Spider Mountain

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Spider Mountain
Spider Mountain in North Cascades.jpg
Spider Mountain from Maple Pass
Highest point
Elevation 8,286 ft (2,526 m) [1]
Prominence 926 ft (282 m) [1]
Parent peak Mount Formidable (8,325 ft) [2]
Isolation 1.33 mi (2.14 km) [2]
Coordinates 48°24′34″N121°02′10″W / 48.409454°N 121.036096°W / 48.409454; -121.036096 [1]
Geography
USA Washington relief location map.jpg
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Spider Mountain
Location in Washington
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Spider Mountain
Spider Mountain (the United States)
Location Chelan County, Washington, U.S.
Parent range North Cascades
Cascade Range
Topo map USGS Cascade Pass
Geology
Type of rock Schist
Climbing
First ascent 1938, Calder Bressler, Ralph Clough, Bill Cox, Tom Myers [3]
Easiest route Scrambling Glacier travel

Spider Mountain is an 8,286-foot (2,526-metre) mountain summit located in the Glacier Peak Wilderness in western Chelan County of Washington state. [4] It is part of the North Cascades, which is a subset of the Cascade Range. Meltwater from the Spider Glacier on the steep north face, and other surface runoff from the mountain drains into Flat Creek, which is a tributary of the Stehekin River. The nearest higher neighbor is Mount Formidable 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the west. [1] The Middle Cascade Glacier lies between these two mountains, and the Ptarmigan Traverse passes through also.

Contents

Climate

Southwest aspect seen from Green Mountain Spider Mountain from SW.jpg
Southwest aspect seen from Green Mountain

Spider Mountain is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America. [3] 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. 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] In terms of favorable weather, July through September are best for climbing.

Geology

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

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]

Spider Mountain in upper left Spider Mountain seen from Maple Pass Loop Trail.jpg
Spider Mountain in upper left

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 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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Luahna Peak is an 8,400+ ft double summit mountain located in the Glacier Peak Wilderness of the North Cascades in Washington state. The true summit is 7400+ feet in elevation, and the northwest subpeak is 8,320+ feet. The mountain is situated in Chelan County, in the Wenatchee National Forest. Luahna Peak is the second highest in the Dakobed Range after Clark Mountain which is 1.04 mi (1.67 km) to the southeast, and Luahna lies 6.95 mi (11.18 km) southeast of Glacier Peak. The Richardson Glacier lies to the southeast of the summit, with the Pilz Glacier and Butterfly Glacier stretching across the northern slope. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into the White River and Napeequa River, both tributaries of the Wenatchee River.

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

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, Mount Berge, Bandit 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.

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

Le Conte Mountain is a 7,762-foot-elevation (2,366-meter) summit located on the shared boundary of Skagit County and Chelan County in Washington state. It is positioned on the crest of the North Cascades Range, and is set within the Glacier Peak Wilderness. Le Conte Mountain is situated on the shared border of Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Access to the peak is via the Ptarmigan Traverse. The nearest higher neighbor is Sentinel Peak, 1.87 miles (3.01 km) to the south-southeast, and Spider Mountain is 2.4 miles (3.9 km) to the northeast. The Le Conte Glacier and South Cascade Glacier lie to the south of the peak. Precipitation runoff on the east side the mountain drains into Flat Creek which is a tributary of the Stehekin River, while precipitation drains into headwaters of the South Fork Cascade River from the west side. Topographic relief is significant as the southwest aspect rises nearly 2,500 feet above South Cascade Lake in less than one-half mile, and the northeast aspect rises 3,200 feet above Flat Creek in one mile.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Spider Mountain, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  2. 1 2 "Spider Mountain - 8,300' WA". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
  3. 1 2 3 Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
  4. "Spider Mountain". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 2019-04-26.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.