Twisp Mountain | |
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![]() North aspect | |
Highest point | |
Elevation | 7,161 ft (2,183 m) [1] |
Prominence | 921 ft (281 m) [1] |
Parent peak | Hock Mountain (7,750 ft) [2] |
Isolation | 0.99 mi (1.59 km) [2] |
Coordinates | 48°27′40″N120°39′04″W / 48.4612067°N 120.6511587°W [3] |
Geography | |
Location | Chelan County / Okanogan County Washington, United States |
Parent range | North Cascades |
Topo map | USGS McAlester Mountain |
Twisp Mountain is a 7,161-foot-elevation (2,183 meter) summit located in the Methow Mountains, a subset of the North Cascades in Washington state. [3] It is situated on the shared boundary of North Cascades National Park with Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness, as well as the common border between Chelan County and Okanogan County. Additionally, it rises immediately southwest of Twisp Pass, and one mile northeast of Hock Mountain, the nearest higher neighbor. [1] Precipitation runoff from the west side of Twisp Mountain drains to the Stehekin River via Bridge Creek, whereas the east side of the mountain drains into the South Fork Twisp River.
Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east 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. 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 avalanche danger. [4]
In addition to Twisp Mountain, the Twisp name is applied to Twisp River, Twisp Pass, and the community of Twisp. The common explanation is that Twisp comes from the Okanagan placename /txʷəc'p/, [5] which possibly translates to wasp, yellowjacket, or the sound made by a wasp. [6] This mountain's name has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names. [3]
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 the various climate differences. These climate differences lead to vegetation variety defining the ecoregions in this area.
The history of the formation of the Cascade Mountains dates back millions of years ago to the late Eocene Epoch. [7] With the North American Plate overriding the Pacific Plate, episodes of volcanic igneous activity persisted. [7] In addition, small fragments of the oceanic and continental lithosphere called terranes created the North Cascades about 50 million years ago. [7]
During the Pleistocene period dating back over two million years ago, glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured the landscape leaving deposits of rock debris. [7] 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.
Gilbert Mountain is an 8,023-foot (2,445-metre) massif located in Okanogan County in Washington state. It is part of the North Cascades Range, and is situated in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness. The northwestern extreme of the Gilbert massif connects to the southern end of Kangaroo Ridge. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into the Twisp River. Topographic relief is significant as it rises over 4,000 feet above the river in approximately one mile.
Blue Lake Peak is the unofficial name of a 7,800+ ft summit in the North Cascades Range in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located in the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest on the shared border of Okanogan County and Chelan County. It is situated south of Early Winters Spires, Liberty Bell Mountain, and Washington Pass. Blue Lake is set below its west slope, and Stiletto Peak is to its south. Blue Lake Peak can be seen from the North Cascades Highway at the Blue Lake Trailhead. Precipitation runoff from Blue Lake Peak drains into tributaries of the Chelan River and Methow River.
Crooked Bum is a 6,937-foot-elevation mountain summit on the crest of the North Cascades in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located in the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest on the shared border of Skagit County and Chelan County. It is situated immediately west of Rainy Pass and two miles east of Corteo Peak. The scenic and popular Maple Pass Trail traverses the south slope of the peak while staying above Lake Ann. Precipitation runoff from the north slope of Crooked Bum drains into Granite Creek which is a tributary of the Skagit River, whereas the south side drains into Bridge Creek which is a tributary of the Chelan River.
Hurry-up Peak is a 7,821-foot-elevation 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 at the northern end of the Ptarmigan Traverse. Hurry-up Peak is situated southeast of Cascade Pass on the shared border of North Cascades National Park and Glacier Peak Wilderness. The nearest higher peak is Spider Mountain, 1.49 miles (2.40 km) to the south, with Magic Mountain 0.83 miles (1.34 km) to the north, and Trapper Mountain 0.7 miles (1.1 km) to the east. The S Glacier rests on the eastern flank of the peak and meltwater from it drains into Trapper Lake. Precipitation runoff on the east side the mountain drains into tributaries of the Stehekin River, while precipitation drains into the Cascade River from the west side. Ess Mountain and S Mountain are variant names for Hurry-up Peak. This geographical feature's name was officially adopted in 1969 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.
Star Peak is a 8,690-foot (2,650-metre) mountain summit located in the Methow Mountains, a sub-range of the North Cascades in Washington state. The peak is the highest point on Sawtooth Ridge. It is protected by the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness within the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. The nearest higher peak is Oval Peak, 2.52 miles (4.06 km) to the north. Precipitation runoff on the south side of the mountain drains into Lake Chelan via Prince Creek, whereas the north side of the mountain drains into Buttermilk Creek which is a tributary of the Twisp River.
Castle Rock is an 8,137-foot (2,480-metre) mountain summit located on the shared border of Glacier Peak Wilderness and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area in the North Cascades of Washington state. The mountain is situated above the western shore of Lake Chelan in Chelan County, on land managed by Wenatchee National Forest. Its nearest higher peak is Flora Mountain, 0.7 mi (1.1 km) to the south. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into Lake Chelan via Castle Creek, Canyon Creek, and Bridal Veil Creek.
Glory Mountain is a 7,228-foot (2,203-metre) mountain summit located in the North Cascades Range in Chelan County of Washington state. Glory Mountain is situated southeast of Trapper Lake on the shared border of North Cascades National Park and Glacier Peak Wilderness. The nearest higher peak is Trapper Mountain, 1.72 miles (2.77 km) to the west. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into Cottonwood Creek and Flat Creek, both tributaries of the Stehekin River. An unofficially named secondary peak called Halleluja Peak 7,120+ ft lies 0.32 miles (0.51 km) to the west of the summit.
Wallaby Peak is a 7,995-foot (2,437-metre) mountain summit located on the boundary line of the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness, in Okanogan County, Washington. The mountain is part of the Methow Mountains, which are a subset of the Cascade Range. Wallaby Peak is situated on Kangaroo Ridge which is approximately two miles east and within view of Washington Pass. The nearest higher peak is Big Kangaroo, 0.86 mi (1.38 km) to the north. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into Early Winters Creek, Cedar Creek, and North Fork Twisp River, all of which are tributaries of the Methow River.
Courtney Peak is an 8,392-foot (2,558-metre) mountain summit located in the Methow Mountains, a sub-range of the North Cascades in Washington state. Situated on Sawtooth Ridge, Courtney Peak is part of the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness, a protected area within the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. Courtney Peak ranks 78th on Washington's highest 100 peaks, and 81st on the "Bulger List". The nearest higher peak is Star Peak, 0.83 miles (1.34 km) to the southeast. Precipitation runoff on the west side of the mountain drains into nearby Lake Chelan via Fish Creek, whereas the north side of the mountain drains into Oval Creek, and the east side drains into Buttermilk Creek, both of which are tributaries of the Twisp River. The mountain's name was officially adopted in 1985 to remember James (Ray) Courtney (1920-1982), a commercial packer and lifelong resident of Stehekin. The immediate vicinity of this peak was a favorite destination for his guided outings. Ray Courtney died in an accident while leading such a pack trip with 29 hikers when the horse he was riding lost its footing and fell down a gully.
Gray Peak is an 8,082-foot (2,463-metre) mountain summit located in the Methow Mountains, a sub-range of the North Cascades in Washington state. Situated on Sawtooth Ridge, west of Oval Lakes, Gray Peak is protected by the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness within the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. The nearest higher peak is Courtney Peak, 1.07 miles (1.72 km) to the southeast. Precipitation runoff on the south side of the mountain drains into nearby Lake Chelan via Fish Creek, whereas the north side of the mountain drains into Oval Creek, which is a tributary of the Twisp River.
Finney Peak is an 8,110-foot (2,470-metre) mountain summit located West of Sawtooth Ridge(The Sawtooths), a sub-range of the North Cascades in Chelan County of Washington state. Finney Peak is situated within the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness on land managed by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. The nearest higher peak is Star Peak, 3 miles (4.8 km) to the northeast. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into nearby Lake Chelan via Prince Creek and Cascade Creek.
Emerald Peak is an 8,422-foot-elevation (2,567-meter) mountain summit located in the Chelan Mountains, in Chelan County of Washington state.
Saska Peak is an 8,404 ft (2,560 m) mountain summit 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. Saska Peak ranks as the third-highest peak in the Chelan Mountains, and 74th-highest summit in Washington state. Its nearest higher neighbor is Emerald Peak, 0.66 mi (1.06 km) to the east-northeast, and Cardinal Peak is positioned 1.52 mi (2.45 km) to the east-southeast. These three highest peaks of the Chelan Mountains enclose the head of North Fork Entiat River valley. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into the Entiat River drainage basin. The mountain's name honors Shil-how-Saskt, Tribal chief of the Entiat people, and was applied by Albert Hale Sylvester (1871-1944), a pioneer surveyor, topographer, and forest supervisor who named thousands of geographic features in the Cascades. In the Columbia-Moses language (Salishan), this name means "Standing in the middle of the sky."
Bearcat Ridge is a 7,960+ ft mountain ridge located in the Chelan Mountains, in Chelan County of Washington state. It is situated on the boundary of Glacier Peak Wilderness, on land managed by Wenatchee National Forest. Its nearest higher peak is Emerald Peak, 1.1 mi (1.8 km) to the south-southwest, and Cardinal Peak is positioned 1.76 mi (2.83 km) to the south. Precipitation runoff from the ridge drains into nearby Lake Chelan via Emerald Creek and Bearcat Creek. Bearcat Ridge forms the high divide between these two creek valleys.
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.
Skykomish Peak is a 6,368-foot (1,941-metre) mountain summit located in the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness in the North Cascades of Washington state. The mountain is situated on the crest of the Cascade Range, on the shared border of Snohomish County with Chelan County, and also straddling the boundary between Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Skykomish Peak is located 15 mi (24 km) to the north of Stevens Pass, and the Pacific Crest Trail traverses the east slope of this peak. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains west into the Skykomish River, or east into Cady Creek which is a tributary of Little Wenatchee River. This mountain's name derives from its position at the head of the North Fork Skykomish River, and "Skykomish" comes from the Lushootseed word for the Skykomish people, sq̓ixʷəbš, meaning "upriver people".
White Goat Mountain is a 7,800+ ft mountain summit located in the Glacier Peak Wilderness of the North Cascades in Washington state. The mountain is situated in Chelan County, on land managed by Wenatchee National Forest. Its nearest higher neighbor is Tupshin Peak, 0.7 mi (1.1 km) to the northeast, and Devore Peak is 1.02 mi (1.64 km) to the south. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains to nearby Lake Chelan via Company and Devore Creeks. The first ascent was made September 10, 1940, by Everett and Ida Zacher Darr, Joe Leuthold, and Eldon Metzger. A herd of mountain goats beneath the peak was their inspiration for so naming this geographical feature.
Hock Mountain is a 7,750-foot-elevation summit located in the Methow Mountains, a subset of the North Cascades in Washington state. It is situated on the triple-shared boundary of North Cascades National Park, Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, as well as the shared border between Chelan County and Okanogan County. Additionally, it lies one mile southwest of Twisp Mountain, and 2.24 miles (3.60 km) due south of Stiletto Peak, the nearest higher neighbor. The north face is steep, granitic rock, but the west slope is more moderate, allowing a scramble ascent. Precipitation runoff from the north and west sides of Hock drains to the Stehekin River via Bridge Creek, whereas the south and east sides of the mountain drain into the South Fork Twisp River.
Mother Lode is a 7,905-foot-elevation (2,409-meter) mountain summit located in the North Cascades, in Okanogan County, Washington. It is situated in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness, on land managed by Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. The mountain is part of the Methow Mountains, which are a subset of the Cascade Range, and the peak is approximately two miles east of the crest of the range. Mother Lode is set approximately six miles south of Washington Pass, and the nearest higher neighbor is Gilbert Mountain, three miles to the northeast. Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises 3,500 feet above the South Fork Twisp River in one mile. The peak was climbed in 1983 by Rick La Belle and Glen Sterr via the north ridge, and the northeast ridge was climbed in 1985 by Carl and Gordon Skoog. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into tributaries of Twisp River, which in turn is a tributary of the Methow River.
Mount Bigelow is an 8,449-foot-elevation (2,575-meter) mountain summit located on the border shared by Okanogan and Chelan counties in Washington state.