Mount Hardy (Washington)

Mount Hardy
Mount Hardy
	Mount Hardy from upper Snowy Lake
Highest point
Elevation	8,099 ft (2,469 m)
Prominence	1,519 ft (463 m)
Parent peak	Golden Horn (8,366 ft)
Isolation	1.75 mi (2.82 km)
Coordinates	48°34′54″N120°45′20″W / 48.5816962°N 120.7555432°W
Geography
	Mount Hardy Location in Washington Mount Hardy Mount Hardy (the United States)
	Interactive map of Mount Hardy
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	Okanogan / Skagit
Protected area	Okanogan National Forest
Parent range	Okanogan Range ; North Cascades
Topo map	USGS Mount Arriva
Geology
Rock type	Granite
Climbing
First ascent	Sidney Schmerling, Hermann Ulrichs in 1933
Easiest route	class 3 scrambling

Last updated December 08, 2024

Mount Hardy is an 8,099-foot (2,469-metre) mountain summit located on the common border of Okanogan County with Skagit County in Washington state. It is part of the Okanogan Range which is a sub-range of the North Cascades Range.^[2] Mount Hardy is situated west of Methow Pass, at headwaters of the Methow River, on land administered by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises approximately 2,500 feet (760 meters) above the West Fork Methow River in one-half mile (0.8 km). The nearest higher peak is Golden Horn, 1.75 miles (2.82 km) to the northeast.^[2] Mount Hardy can be seen from the North Cascades Highway which traverses below the southwestern base of the mountain. This mountain's toponym was officially adopted in 1973 by the United States Board on Geographic Names.^[3]

Climate

Mount Hardy is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.^[4] Most weather fronts originating in the Pacific Ocean travel northeast toward the Cascade Mountains. As fronts approach the North Cascades, 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 North Cascades experiences high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger.^[5] 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.^[5]

Geology

The North Cascades features some of the most rugged topography in the Cascade Range with craggy peaks, ridges, and deep glacial valleys. Geological events occurring many years ago created the diverse topography and drastic elevation changes over the Cascade Range leading to the various climate differences. These climate differences lead to vegetation variety defining the ecoregions in this area.

The history of the formation of the Cascade Mountains dates back millions of years ago to the late Eocene Epoch.^[6] With the North American Plate overriding the Pacific Plate, episodes of volcanic igneous activity persisted.^[6] In addition, small fragments of the oceanic and continental lithosphere called terranes created the North Cascades about 50 million years ago.^[6] Like many of the peaks of the Washington Pass area, Mount Hardy is carved from Rapakivi texture granite of the Golden Horn batholith.

During the Pleistocene period dating back over two million years ago, glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured the landscape leaving deposits of rock debris.^[6] The U-shaped cross section of the river valleys is a result of 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 North Cascades area.

Gallery

Mount Hardy from the east-southeast
Mount Hardy (left), and Golden Horn seen from the Maple Pass area

Related Research Articles

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.

Tower Mountain is a prominent non-volcanic mountain located on the boundary line of Okanogan and Skagit counties in Washington state. It is part of the Okanogan Range which is a sub-range of the North Cascades Range. Tower Mountain situated on land administered by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest.

Big Kangaroo is an 8,326-foot (2,538-metre) mountain summit in Okanogan County, Washington, United States.

Golden Horn is an 8,366-foot (2,550-metre) mountain summit located in Okanogan County in Washington, United States. It is part of the Okanogan Range which is a sub-range of the North Cascades Range. Golden Horn is situated north of Methow Pass at headwaters of the Methow River, on land administered by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. It ranks as the 101st-highest summit in Washington. The nearest higher neighbor is Tower Mountain, 1.67 miles (2.69 km) to the southeast. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises approximately 3,366 feet above the West Fork Methow River in one mile (1.6 km). The first ascent of Golden Horn was made by Fred Beckey, Keith Rankin, and Charles Welsh on September 18, 1946.

The Needles is an 8,160-foot (2,487-metre) granite mountain located in Okanogan County in Washington state. It is part of the Okanogan Range which is a sub-range of the North Cascades Range. The Needles is situated on land administered by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into tributaries of the Methow River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 3,660 feet above Pine Creek in approximately 1.25 mile (2 km). The nearest higher neighbor is Tower Mountain, 2.26 miles (3.64 km) to the southwest.

Hinkhouse Peak is a 7,566-foot-elevation (2,306-meter) mountain summit located on the shared border of Okanogan County and Chelan County in Washington state. It is part of the Okanogan Range which is a sub-range of the North Cascades Range. Hinkhouse Peak is situated on land administered by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. The nearest higher neighbor is Liberty Bell Mountain, 1.52 miles (2.45 km) to the south. Hinkhouse Peak is situated north of Washington Pass, at the east end of a high ridge which connects to Cutthroat Peak. A high ridge extending northeast connects it to Constitution Crags. Most precipitation runoff from the peak drains into Early Winters Creek which is a tributary of the Methow River, but the south slope drains into a tributary of the Chelan River. Topographic relief is significant as it rises nearly 3,200 feet above Early Winters Creek in approximately one mile (1.6 km).

Snagtooth Ridge is a jagged granitic ridge located in Okanogan County of Washington state. It is part of the Methow Mountains which are a subrange of the North Cascades. Snagtooth Ridge is situated between Silver Star Mountain and Kangaroo Ridge on land administered by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. Precipitation runoff from the ridge drains into tributaries of the Methow River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises approximately 3,000 feet above West Fork Cedar Creek in one mile (1.6 km).

Vasiliki Ridge is a three-mile-long ridge located in Okanogan County of Washington state. It is part of the Methow Mountains which are a sub-range of the North Cascades. Vasiliki Ridge is situated north of Silver Star Mountain on land administered by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. Vasiliki Ridge can be seen from Washington Pass and from the North Cascades Highway.

Porcupine Peak is a 7,762-foot-elevation (2,366-meter) mountain located in Skagit County of Washington state.

Holliway Mountain is an 8000+ ft granite summit located in Okanogan County in Washington state. It is part of the Okanogan Range which is a sub-range of the North Cascades Range. Holliway Mountain is situated near the headwaters of the Methow River on land administered by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. The nearest higher peak is Golden Horn, 0.91 miles (1.46 km) to the south. Azurite Peak is located three miles to the north-northwest.

Molar Tooth is a 7,547-foot-elevation (2,300-meter) granite summit located on the shared border of Okanogan County and Skagit County, in Washington state. The mountain is part of the Okanagan Range which is a subrange of the Cascade Range. Set in the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest, Molar Tooth is situated south of Cutthroat Pass, and 0.57 miles (0.92 km) north of Cutthroat Peak, which is also the nearest higher peak. The easiest climbing route is class 4 scrambling, but solid rock provides class 5 technical routes as well. Precipitation runoff from the east side of Molar Tooth drains into tributaries of the Methow River, whereas runoff from the west side drains into tributaries of the Skagit River.

Constitution Crags is a 6,978-foot-elevation summit located in Okanogan County of Washington state. It is part of the Okanogan Range which is a sub-range of the North Cascades. Constitution Crags is situated west of Silver Star Mountain on land administered by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. The nearest higher neighbor is Hinkhouse Peak, 0.62 mile to the southwest. Washington Pass is located over a mile south of Constitution Crags, and the North Cascades Highway traverses below the east face of Constitution Crags. Like many North Cascade peaks, Constitution Crags is more notable for its large, steep rise above local terrain than for its absolute elevation. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises nearly 2,700 feet above Early Winters Creek in approximately one mile (1.6 km). Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into Early Winters Creek which is a tributary of the Methow River.

Monument Peak is an 8,597-foot (2,620-metre) mountain summit located in western Okanogan County in Washington state. It is part of the Okanogan Range which is a sub-range of the North Cascades. The mountain is situated in the Pasayten Wilderness, on land administered by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. The nearest higher peak is Mount Lago, 2.42 miles (3.89 km) to the north. Precipitation runoff from Monument Peak drains east into Monument Creek, and west into Eureka Creek, which are both part of the Methow River drainage basin. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 3,800 feet above Eureka Creek in 1.25 mile (2 km).

Robinson Mountain is an 8,731-foot (2,661-metre) mountain summit located in western Okanogan County in Washington state. It is part of the Okanogan Range which is a sub-range of the North Cascades Range. The mountain is situated in the Pasayten Wilderness, on land administered by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. The nearest higher peak is Mount Lago, 7.28 miles (11.72 km) to the north. Precipitation runoff from Robinson Mountain drains west into Robinson Creek, and east into Eureka Creek, which are both part of the Methow River drainage basin. The mountain is named for brothers James and Thomas Robinson who were settlers in the area in the late 1800s.

Mount Lago is a prominent 8,745-foot (2,665-metre) mountain summit located in the Okanogan Range of the North Cascades, in Okanogan County of Washington state. The mountain is situated on the eastern side of the Cascade crest, in the Pasayten Wilderness, on land managed by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. The nearest higher peak is Jack Mountain, 19.5 miles (31.4 km) to the west-southwest. Mount Lago is the highest summit of the Okanogan Range, and follows only Jack Mountain {9,075 ft} as the highest peak in the Pasayten Wilderness. Lago is the fourth-most prominent mountain in the Pasayten Wilderness. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the Pasayten River and Methow River. The mountain was named for Lage Wernstedt (1878–1959), a Forest Service surveyor who made numerous first ascents of the mountains he was mapping in the North Cascades. Lago, is a play on the way Americans pronounced his name. Lage, pronounced Loggy, had a son named Lago.

Mount Carru is an 8,595-foot (2,620-metre) mountain summit located in western Okanogan County in Washington state. It is the seventh-highest peak of the Okanogan Range, which is a sub-range of the North Cascades. The mountain is situated in the Pasayten Wilderness on land administered by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. The nearest higher peak is Mount Lago, 0.8 mile to the east, and Osceola Peak rises one mile (1.6 km) west. The mountain has a steep north face, but the south slope is covered in scree which allows a nontechnical climbing ascent. Precipitation runoff from Mount Carru drains north into Lease Creek which is a tributary of the Pasayten River, or south into Eureka Creek, which is part of the Methow River drainage basin.

Wallaby Peak is a 7,995-foot (2,437-metre) mountain summit located on the boundary line of the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness, in Okanogan County, Washington. The mountain is part of the Methow Mountains, which are a subset of the Cascade Range. Wallaby Peak is situated on Kangaroo Ridge which is approximately two miles east and within view of Washington Pass. The nearest higher peak is Big Kangaroo, 0.86 mi (1.38 km) to the north. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into Early Winters Creek, Cedar Creek, and North Fork Twisp River, all of which are tributaries of the Methow River.

Half Moon is a 7,960+ ft summit located in Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest, in Okanogan County, of Washington state. The mountain is part of the Methow Mountains, which are a subset of the Cascade Range. Half Moon is situated on Kangaroo Ridge which is approximately two miles east and within view of the North Cascades Highway at Washington Pass. The nearest higher neighbor is Wallaby Peak, 0.23 mi (0.37 km) to the south. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into Early Winters Creek, and Cedar Creek, both of which are tributaries of the Methow River.

Syncline Mountain is a 7,560-foot (2,300-metre) mountain summit located on the shared border between Okanogan County and Whatcom County in Washington state. It is part of the Okanogan Range, which is a sub-range of the North Cascades, and is situated on land managed by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. Its nearest neighbor is Tatie Peak, 0.8 miles (1.3 km) to the north, and the nearest higher neighbor is Mount Ballard, 2.1 miles (3.4 km) to the west. The Pacific Crest Trail traverses the east slope of the peak, with an off-trail scramble to reach the summit. Precipitation runoff from Syncline Mountain drains east into Trout Creek which is a tributary of the Methow River, or northwest into Slate Creek, which is part of the Skagit River drainage basin. This unofficially named mountain features a conspicuous syncline, hence its descriptive name.

Mount Bigelow is an 8,449-foot-elevation (2,575-meter) mountain summit located on the border shared by Okanogan and Chelan counties in Washington state.

References

1 2 3 4 "Hardy, Mount WA - 8,099'". Lists of John. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
1 2 3 "Mount Hardy, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
1 2 "Mount Hardy". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 2021-06-07.
1 2 Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
1 2 Beckey, p. 16
1 2 3 4 Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.

External links

Mount Hardy weather: Mountain Forecast
Mt. Hardy aerial photo: PBase

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
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[listsofjohn-1] 1 2 3 4 "Hardy, Mount WA - 8,099'". Lists of John. Retrieved 2024-04-02.

[pb-2] 1 2 3 "Mount Hardy, Washington". Peakbagger.com.

[gnis-3] 1 2 "Mount Hardy". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 2021-06-07.

[Beckey,_Fred_W_2008-4] 1 2 Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.

[Beckey_16-5] 1 2 Beckey, p. 16

[Kruckeberg-6] 1 2 3 4 Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.

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