Napeequa Peak

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Napeequa Peak
Napeequa Peak.jpg
Napeequa Peak
Highest point
Elevation 8,073 ft (2,461 m) [1]
Prominence 1,273 ft (388 m) [1]
Parent peak Buck Mountain 8528 ft [1]
Coordinates 48°06′15″N120°58′20″W / 48.104133°N 120.972127°W / 48.104133; -120.972127 Coordinates: 48°06′15″N120°58′20″W / 48.104133°N 120.972127°W / 48.104133; -120.972127 [1]
Geography
USA Washington relief location map.jpg
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Napeequa Peak
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Napeequa Peak
Napeequa Peak (the United States)
Parent range North Cascades
Cascade Range
Topo map USGS Clark Mountain
Geology
Age of rock Cretaceous
Type of rock Granodiorite [2]
Climbing
Easiest route Scrambling

Napeequa Peak is an 8,073-foot (2,461-metre) pyramidal mountain summit located in the Glacier Peak Wilderness of the North Cascades in Washington state. The mountain is situated on the crest of the Cascade Range, on the shared border of Snohomish County and Chelan County, also straddling the boundary between the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and the Wenatchee National Forest. Its nearest neighbor is Cirque Mountain, 0.3 mi (0.48 km) to the north, and the nearest higher peak is Buck Mountain, 2.56 mi (4.12 km) to the east-southeast. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains east to the headwaters of Napeequa River; or west into the Suiattle River. The mountain's name is taken from the river's name, which was applied by Albert Hale Sylvester (1871-1944), a pioneer surveyor, explorer, topographer, and forest supervisor in the Cascades. [2]

Contents

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 various climate differences.

Napeequa Peak centered in the mid-distance with Cirque Mountain to its immediate left. Lined up in the back are the Entiat Mountains: Copper, Fernow, Seven Fingered Jack, and Maude Seven Fingered Jack and Maude from the Suiattle Glacier.jpg
Napeequa Peak centered in the mid-distance with Cirque Mountain to its immediate left. Lined up in the back are the Entiat Mountains: Copper, Fernow, Seven Fingered Jack, and Maude

The history of the formation of the Cascade Mountains dates back millions of years ago to the late Eocene Epoch. [3] With the North American Plate overriding the Pacific Plate, episodes of volcanic igneous activity persisted. [3] In addition, small fragments of the oceanic and continental lithosphere called terranes created the North Cascades about 50 million years ago. [3] During the Pleistocene period dating back over two million years ago, glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured and shaped the landscape. [3] Glaciation was most prevalent approximately 18,000 years ago, and most valleys were ice-free by 12,000 years ago. [2] 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. Subduction and tectonic activity in the area began during the late cretaceous period, about 90  million years ago. Extensive volcanic activity began to take place in the oligocene, about 35 million years ago. [4] Glacier Peak, a stratovolcano that is 6.59 mi (10.61 km) west of Napeequa Peak, began forming in the mid-Pleistocene. [2] Due to Glacier Peak's proximity to Napeequa Peak, volcanic ash is common in the area.

Climate

Napeequa Peak is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America. [2] Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel northeast toward the Cascade Mountains. As fronts approach the North Cascades, 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 west side of the North Cascades experiences high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. [2] 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. [2] Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger. [2]

See also

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Brahma Peak

Brahma Peak is a remote 8,078-foot (2,462-metre) mountain summit located on Chiwawa Ridge in the North Cascades, in Chelan County of Washington state. The mountain is situated in the Glacier Peak Wilderness, on land managed by the Wenatchee National Forest. Its nearest higher neighbor is Buck Mountain, 1.8 mi (2.9 km) to the north. Brahma and Buck are set on Chiwawa Ridge, and other notable peaks on this ridge include Fortress Mountain, Cirque Mountain, Napeequa Peak, and Chiwawa Mountain. Precipitation runoff from Brahma and meltwater from its glacier remnants drains into Chiwawa River and Napeequa River, both tributaries of the Wenatchee River. Topographic relief is significant since the southwest lavender-colored schist cliffs of this peak rise nearly 4,000 feet above the Napeequa River Valley in approximately one mile.

Emerald Peak (Washington)

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Saska Peak

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Cirque Mountain (Washington)

Cirque Mountain is a 7,966-foot (2,428-metre) mountain summit located in the Glacier Peak Wilderness of the North Cascades in Washington state. The mountain is situated on the crest of the Cascade Range, on the shared border of Snohomish County and Chelan County, also straddling the boundary between the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and the Wenatchee National Forest. Its nearest higher peak is Napeequa Peak, 0.3 mi (0.48 km) to the south. The peak is set on Chiwawa Ridge with Napeequa, and other notable peaks on this ridge include Fortress Mountain, Buck Mountain, Brahma Peak, and Chiwawa Mountain. Topographic relief is significant since the western aspect of the mountain rises 4,000 feet above the Suiattle Valley in approximately 1.5 mi (2.4 km). This mountain has small, unnamed, hanging glaciers in cirques surrounding the summit. Precipitation runoff from the peak and meltwater from the glaciers drains east to the headwaters of Napeequa River; or west into the Suiattle River.

Pinnacle Mountain (Washington)

Pinnacle Mountain is an 8,400+ ft granitic multi-peak massif located in the Chelan Mountains, in Chelan County of Washington state. The mountain is situated in Glacier Peak Wilderness of the North Cascades, on land managed by Wenatchee National Forest. Fred Beckey's Cascade Alpine Guide has the elevation of the highest pinnacle as 8,402 feet. Pinnacle Mountain ranks as the fourth-highest peak in the Chelan Mountains, and 75th-highest summit in Washington state. Its nearest higher neighbor is Saska Peak, 1.9 mi (3.1 km) to the southeast, and Emerald Peak is positioned 2.25 mi (3.62 km) to the east-southeast. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into the Entiat River and Chelan River drainage basins.

Tenpeak Mountain

Tenpeak Mountain is an 8,200+ ft granitic mountain summit located in the Glacier Peak Wilderness of the North Cascades in Washington state. Fred Beckey's Cascade Alpine Guide has the elevation of the mountain as 8,281 feet. Tenpeak is situated on the crest of the Cascade Range, on the shared border of Snohomish County and Chelan County, also straddling the boundary between the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and the Wenatchee National Forest. Its nearest higher neighbor is Luahna Peak, 2.5 mi (4.0 km) to the southeast. Topographic relief is significant since the northern aspect of the mountain rises 4,200 feet above the Suiattle Valley in approximately 1.5 mi (2.4 km). This mountain has small, unnamed, hanging glaciers in cirques surrounding the summit, and the terminus of the Honeycomb Glacier lies below the western base of the mountain. Precipitation runoff from the mountain and meltwater from the glaciers drains south into White River; or north into the Suiattle River. This mountain's descriptive name was suggested by The Mountaineers, and was officially adopted in 1918 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. The first ascent was made September 21, 1940, by Lloyd Anderson and Tom Campbell.

Martin Peak (Washington) Mountain in Washington, America

Martin Peak is an 8,511-foot (2,594-metre) mountain summit located in the North Cascades, in Chelan County of Washington State. Martin Peak is situated 80 miles northeast of Seattle, and 3 mi (4.8 km) northwest of Holden, in the Glacier Peak Wilderness, on land managed by the Wenatchee National Forest. Martin Peak ranks 56th on Washington's highest 100 peaks, and 54th on the "Bulger List". The nearest higher neighbor is Bonanza Peak, 2.35 miles (3.78 km) to the west, and Riddle Peak lies 3.7 miles (6.0 km) to the east-southeast. Precipitation runoff from the mountain and meltwater from the glacier in the east cirque drains into nearby Lake Chelan via Railroad Creek and Company Creek. Topographic relief is significant since the southern aspect of the mountain rises 4,900 feet above the Railroad Creek Valley in approximately 2 mi (3.2 km). The first ascent of the peak was made in July 1936 by Ida Zacher Darr.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Napeequa Peak, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.
  4. "North Cascades Geology". United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2013.