Pyramid Peak (Whatcom County, Washington)

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Pyramid Peak
Pyramid Peak 22 May 2018.jpg
Pyramid Peak seen from Diablo Lake Overlook
Highest point
Elevation 7,189 ft (2,191 m) [1]
Prominence 142 ft (43 m) [2]
Parent peak Pinnacle Peak (7,386 ft) [3]
Isolation 0.28 mi (0.45 km) [3]
Coordinates 48°40′28″N121°08′46″W / 48.6745180°N 121.1461335°W / 48.6745180; -121.1461335 [1]
Geography
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Pyramid Peak
Location in Washington
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Pyramid Peak
Pyramid Peak (the United States)
Pyramid Peak (Whatcom County, Washington)
Interactive map of Pyramid Peak
CountryUnited States
State Washington
County Whatcom
Protected area North Cascades National Park
Parent range North Cascades
Topo map USGS Diablo Dam
Geology
Rock type gneiss [4]
Climbing
First ascent 1931, William Degenhardt and Herbert Strandberg [5]
Easiest route Scrambling (class 3)

Pyramid Peak is a 7,189-foot (2,191-metre) mountain summit in the North Cascades Range of Washington, United States. [1] It is located within North Cascades National Park. It rises steeply from Diablo Lake, one of the reservoirs on the Skagit River. It is part of a group of peaks that form the northern end of a chain running south through climbing destinations such as Colonial Peak, Paul Bunyans Stump, and Snowfield Peak. Like many North Cascade peaks, Pyramid Peak is more notable for its large, steep rise above local terrain than for its absolute elevation. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 6,400 feet (2,000 meters) above the Skagit River in 2.5 miles (4 km). Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into Diablo Lake and Skagit River.

Contents

Pyramid Peak was first climbed in 1931 by William Degenhardt and Herbert Strandberg of the Seattle Mountaineers. [5] The approach is made via the Pyramid Lake Trail, starting near Diablo Dam on the North Cascades Highway.

Climate

Pyramid Peak is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America. [5] 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. [5] 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, spires, 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.

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]

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.

See also

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

Mount Tommy Thompson is a 6,780-foot-elevation (2,070-meter) mountain summit located in Skagit County of Washington state. It is situated eight miles southeast of the town of Marblemount, within the Glacier Peak Wilderness, on land managed by Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest, on the west slopes of the North Cascades Range. The nearest higher named neighbor is Snowking Mountain, 3.16 miles (5.09 km) to the southeast. Topographic relief is significant as the southwest aspect rises 3,670 feet above Slide Lake in less than two miles. Precipitation runoff from Mount Tommy Thompson drains into tributaries of the Skagit River.

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

Mount Buckindy is a remote 7,320-foot-elevation (2,230-meter) mountain summit located in the North Cascades, in Skagit County of Washington state. It is the second-highest point of the Buckindy Range, or Buckindy Ridge. It is set in the Glacier Peak Wilderness on land managed by the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. It is situated 20 miles east-northeast of Darrington, Washington, and 17 miles north-northwest of Glacier Peak which is one of the Cascade stratovolcanoes. Precipitation runoff from Mount Buckindy drains south to the Suiattle River via Buck Creek and Downey Creek, and north to the Cascade River via Kindy Creek. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 4,700 feet above Kindy Creek in less than two miles. The mountain's toponym is a portmanteau of Buck and Kindy Creeks, and has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Devil Peak</span> Mountain in Skagit County, Washington, United States

Little Devil Peak is a 6,985-foot-elevation (2,129 m) mountain summit located in Skagit County of Washington state. It is set within North Cascades National Park and Stephen Mather Wilderness, where it is situated 3.1 miles northeast of Lookout Mountain. Little Devil is the second-highest peak of Teebone Ridge, and other peaks on this ridge include line parent Big Devil Peak, Fallen Angel, and The Trapezoid. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the Skagit River. Like many North Cascades peaks, it is more notable for its large, steep rise above local terrain than for its absolute elevation. Topographic relief is significant as the south aspect rises 5,400 feet above Marble Creek in three miles, and the east aspect rises 4,200 feet above Newhalem Creek in approximately 1.5 mile.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Pyramid Peak". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 2021-11-25.
  2. "Pyramid Peak, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  3. 1 2 "Pyramid Peak - 7,182' WA". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2021-11-25.
  4. Rowland W. Tabor, Ralph Albert Haugerud, 1999, Geology of the North Cascades: A Mountain Mosaic, Mountaineers Books, ISBN   9780898866230, page 56.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Beckey, Fred W. (1996). Cascade alpine guide, Volume 2: Stevens Pass to Rainy Pass (2nd ed.). ISBN   978-0-89886-838-8.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.