Iron Mountain (Pierce County, Washington)

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Iron Mountain
Iron Mountain.jpg
Iron Mountain seen from the southeast
Highest point
Elevation 6,286 ft (1,916 m) [1]
Prominence 303 ft (92 m) [2]
Coordinates 46°47′35″N121°49′42″W / 46.7930113°N 121.8283303°W / 46.7930113; -121.8283303 Coordinates: 46°47′35″N121°49′42″W / 46.7930113°N 121.8283303°W / 46.7930113; -121.8283303 [1]
Geography
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Iron Mountain
Location of Iron Mountain in Washington
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Iron Mountain
Iron Mountain (the United States)
Location Mount Rainier National Park, Pierce County, Washington, U.S.
Parent range Cascades
Topo map USGS Mount Rainier West
Climbing
Easiest route Scrambling [3]

Iron Mountain is a 6,286-foot (1,916-metre) mountain summit located in Mount Rainier National Park in Pierce County of Washington state. [1] Part of the Cascade Range, it is situated near the base of the Success Cleaver, overlooking Indian Henry's Hunting Ground. Its nearest higher peak is Copper Mountain, 0.3 miles (0.48 km) to the north. [2] The summit provides views of Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, Mount St. Helens, and peaks of the Tatoosh Range. Precipitation runoff from Iron Mountain drains into Tahoma Creek, Devils Dream Creek, and Fishers Horn Pipe Creek, which are all tributaries of the Nisqually River. There were great hopes in the late 1800s that mines on Mount Rainier could be a source of precious metals such as copper, silver, and gold. Dark reddish rock found on Iron Mountain was thought to be iron or iron oxide. [4] Its name was officially adopted in 1932 by the United States Board on Geographic Names. [1]

Contents

Iron Mountain (left) and Copper Mountain Iron and Copper Mountains.jpg
Iron Mountain (left) and Copper Mountain

Climate

Iron Mountain is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America. [5] 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 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.

See also

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Shriner Peak

Shriner Peak is a 5,834 feet (1,778 m) summit located in Mount Rainier National Park in Pierce County of Washington state. It is part of the Cascade Range and is situated south of Cayuse Pass, southwest of Seymour Peak, and southeast of Double Peak. A four mile trail leads from Highway 123 to the Shriner Peak Fire Lookout at the top of the mountain. Precipitation runoff from Shriner Peak drains into tributaries of the Cowlitz River.

Yakima Peak mountain in Washington, United States of America

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Deadwood Peak

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Tamanos Mountain

Tamanos Mountain is a 6,790 feet (2,070 m) 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.

The Castle (Washington)

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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.

Wahpenayo Peak mountain in Washington, United States of America

Wahpenayo Peak is a 6,231 ft summit in the Tatoosh Range which is a sub-range of the Cascade Range. It is located south of Mount Rainier within Mount Rainier National Park, in Lewis County of Washington state. The mountain is named for Wahpenayo, a native American chief who was the father-in-law of Indian Henry. Precipitation runoff on the south and east side of the peak drains into tributaries of the Cowlitz River, whereas the north side drains into tributaries of the Nisqually River.

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.

Skyscraper Mountain

Skyscraper Mountain is a 7,078 feet (2,157 m) summit located in Mount Rainier National Park in Pierce County of Washington state. It is part of the Cascade Range. Skyscraper Mountain is situated northwest of the Sunrise Historic District, from which a four-mile hike leads to the mountain, mostly on the Wonderland Trail. However, the trail does not reach the summit, but it is still a walk up to the top from Skyscraper Pass. The summit provides views of Burroughs Mountain, Sluiskin Mountain, and Mount Rainier. Mount Fremont is its nearest higher peak, 1.1 mi (1.8 km) to the east. 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 Skyscraper Mountain drains into tributaries of the White River.

Pyramid Peak (Pierce County, Washington)

Pyramid Peak is a 6,937-foot (2,114-metre) mountain summit located in Mount Rainier National Park in Pierce County of Washington state. It is part of the Cascade Range and overlooks the Indian Henry's Hunting Ground. It is situated at the base of the Success Cleaver, south of South Tahoma Glacier, and southwest of Pyramid Glacier. The summit provides views of Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, Mount St. Helens, and peaks of the Tatoosh Range. Precipitation runoff from Pyramid Peak drains into Pyramid Creek, Tahoma Creek, and Fishers Horn Pipe Creek, which are all tributaries of the Nisqually River.

Copper Mountain (Pierce County, Washington)

Copper Mountain is a 6,302-foot (1,921-metre) mountain summit located in Mount Rainier National Park in Pierce County of Washington state. Part of the Cascade Range, it is situated near the base of the Success Cleaver, overlooking Indian Henry's Hunting Ground. Its nearest neighbor is Iron Mountain 0.3 miles (0.48 km) to the south, and its nearest higher peak is Pyramid Peak, 1.0 mile (1.6 km) to the northeast. The summit provides views of Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, Mount St. Helens, and peaks of the Tatoosh Range. Precipitation runoff from Copper Mountain drains into Tahoma Creek and Fishers Horn Pipe Creek, which are both tributaries of the Nisqually River. There were great hopes in the late 1800s that mines on Mount Rainier could be a source of precious metals such as copper, silver, and gold. Its name was officially adopted in 1932 by the United States Board on Geographic Names.

Crystal Peak (Washington)

Crystal Peak is a 6,595 feet (2,010 m) 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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Iron Mountain". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey . Retrieved 2019-10-12.
  2. 1 2 Iron Mountain, listsofjohn.com
  3. "Iron Mountain, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  4. Mount Rainier National Park Place Names. Gary Fuller Reese (author), 2009.
  5. Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.