower looms to the west over Nooksack Cirque. The East Nooksack Glacier lies to the southeast, West Nooksack Glacier to the east and Price Glacier is on the north flanks of the tower. Nooksack Tower is one of the most difficult mountains to climb in the Cascade Range, with loose rock, 50-degree or greater slopes and ice ridges as well as accessibility issues and exposure, all weighing into the climbing equation. The descent may require ten or more rappels.
Goode Glacier is in North Cascades National Park in the U.S. state of Washington, on the east slopes of Goode Mountain. Goode Glacier is a hanging glacier and is broken into several sections descending from 7,200 to 5,800 ft. Goode Glacier sits more than 2,800 ft (850 m) below the summit of Goode Mountain, the tallest peak in North Cascades National Park.
Katsuk Glacier is in North Cascades National Park in the U.S. state of Washington, in a cirque to the north of Katsuk Peak and east of Kimtah Peak. Both Katsuk and Kimtah Peaks are prominent summits along a ridge known as Jagged Edge. Katsuk Glacier consists of three disconnected sections, the largest of which stretches for over 1 mi (1.6 km) in width. Kimtah Glacier is immediately west of Katsuk Glacier, while the Mesahchie Glacier lies to the east.
Kimtah Glacier is in North Cascades National Park in the U.S. state of Washington, in a cirque to the west of Kimtah Peak and east of Cosho Peak. Both Kimtah and Cosho Peaks are prominent summits along a ridge known as Jagged Edge. Kimtah Glacier is just under 1 mi (1.6 km) in width and descends northward from 8,100 to 7,000 ft and has four lobes.
Mesahchie Glacier is in North Cascades National Park in the U.S. state of Washington, in a cirque to the northeast of Mesahchie Peak. Mesahchie Peak is the highest summit along a ridge known as Jagged Edge. Mesahchie Glacier is approximately .75 mi (1.21 km) in width and is immediately east of Katsuk Glacier.
Price Lake is located in North Cascades National Park, in the U. S. state of Washington. Price Lake was formed by the retreat of Price Glacier, which descends from the north slopes of Mount Shuksan. Price Glacier is broken into an upper and lower section and the lower section sometimes calves small icebergs into Price Lake.
Sulphide Lake is located in North Cascades National Park, in the U. S. state of Washington. Sulphide Lake lies in a cirque on the southeast slopes of Mount Shuksan. Several major cascades drop as much as 1,000 ft (300 m) into Sulphide Lake including Sulphide Basin Falls which is from melt off the Sulphide Glacier. After Sulphide Creek drains from Sulphide lake, it then plunges at least 2,000 ft (610 m) over a series of cascades called Sulphide Creek Falls, which is one of the tallest waterfalls in the U.S.
