Jabberwocky Tower

Last updated
Jabberwocky Tower
Jabberwocky Tower.jpg
Jabberwocky Tower
Highest point
Elevation 6,840 ft (2,080 m) [1]
Prominence 40 ft (12 m) [1]
Parent peak Colchuck Balanced Rock 8200+ ft [1]
Coordinates 47°29′28″N120°49′34″W / 47.490988°N 120.826229°W / 47.490988; -120.826229 [1]
Geography
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Jabberwocky Tower
Location in Washington
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Jabberwocky Tower
Jabberwocky Tower (the United States)
Location Washington state, U.S.
Parent range Cascade Range
Topo map USGS Enchantment Lakes
Geology
Type of rock Granite
Climbing
First ascent July 13, 1970 by Dave Beckstead and Paul Myhre [2]
Easiest route Climbing class 5.6

Jabberwocky Tower is a 6,840-foot-elevation granite spire located in Chelan County of Washington state. Jabberwocky Tower is part of The Enchantments within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. It belongs to the Stuart Range which is subset of the Cascade Range. Jabberwocky Tower is situated east of Colchuck Lake and west of Enchantment Peak. Precipitation runoff drains into Icicle Creek, a tributary of the Wenatchee River.

Contents

Climate

Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east toward the Cascade Mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks of the Cascade Range, causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the Cascades (Orographic lift). As a result, the Cascades experience 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. [3] Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger. [3]

Geology

Jabberwocky Tower Jabberwocky Tower sunset.jpg
Jabberwocky Tower

The Alpine Lakes Wilderness features some of the most rugged topography in the Cascade Range with craggy peaks and ridges, deep glacial valleys, and granite spires spotted with over 700 mountain lakes. [4] Geological events occurring many years ago created the diverse topography and drastic elevation changes over the Cascade Range leading to the various climate differences.

Colchuck Lake, Jabberwocky Tower Colchuck Lake, Jabberwocky Tower.jpg
Colchuck Lake, Jabberwocky Tower

The history of the formation of the Cascade Mountains dates back millions of years ago to the late Eocene Epoch. [5] With the North American Plate overriding the Pacific Plate, episodes of volcanic igneous activity persisted. [5] In addition, small fragments of the oceanic and continental lithosphere called terranes created the North Cascades about 50 million years ago. [5]

During the Pleistocene period dating back over two million years ago, glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured the landscape leaving deposits of rock debris. [5] The last glacial retreat in the Alpine Lakes area began about 14,000 years ago and was north of the Canada–US border by 10,000 years ago. [5] The U-shaped cross section of the river valleys is a result of that recent glaciation. Uplift and faulting in combination with glaciation have been the dominant processes which have created the tall peaks and deep valleys of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area.

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Big Jim Mountain is a 7,763-foot (2,366-metre) mountain summit located in Chelan County of Washington state. It is situated 9 mi (14 km) northwest of Leavenworth, within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, on land managed by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. Big Jim Mountain is the fourth-highest peak in the Chiwaukum Mountains, a subset of the Cascade Range. Its nearest higher neighbor is Big Lou, 1.75 mi (2.82 km) to the south-southwest, and Cape Horn is set 4 mi (6.4 km) to the west. Precipitation runoff from Big Jim drains into tributaries of the Wenatchee River. Although modest in elevation, relief is significant since Big Jim rises 2,300 feet above Painter Creek Valley in one mile. Big Jim Mountain is named for Jim Whittaker, the first American to summit Mount Everest and twin brother of Lou Whittaker.

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

Wedge Mountain is a 5,860-foot-elevation (1,786-meter) summit located in Chelan County of Washington state. It is set on the boundary line of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, on land managed by Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Wedge Mountain is the northeastern terminus of the Stuart Range, which is a subset of the Cascade Range. It is situated 3.5 miles (5.6 km) northeast of The Temple, and the nearest town is Leavenworth, 5 miles (8.0 km) to the north-northeast. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the Wenatchee River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises over 2,800 feet above Snow Creek in one-half mile. Backpackers hiking en route to The Enchantments via the Snow Creek Trail traverse the western foot of this mountain. Wedge Mountain is the toponym officially adopted by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names for the 5,860-foot summit.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Jabberwocky Tower, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  2. Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
  3. 1 2 Beckey, p. 16
  4. Smoot, Jeff (2004). Backpacking Washington's Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Helena, Montana: The Globe Pequot Press.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.