The Chopping Block | |
---|---|
Highest point | |
Elevation | 6,819 ft (2,078 m) [1] |
Prominence | 579 ft (176 m) [1] |
Coordinates | 48°45′18″N121°18′29″W / 48.75500°N 121.30806°W [1] |
Geography | |
Interactive map of The Chopping Block | |
Location | North Cascades National Park Whatcom County, Washington |
Parent range | Picket Range Cascade Range |
Topo map | USGS Mount Challenger |
Geology | |
Rock type | Skagit Gneiss |
Climbing | |
Easiest route | Climbing YDS 5 |
The Chopping Block is a 6,819-foot (2,078-metre) mountain summit located in the Picket Range within North Cascades National Park in the state of Washington. The mountain is officially named Pinnacle Peak [2] on maps, but hardly anyone calls it by that name. [3] The nearest higher peak is Mount Degenhardt, 0.6 mi (0.97 km) to the northeast. [1] The Chopping Block can be seen from the North Cascades National Park Newhalem visitor center, weather permitting. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into Goodell Creek, a tributary of the Skagit River.
The Chopping Block is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America. [4] 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. [4] Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger. [4]
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. [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]
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.
Mount Despair is a rugged mountain in the North Unit of North Cascades National Park in Washington state. Northeast of Mount Despair lies the Picket Range.
Klawatti Peak is located in North Cascades National Park in the U.S. state of Washington. Klawatti Peak is a nunatak, a peak surrounded by glaciers. These are Klawatti Glacier to the east, McAllister Glacier to the northwest and Inspiration Glacier to the south.
Snowfield Peak is in North Cascades National Park in the U.S. state of Washington. Located in the south unit of the park, Snowfield Peak is .70 mi (1.13 km) east of the summit known as Horsemans Pack and the Neve Glacier descends from the north slopes of the mountain.
Paul Bunyans Stump is a 7,513 ft (2,290 m) mountain summit in the North Cascades Range of Washington, United States. 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 and Snowfield Peak. The nearest peak to Paul Bunyans Stump is Pinnacle Peak, 0.37 mi (0.60 km) to the north, and the nearest higher peak is Neve Peak, 0.9 mi (1.4 km) to the southeast. Like many North Cascade peaks, Paul Bunyans Stump is more notable for its large, steep rise above local terrain than for its absolute elevation. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into Diablo Lake and Skagit River.
Icy Peak is a 7,073-foot (2,156-metre) Skagit Range mountain summit located in the North Cascades of Washington state. It is situated in North Cascades National Park at the head of Nooksack Cirque. High ridges connect it to Seahpo Peak and Mount Shuksan. An icefall occupies the northeast cirque, and small glaciers clad all sides of the peak. Precipitation runoff drains into the Nooksack and Baker Rivers.
Trapper Mountain is a 7,530-foot (2,295-metre) summit located in Chelan County of Washington state. It is part of the North Cascades Range. Trapper Mountain is situated southeast of Cascade Pass on the shared border of North Cascades National Park and Glacier Peak Wilderness. The nearest higher peak is Hurry-up Peak, 0.92 miles (1.48 km) to the west. Surface runoff from the mountain drains into Trapper Lake and tributaries of the Stehekin River.
The Triplets is a 7,240+ ft summit located in Skagit County of Washington state. This breccia triple pinnacle is part of the North Cascades. The Triplets is situated above Cascade Pass on the shared border of North Cascades National Park and Glacier Peak Wilderness. The nearest higher neighbor is Cascade Peak, 0.35 miles (0.56 km) to the west-northwest. Surface runoff from the mountain drains into the Cascade River.
Magic Mountain is a 7,610-foot (2,320-metre) mountain summit located on the shared boundary of Skagit County and Chelan County in Washington state. It is part of the North Cascades, a subset of the Cascade Range. Magic Mountain is situated southeast of Cascade Pass on the shared border of North Cascades National Park and Glacier Peak Wilderness. The nearest peak is Pelton Peak 0.4 miles (0.64 km) to the northeast, and the nearest higher peak is Hurry-up Peak 0.83 miles (1.34 km) to the south. The Yawning Glacier and Cache Col Glacier rest on its northern flank. Magic Mountain is at the northern end of the Ptarmigan Traverse. Surface runoff on the north side the mountain drains into the Stehekin River, while precipitation drains into the Cascade River from the southwest side.
Mix-up Peak, also known as Mixup Peak, is a 7,440-foot (2,270-metre) mountain summit located on the shared boundary of Skagit County and Chelan County in Washington state. It is part of the North Cascades Range and is situated one mile south of Cascade Pass on the shared border of North Cascades National Park and Glacier Peak Wilderness. The nearest higher peak is Magic Mountain, 1.02 miles (1.64 km) to the east-southeast. Mix-up Peak is at the northern end of the Ptarmigan Traverse which is an alpine route to remote mountains such as Mount Formidable and Dome Peak. The Cache Glacier occupies a cirque below its eastern flank. Surface runoff on the east side the mountain drains into the Stehekin River, whereas precipitation runoff drains into the Cascade River from the west side.
Stiletto Peak is a 7,660 ft summit located in the Methow Mountains, a sub-range of the North Cascades in Washington state. It is situated in the Stephen Mather Wilderness on a ridge which also has Switchblade Peak and Jackknife Peak to its east. Stiletto Peak is also located on the boundary of North Cascades National Park, 2.24 miles (3.60 km) due north of Hock Mountain. Precipitation runoff on the north side of the mountain drains to Bridge Creek via Copper Creek, whereas the south side of the mountain drains into the East Fork Bridge Creek.
Mineral Mountain is a 6,800-foot (2,100-metre) mountain summit in the Skagit Range of the North Cascades of Washington state. Mineral Mountain is situated in North Cascades National Park and the summit offers views of Mount Shuksan, Icy Peak, and the Picket Range. Easy Peak is set 2 mi (3.2 km) to the east, and the nearest higher neighbor is Ruth Mountain, 3.06 mi (4.92 km) to the west. Precipitation runoff from Mineral Mountain finds its way north into the Chilliwack River, and south into the Baker River.
Logger Butte is a 6,160-foot (1,878-metre) mountain summit near the western edge of the North Cascades, in Skagit County of Washington state. It is located north of Marblemount and Diobsud Buttes, on the shared boundary of North Cascades National Park and the Noisy-Diobsud Wilderness. The nearest higher peak is Electric Butte, 1.0 mi (1.6 km) to the north. Precipitation runoff from Logger Butte drains into tributaries of the Skagit River.
Tricouni Peak is an 8,102-foot (2,469-metre) mountain summit located in Skagit County of Washington state. It is situated in North Cascades National Park, north of the North Klawatti Glacier and southeast of the Borealis Glacier. The nearest higher peak is Primus Peak, 0.54 mi (0.87 km) to the west. Precipitation runoff from Tricouni drains into Thunder Creek. The peak is named for the tricouni which was used for traction on ice, and the approach to the peak involves traversing a glacier.
Styloid Peak is the unofficial name of a 6,972-foot (2,125-metre) mountain summit located in North Cascades National Park in Skagit County of Washington state. Its nearest higher peak is Mantis Peak, 0.33 mi (0.53 km) to the west, and Snowfield Peak rises 1.7 mi (2.7 km) to the west. Precipitation runoff from Styloid Peak drains into Neve Creek and McAllister Creek, both tributaries of Thunder Creek. The first ascent of Styloid Peak was made on May 31, 1981, by John Roper and party, on the same day that they climbed Distal Phalanx. Roper, being a doctor, named some of his many first ascents for anatomical parts of the body.
Nodoubt Peak is a remote 7,290-foot (2,220-metre) mountain summit in the Skagit Range of the North Cascades of Washington state. Nodoubt Peak is situated in North Cascades National Park, 2.2 kilometres south of the Canada–United States border. The nearest higher peak is Canuck Peak, 1.43 mi (2.30 km) to the southeast, and Mount Redoubt rises 3.04 mi (4.89 km) also to the southeast of Nodoubt. Nodoubt Peak was named by a group of geologists who climbed the peak in 1967. The toponym is a word play on Mount Redoubt's name. Precipitation runoff from Nodoubt Peak drains into tributaries of the Chilliwack River.
Pinnacle Peak is a 7,386 ft (2,251 m) mountain summit in the North Cascades Range of Washington, United States. It is located within North Cascades National Park, between Pyramid Peak and Paul Bunyans Stump, which is the nearest higher peak. 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 and Snowfield Peak. Like many North Cascade peaks, Pinnacle Peak is more notable for its large, steep rise above local terrain than for its absolute elevation. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into Diablo Lake and Skagit River. The approach is via the Pyramid Lake Trail, starting near Diablo Dam on the North Cascades Highway. From the lake, there is route-finding up Pyramid Arm to Colonial Glacier.
Pinnacle Mountain is an 8,400-foot (2,560-metre) granitic multi-peak massif located in the Chelan Mountains, in Chelan County of Washington state. The mountain is situated in the Glacier Peak Wilderness of the North Cascades, on land managed by Wenatchee National Forest. Pinnacle Mountain ranks as the fourth-highest peak in the Chelan Mountains, and 77th-highest summit in Washington state. The 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.
Indecision Peak is a 7,945 ft (2,420 m) double-summit mountain located in the North Cascades in the U.S. state of Washington. It situated in North Cascades National Park, on the crest of the Cascade Range, on the shared border of Chelan County with Skagit County. Despite its position only 5 mi (8.0 km) west of the North Cascades Highway, it is not visible from any road. Its nearest higher neighbor is Mount Arriva, 0.92 mi (1.48 km) to the north. The first ascent of the summit was made August 2, 1972, by Bill Arundell, Frank King, Marilyn and Stan Jensen, and Joanne Williams. The lower northeast summit is known as Meulefire Peak (~7,930 ft), which is a portmanteau of Meulemans and Firey, the names of the first mountaineers to climb it in 1966.
Indian Mountain is a remote 7,133-foot (2,174-metre) mountain summit in the Skagit Range of the North Cascades, in Whatcom County of Washington state. Indian Mountain is situated in North Cascades National Park, seven miles (11 km) south of the Canada–United States border. The nearest higher neighbor is Red Face Mountain, 1.14 mi (1.83 km) to the southeast, and Whatcom Peak rises 2.9 mi (4.7 km) to the south. Although modest in elevation, relief is significant since this peak rises over 4,100 feet above Brush Creek Valley in approximately one mile. Precipitation runoff from Indian Mountain drains into tributaries of the Chilliwack River.
Lookout Mountain is a 5,699-foot (1,737 m) summit in the North Cascades, in Skagit County of Washington state. It is located five miles (8.0 km) east-northeast of the town of Marblemount, and set on land administered by the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The nearest higher neighbor is Teebone Ridge, two miles (3.2 km) to the east-northeast. At the top of Lookout Mountain is a historic US Forest Service lookout station that was built in 1962, which replaced a 1929 structure. Views from the top include Sauk Mountain to the west, with Eldorado Peak and the Picket Range in North Cascades National Park to the east and north respectively. The peak is just one mile outside the park boundary. Access is via a 4.7-mile (7.6 km) trail which gains over 4,400 feet (1,341 m) of elevation. Precipitation runoff from Lookout Mountain drains into tributaries of the Skagit River.