Icicle Ridge

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Icicle Ridge
Icicle Creek 5773.JPG
Eastern slope of Icicle Ridge (green hill) at its junction with 4th of July trail viewing towards Big Lou on the right and Grindstone Mountain at the far center
Highest point
Peak Big Lou
Elevation 7,766 ft (2,367 m) [1]
Coordinates 47°35′27″N120°46′02″W / 47.590943°N 120.76731°W / 47.590943; -120.76731 [2]
Dimensions
Width1.1 mi (1.8 km)
Geography
Icicle Ridge
CountryUnited States
States Washington
Parent range Alpine Lakes Wilderness

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 the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. [3]

Contents

Icicle Ridge got its name from the river, which name comes from the Indian word na-sik-elt, meaning narrow canyon. According to Albert H. Sylvester, a topographer and Forest Service surveyor for many years, "Place the letter n at the beginning of icicle and the letter t at its end, and you practically have the Indian word." [4]

Geography

Icicle Ridge belongs to a geological drift called Leavenworth Advance with a strongly asymmetrical glacial motion off Icicle Creek that flowed into cirques along the ridge and crests of the Cascades. This gave rise to a dozen steep tributary ice streams that ran from the main ice cap on Icicle Ridge. [5] The glacier averaged 380 metres (1,250 ft) in thickness at its main balance point. Additional tributaries flowed from the cirques along Icicle Ridge. Additional influential glacial advances include the Mountain Home and the Peshastin advance. [6]

Icicle Ridge is one of the moraine formations of metamorphic rock belonging to the Chiwaukum Schist. The ridge is made of many large granite boulders that may have originated as the bedrock was plucked by the glacial movements plus loose boulders from alluvium, colluvium, and rockfalls from steep valley walls onto the glacier surface, including terminal and lateral moraines. [5] :137 Lateral moraines are abundant throughout the ridge with the exception of the lower eastern slope near the city of Leavenworth along Boundary Butte Ridge. These are steep walls with little preservation of glacial sediments. These initial slopes contain tributaries to Icicle Creek that have less boulder sediment. The southern tributaries, on the other hand, contain prominent sources of granitic boulders as remnants of glacial sediment. [5] :147

Climate

Icicle Ridge is located in a hemiboreal climate, [7] part of the marine west coast climate zone of western North America, [8] which under the Köppen climate classification, a subtype for this climate is a "dry-summer subtropical" climate, often referred to as "Mediterranean". [9] The north–south orientation of the cascades acts as a strong topographical control of weather. Two main pressure systems affect the Cascades Range of Washington: the North Pacific High pressures and the summer Aleutian Low pressures. In both cases, the northwest of the Cascades is the point of origin of air and storms. [8] 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. [8] The months June through October offer the most favorable weather for viewing or climbing this peak.

Watershed

Icicle Ridge borders several lakes and rivers along the Icicle Creek Valley.

NameElevationTrail
Cabin CreekFourth of July Creek Trail #1579
Lake Augusta 6,857 ft (2,090 m) [10] Hatchery Creek Trail #1577
Carter LakePainter Creek Trail # 1575
Lake Edna 6,755 ft (2,059 m) [11] Chatter Creek Trail # 1580
Lower and Upper Florence Lake 5,794 ft (1,766 m); [12] 6,509 ft (1,984 m) [13] Icicle Ridge Trail
Doelle Lakes Chain Lakes Trail # 1569

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ingalls Peak</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grindstone Mountain (Washington)</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

Grindstone Mountain is a 7,533-foot (2,296-metre) mountain summit located in the Icicle Creek Valley in Chelan County of Washington state. Grindstone Mountain is situated 12 mi (19 km) west of Leavenworth, within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, on land managed by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. Grindstone Mountain is the seventh-highest peak in the Chiwaukum Mountains, a subset of the Cascade Range. Its nearest higher neighbor is Ladies Peak, 2.2 mi (3.5 km) to the north-northwest, and Cape Horn is set 1.4 mi (2.3 km) to the north. Precipitation runoff from Grindstone drains into Icicle Creek, which is a tributary of the Wenatchee River. Although modest in elevation, relief is significant since Grindstone rises 4,700 feet above Icicle Creek Valley in less than two miles. Grindstone Mountain was named by Albert Hale Sylvester in association with Grindstone Creek, which flows from Sylvester Lake on this mountain's southwest slope. Sylvester found a small grindstone which had fallen from a pack horse fording the creek.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trico Mountain</span> Mountain in Washington, United States of America

Trico Mountain is a 6,640+ ft mountain summit located 10 mi (16 km) south of Stevens Pass on the common border of King County, Kittitas County and Chelan County in Washington state. "Trico" is a portmanteau of triple county. This peak is part of the Wenatchee Mountains, which are a subset of the Cascade Range, and is situated 20 mi (32 km) west of Leavenworth in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Trico is a triple divide peak with precipitation runoff from the mountain draining south into Cle Elum River, northwest into Deception Creek, and northeast into Leland Creek, which is a tributary of Icicle Creek. The scenic Tuck and Robin Lakes are set on the south slopes, between Trico and Granite Mountain, which is 1.6 mi (2.6 km) to the southeast. The Pacific Crest Trail skirts below the western aspect this peak as it crosses Deception Pass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harding Mountain</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

Harding Mountain is a 7,173 ft (2,190 m) mountain summit located in Chelan County of Washington state. It is the seventh-highest point in the North Wenatchee Mountains. Harding Mountain is situated within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, 5.35 mi (8.61 km) northwest of Mount Stuart, and 4.1 mi (6.6 km) west of Eightmile Mountain, on land managed by Wenatchee National Forest. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into tributaries of Icicle Creek, which in turn is a tributary of the Wenatchee River. This mountain was named after President Warren G. Harding by Albert Hale Sylvester.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape Horn (Washington)</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

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 the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. Cape Horn is part of the Chiwaukum Mountains, a subset of the Cascade Range. The 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, and 2,100 feet above the Spanish Camp Creek in one mile. This mountain was named by Albert Hale Sylvester in 1909 for its sharp profile. This mountain's toponym has been officially by the United States Board on Geographic Names.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ladies Peak</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

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 the 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Lou</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

Big Lou is a 7,780+ ft mountain summit located in Chelan County of Washington state. It is situated 8.5 mi (13.7 km) west-northwest of Leavenworth, on the boundary of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, and on land managed by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. Big Lou is the highest point on Icicle Ridge, and is the third-highest peak in the Chiwaukum Mountains, a subset of the Cascade Range. Its nearest higher neighbor is Snowgrass Mountain, 5 mi (8.0 km) to the northwest, and slightly lower Big Jim Mountain is set 1.75 mi (2.82 km) to the north-northeast. Precipitation runoff from Big Lou drains into Icicle Creek and other tributaries of the Wenatchee River. Although modest in elevation, relief is significant since Big Lou rises 5,200 feet above Icicle Creek Valley in approximately two miles. Big Lou is named for mountaineer Lou Whittaker, the twin brother of Jim Whittaker, the first American to summit Mount Everest.

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 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Edna</span> Lake in Washington state, US

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Peak</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

Edward Peak, also known as The Mole, is a 7,280-foot (2,219-metre) granite summit located in Chelan County of Washington state. It is set within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, on land managed by Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Edward Peak belongs to the Stuart Range which is a subset of the Cascade Range. It is situated 1.9 miles (3.1 km) north of The Temple, and the nearest town is Leavenworth, 7 miles (11 km) to the northeast. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains north into Icicle Creek via Rat Creek.

References

  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Icicle Ridge
  2. "Icicle Ridge, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  3. "Icicle Ridge Trail #1570". United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  4. Brokenshire, Doug (1993). Washington State Place Names: From Alki to Yelm. Caxton Press. p. 113. ISBN   978-0-87004-356-7.
  5. 1 2 3 Porter, S. C., & Swanson, T. W. (2008). 36Cl dating of the classic Pleistocene glacial record in the northeastern Cascade Range, Washington. American Journal of Science, 308(2), 130-166.
  6. Marshall, K. J. (2013). Expanded Late Pleistocene Glacial Chronology for Western Washington, USA and the Wanaka-Hawea Basin, New Zealand, Using Luminescence Dating of Glaciofluvial Outwash (Doctoral dissertation, Idaho State University).
  7. 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.
  8. 1 2 3 Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008; Page 16. Accessed 29 March 2021.
  9. "Climate Summary for Ronald, Washington". WeatherBase.com. Retrieved 29 March 2021.