Highmarking or High-Marking is a popular activity performed by snowmobilers in mountainous terrain, where the snowmobile operator tries to ride as far up a steep mountain slope as possible, then turn around and come back down the hill without getting stuck, rolling the snowmobile or losing power.
This activity is extremely dangerous because optimum highmark terrain is typically in areas where avalanche danger is extremely high. Snowmobilers are the recreation group most likely to be killed in an avalanche, largely due to the activity of highmarking.
According to the Utah Avalanche Forecast Center, "Avalanche victims are almost exclusively backcountry recreationists--snowmobilers, climbers, snowboarders, snowshoers, skiers and hikers. Snowmobilers lead the list with twice the number of fatalities as any other activity."
Highmarking is the recreational maneuver of attempting to reach the highest point of a snow-covered feature such as a mountain, on a snowmobile. It refers to a specific activity in which the snowmobile operator's main goal is to accelerate and gain maximum elevation upon the face of a mountain before the machine reaches the top of the feature or upward progress is suddenly forced to diminish because of the grade of the feature, which gives the rider no choice but to turn around.
A High mark begins when a snowmobiler leaves an established trail and fully accelerates; blazing his/her own trail upward toward the summit of a snow-covered mountain face, ideally lying at a 30-45% grade. As the terrain gets steeper, the machine's acceleration slows down. At the apex of the elevation gained, the rider must sharply turn 180 degrees and descend the feature. The height of the arching track left in the snow by a pioneering rider usually sparks competition within members of a rider's party, urging the rest to surpass the height of the original arch, thus initiating a competition. High marks vary in their degrees of difficulty depending on the pitch of a given ascent and conditions of the snow.
Highmarking involves serious personal injury risk factors, most notably the danger of the rider triggering an avalanche and becoming buried in the ensuing cataclysm. According to , "Highmarking accounts for more than 63 percent of the avalanche fatalities involving snowmobilers in North America." Highmarking should only be attempted by snowmobilers who are equipped with avalanche transceivers and accompanied by other riders capable of detecting a distress signal and rescuing a buried snowmobiler.
Mountaineering, or alpinism, is the set of outdoor activities that involves ascending tall mountains. Mountaineering-related activities include traditional outdoor climbing, skiing and traversing via ferratas. Indoor climbing, sport climbing and bouldering are also considered variants of mountaineering by some.
An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow down a slope, such as a hill or mountain.
A snowmobile, also known as a Ski-Doo, snowmachine, sled, motor sled, motor sledge, skimobile, or snow scooter, is a motorized vehicle designed for winter travel and recreation on snow. It is designed to be operated on snow and ice and does not require a road or trail, but most are driven on open terrain or trails. Snowmobiling is a sport that many people have taken on as a serious hobby.
Tubing, also known as inner tubing, bumper tubing, towed tubing, or kite tubing, is a recreational activity where an individual rides on top of an inner tube, either on water, snow, or through the air. The tubes themselves are also known as "donuts" or "biscuits" due to their shape.
A snow cornice or simply cornice is an overhanging edge of snow on a ridge or the crest of a mountain and along the sides of gullies.
Colonial Peak is a mountain in the North Cascades of Washington, United States. It rises steeply from the southwest bank of Thunder Arm of Diablo Lake, one of the artificial reservoirs on the Skagit River. It is part of a group of peaks that form the northern end of a chain running south through prized climbing destinations such as Eldorado Peak, Forbidden Peak, and Goode Mountain. Colonial Peak takes its name from the Colonial mining claim on its slopes.
Coburn Mountain is a mountain located in Somerset County, Maine.
Silver Star Mountain is an 8,876-foot (2,705-metre) mountain located in Okanogan County, Washington. The mountain is part of the Methow Mountains, a subset of the Cascade Range. Silver Star is the dominant feature in the Washington Pass area and visible from the North Cascades Highway. It was first climbed by Lage Wernstedt in 1926.
Buckner Mountain is a tall peak in the North Cascades of Washington state and in the Stephen Mather Wilderness of North Cascades National Park. At 9,114 feet (2,778 m) in elevation it is the highest in Skagit County and one of about ten of Washington's non-volcanic peaks above 9,000 feet high. It is ranked as the 14th highest peak in the state, and the third highest peak in North Cascades National Park.
Paul Bunyans Stump is a 7,480+ ft mountain summit in the North Cascades Range of Washington, United States. It is located within North Cascades National Park. It rises steeply from Diablo Lake, one of the reservoirs on the Skagit River. It is part of a group of peaks that form the northern end of a chain running south through climbing destinations such as Colonial Peak and Snowfield Peak. The nearest peak to Paul Bunyans Stump is Pinnacle Peak, 0.37 mi (0.60 km) to the north, and the nearest higher peak is Neve Peak, 0.9 mi (1.4 km) to the southeast. Like many North Cascade peaks, Paul Bunyans Stump is more notable for its large, steep rise above local terrain than for its absolute elevation. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into Diablo Lake and Skagit River.
Pyramid Peak is a 7,189-foot (2,191-metre) mountain summit in the North Cascades Range of Washington, United States. It is located within North Cascades National Park. It rises steeply from Diablo Lake, one of the reservoirs on the Skagit River. It is part of a group of peaks that form the northern end of a chain running south through climbing destinations such as Colonial Peak, Paul Bunyans Stump, and Snowfield Peak. Like many North Cascade peaks, Pyramid Peak is more notable for its large, steep rise above local terrain than for its absolute elevation. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into Diablo Lake and Skagit River.
Elephant Butte is remote 7,380-foot-elevation summit located in Whatcom County of Washington, United States. It is situated within North Cascades National Park and Stephen Mather Wilderness, and is part of the Picket Range, a subset of the North Cascades. Like many North Cascades peaks, Elephant Butte is more notable for its large, steep rise above local terrain than for its absolute elevation. Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises 5,200 feet (1,585 meters) above McMillan Creek in one mile, and the south aspect rises 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) above Stetattle Creek in two miles. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains to the Skagit River via these two creeks. This geographical feature's name has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names.
This glossary of skiing and snowboarding terms is a list of definitions of terms and jargon used in skiing, snowboarding, and related winter sports.
The Triad is a mountain with three peaks located in the North Cascades, in Skagit County of Washington state. Situated in North Cascades National Park, The Triad is positioned west of the crest of the Cascade Range, approximately 12 miles east of the town of Marblemount. The middle peak (highest) has an elevation of 7,520+ ft, the west peak 7,440+ ft, and the east peak 7,520+ ft. The popular hiking objective, Hidden Lake Peak Lookout, lies three miles to the southwest, and the nearest higher peak, Eldorado Peak, two miles to the northeast, is a popular mountaineering objective. Precipitation runoff from The Triad drains into tributaries of the Cascade River which in turn is a tributary of the Skagit River. The first ascent of the mountain was made in 1949 by Dick Eilertsen, Dick Lowery, Dick Scales, and Don Wilde. This climbing party which had three identical first names, named it the Three Dicks. However, in the interest of good taste, the more suitable and similar name was adopted since "triad" means a group or set of three connected people or things.
Pinnacle Peak is a 7,360+ ft mountain summit in the North Cascades Range of Washington, United States. It is located within North Cascades National Park, between Pyramid Peak and Paul Bunyans Stump, which is the nearest higher peak. It rises steeply from Diablo Lake, one of the reservoirs on the Skagit River. It is part of a group of peaks that form the northern end of a chain running south through climbing destinations such as Colonial Peak and Snowfield Peak. Like many North Cascade peaks, Pinnacle Peak is more notable for its large, steep rise above local terrain than for its absolute elevation. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into Diablo Lake and Skagit River. The approach is via the Pyramid Lake Trail, starting near Diablo Dam on the North Cascades Highway. From the lake, there is route-finding up Pyramid Arm to Colonial Glacier.
Green Mountain is a 4,824-foot (1,470-metre) mountain summit located in King County of Washington state. It's situated at the western edge of the Cascade Range on land managed by Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Green Mountain is more notable for its large, steep rise above local terrain than for its absolute elevation. Its nearest neighbor is Mount Teneriffe, 1.18 miles (1.90 km) to the southwest, and the nearest higher peak is Moolock Mountain, 2.53 miles (4.07 km) to the northeast. Precipitation runoff from Green Mountain drains into tributaries of the Snoqualmie River.
Genesis Peak is a 7,244 ft (2,210 m) mountain summit located in the North Cascades, in Whatcom County of Washington, United States. It is situated within North Cascades National Park and Stephen Mather Wilderness. The nearest higher neighbor is Mount Prophet, 2.22 miles (3.57 km) to the northwest. Like many North Cascade peaks, Genesis Peak is more notable for its large, steep rise above local terrain than for its absolute elevation. Topographic relief is significant since the southern aspect of the mountain rises 5,400 feet above the Big Beaver Valley in approximately 2 mi (3.2 km), and the eastern aspect of the mountain rises 5,600 feet above Ross Lake in approximately 3 mi (4.8 km). Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into Ross Lake via Skymo, No Name, and Big Beaver Creeks. The first ascent of this peak was made September 13, 1975, by Norman Burke, Cliff Lawson, Ed Lebert, and Dan Sjolseth.
Cowboy Mountain is a 5,853-foot-elevation mountain summit located in northeast King County of Washington state. It is situated at Stevens Pass, on land managed by Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. This mountain is best known for ski runs on its north slopes which are part of the Stevens Pass Ski Area. Cowboy Mountain is part of the Chiwaukum Mountains, which are a subset of the Cascade Range. Its nearest higher neighbor is Big Chief Mountain, 1.9 mi (3.1 km) to the northeast, and the Pacific Crest Trail passes through the saddle between these two mountains. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into headwaters of the Tye River, which in turn is a tributary of the Skykomish River. The longest railroad tunnel in the United States, the Cascade Tunnel, was bored directly under Cowboy Mountain, as a response to deadly avalanches that threatened trains of the Great Northern Railway. The deadliest avalanche in the history of the United States, the 1910 Wellington avalanche, occurred approximately two miles west of Cowboy Mountain.
Gabriel Peak is a prominent 7,920-foot (2,410 m)-elevation mountain summit located in North Cascades National Park, in Skagit County of Washington state. It is part of the North Cascades which is a subset of the Cascade Range. The nearest higher neighbor is Cosho Peak, 2.7 miles (4.3 km) to the south, Beebe Mountain is set 2.5 miles (4.0 km) to the north, and Red Mountain is 3 miles (4.8 km) to the southwest. Precipitation runoff from this feature drains to Ross Lake via Gabriel and Panther Creeks. Like many North Cascade peaks, Gabriel Peak is more notable for its large, steep rise above local terrain than for its absolute elevation. Topographic relief is significant as it rises 4,700 feet (1,400 m) above the Panther Creek valley in approximately one mile. This geographical feature is named after the archangel Gabriel, which is a reference to Tommy Rowland who settled in the Skagit River area in 1895 and later pronounced himself the "Prophet Elisha." Mount Prophet, Genesis Peak, and nearby Elija Ridge were also named in association with Rowland.
Bessemer Mountain is a 5,166-foot-elevation mountain summit located in King County of Washington state. It is situated at the western edge of the Cascade Range, on land managed by Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Bessemer Mountain is more notable for its large, steep rise above local terrain than for its absolute elevation. Topographic relief is significant as the south aspect rises over 4,200 feet (1,280 meters) above Middle Fork Snoqualmie River in two miles. Precipitation runoff from this mountain drains into tributaries of the Snoqualmie River.
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