Okanagan Range

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Okanagan Range
HORSESHOE BASIN 1.0MEG.jpg
Horseshoe Basin, Armstrong Peak, Okanagan Range, Washington
Dimensions
Area775 km2 (299 sq mi)
Geography
Okanagan Range
CountriesCanada and United States
States/Provinces British Columbia and Washington
Range coordinates 49°5′N120°10′W / 49.083°N 120.167°W / 49.083; -120.167
Parent range North Cascades/Canadian Cascades

The Okanagan Range or Okanogan Range is a small subrange of the Cascade Range straddling the border between British Columbia and Washington south of the Similkameen River on the inland side of the range. The range is the northeasternmost extremity of the Cascade Range.

According to Fred Beckey there are differences of opinion about the names and locations of the subranges of the northern Cascades, especially between Canadian and American geographers. Nevertheless early geologists and topographers had a fundamental agreement about the location and names of the subranges. The Okanagan Range was seen as bounded by the Pasayten River on the west and continuing east to Chopaka Mountain. The Hozameen Range was seen as separated from the Okanagan Range by the Pasayten River. This definition of the Okanagan Range included most of today's Pasayten Wilderness and extending south to joins the main Cascade Range at Harts Pass, near the headwaters of the Methow River. The core of the Okanagan Range under this definition marks the divide between streams that flow north to the Similkameen River and those that flow south to the Methow River. [1]

BCGNIS defines the northern boundary of the Okanagan Range as Young Creek and the lower Ashnola River. [2]

Peakbagger.com defines the Okanogan Range as a much larger region bounded to the south by the Methow River and to the east by the Okanagan River and Similkameen River. [3]

Cathedral Peak from Apex Pass Cathedral Peak from Apex Pass.jpg
Cathedral Peak from Apex Pass

The Okanagan Range should not be confused with the Okanagan Highland, which is located on the farther side of the Okanagan Valley and is sometimes classified as part of the Monashee Mountains.

The eight highest mountains of the range are Mount Lago (8,745 ft), Robinson Mountain (8,726 ft), Remmel Mountain (8,690 ft), Grimface Mountain (8,645 ft), Ptarmigan Peak (8,614 ft), Cathedral Peak (8,606 ft), Mount Carru (8,595 ft), and Monument Peak (8,592 ft). [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Cascades</span> Mountain range in Canada and the United States

The North Cascades are a section of the Cascade Range of western North America. They span the border between the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. state of Washington and are officially named in the U.S. and Canada as the Cascade Mountains. The portion in Canada is known to Americans as the Canadian Cascades, a designation that also includes the mountains above the east bank of the Fraser Canyon as far north as the town of Lytton, at the confluence of the Thompson and Fraser Rivers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hozameen Range</span> Mountain range in North America

The Hozameen Range is a mountain range in southwestern British Columbia and northern Washington, straddling the division between the Coast and Interior regions of that province. It is a subrange of the North Cascades and is neighboured on the east by the Okanagan Range and on the northwest by the unofficially-named Coquihalla Range, which lies between that river and the Fraser. In the northwest part of the range is the one named subrange, the Bedded Range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skagit Range</span>

The Skagit Range is a subrange of the Cascade Range in southwestern British Columbia, Canada and northwestern Washington, United States, which are known in Canada as the Canadian Cascades or, officially, the Cascade Mountains. It is also known in the Nooksack language as Nexwx̠ex̠tsán. The Skagit Range lies to the west of the Skagit River and east and north of the Chilliwack River and flanks the Upper Fraser Valley region of British Columbia's Lower Mainland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of the North Cascades</span>

The geography of the North Cascades describes a range of rugged mountains in British Columbia, Canada and Washington, United States. In Canada, the range is officially named the Cascade Mountains but is commonly referred to as the Canadian Cascades.

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

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

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

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

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. 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 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. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snagtooth Ridge</span>

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).

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

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.

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

Copper Benchmark, also known as Copper Point, is a 7,844-foot-elevation (2,391-meter) mountain summit located on the shared border between Okanogan County and Chelan County in Washington state. Copper Benchmark is part of the Methow Mountains which are a subrange of the North Cascades, and it is situated on the crest of the Cascade Range between Kangaroo Pass and Copper Pass. It was used as a triangulation station for early surveying. It is protected by the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness within the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. Copper Benchmark has a subsidiary peak, Pica Peak (elevation 7,565 feet, which is 0.52 miles northwest of the summit. The nearest higher peak is Wallaby Peak, 0.9 miles to the northeast. Precipitation runoff on the north side of the mountain drains to the Methow River via Early Winters Creek, whereas the other sides of the mountain drain into tributaries of the Chelan River.

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

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).

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

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.

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

Remmel Mountain, also known as Mount Remmel, is a prominent 8,685-foot (2,647-metre) mountain summit located in Okanogan County in Washington state. It is the highest point in the Cathedral Range, which is a subrange of the Okanogan Range in the North Cascades. The mountain is situated 5 miles (8.0 km) south of the Canada–United States border, 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 Mount Lago, 16.8 miles (27.0 km) to the west-southwest, and Amphitheater Mountain lies 3.6 miles (5.8 km) to the north. Remmel is the third-highest summit of the Okanogan Range following Mount Lago (8,745 ft), and Robinson Mountain (8,726 ft). These three peaks follow Jack Mountain (9,075 ft) as the highest peaks in the Pasayten Wilderness. Remmel is the most prominent mountain in the Pasayten Wilderness. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises approximately 2,300 feet above Andrews Creek in 0.75 mile (1.2 km). Precipitation runoff from Remmel Mountain drains into the Chewuch River basin.

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

Windy Peak is an 8,335-foot (2,541-metre) mountain summit located in Okanogan County in Washington state. It is part of the Okanogan Range which is a sub-range of the North Cascades and Cascade Range. The mountain is situated five miles (8.0 km) south of the Canada–United States border, on the east side of the Cascade crest, in the Pasayten Wilderness, on land managed by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. The nearest higher peak is Haystack Mountain, 9.24 miles (14.87 km) to the northwest in Canada. Precipitation runoff from Windy Peak drains into tributaries of the Methow River and Similkameen River.

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

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.

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

Castle Peak is a prominent 8,343-foot (2,543-metre) mountain summit located in the Hozameen Range of the North Cascades, on the shared border between Okanogan County and Whatcom County of Washington state. The mountain is situated one mile (1.6 km) south of the Canada–United States border, on the Cascade crest, in the Pasayten Wilderness, on land managed by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. The nearest higher peak is Jack Mountain, 14.8 miles (23.8 km) to the south-southwest. Castle Peak is the second highest summit of the Hozameen Range following Jack Mountain. Castle Peak is the sixth-highest mountain in the Pasayten Wilderness. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains east into Castle Creek, a tributary of the Similkameen River, or west into tributaries of the Skagit River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises nearly 3,000 feet above Crow Creek in 0.75 mile (1.2 km).

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

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.

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

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.

Osceola Peak is an 8,587-foot (2,617-metre) mountain summit located in western Okanogan County in Washington state. The mountain's name was officially adopted in 1972. Osceola is the 10th highest peak of the Okanogan Range, which is a sub-range of the North Cascades. Osceola Peak ranks 50th on Washington's highest 100 peaks, and 48th on the "Bulger List". The mountain is situated in the Pasayten Wilderness, on land managed by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. The nearest higher peak is Mount Carru, 1 mile (1.6 km) to the east. The mountain has a steep north face, but the south slope is covered in scree which allows a nontechnical climbing ascent. Precipitation runoff from Osceola Peak drains north into tributaries of the Similkameen River, or south into Eureka Creek, which is part of the Methow River drainage basin.

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

Devils Peak is an 8,081-foot (2,463-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 neighbor is Robinson Mountain, 1.88 miles (3.03 km) to the east-southeast, and Slate Peak is set 3.1 miles (5.0 km) to the west. Precipitation runoff from Devils Peak drains west into Robinson Creek, and east into Eureka Creek, which are both part of the Methow River drainage basin.

References

  1. Beckey, Fred (2009). Cascade Alpine Guide: Climbing and High Routes: Rainy Pass to Fraser River (3rd ed.). The Mountaineers. pp. 185–186. ISBN   978-0-89886-423-6.
  2. "Okanagan Range". BC Geographical Names .
  3. 1 2 "Okanogan Range". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 10 August 2009.