Cowlitz Chimneys

Cowlitz Chimneys are a group of four rhyolite towers located in Mount Rainier National Park in Pierce County of Washington state.[4] As part of the Cascade Range, the Cowlitz Chimneys are situated southwest of Tamanos Mountain and east of Banshee Peak, all of which are visible from the Sunrise Historic District. The Sarvant Glacier is set on the north aspect of these remnants of a volcanic plug. Cowlitz is the name of several geographical features in Mount Rainier National Park, as well as the state of Washington. The name appeared as early as the Lewis and Clark journals of 1805 when it was written as "Cowliskee" and has the Chinook Jargon meaning of "capturing the medicine spirit".[5]

• Main (South) Cowlitz Chimney - 7,605 ft[1]
• Central Cowlitz Chimney - 7,421 ft[1]
• North Cowlitz Chimney - 7,015 ft[1]
• Third Cowlitz Chimney - 6,640+ ft[6]

Cowlitz Chimneys
North Cowlitz Chimney seen from State Route 123
Highest point
Elevation	7,605 ft (2,318 m) [1]
Prominence	965 ft (294 m) [1]
Parent peak	Little Tahoma Peak (11,138 ft)[2]
Isolation	4.84 mi (7.79 km) [2]
Coordinates	46°50′56″N 121°36′34″W
Geography
Cowlitz Chimneys Location of Cowlitz Chimneys in Washington Show map of Washington (state) Cowlitz Chimneys Cowlitz Chimneys (the United States) Show map of the United States
Location	Mount Rainier National Park Pierce County, Washington, U.S.
Parent range	Cascades
Topo map	USGS Chinook Pass
Geology
Type of rock	Rhyolite
Climbing
First ascent	1915 by The Mountaineers[3]
Easiest route	Scrambling class 3

Climate

Cowlitz Chimneys

The Cowlitz Chimneys are 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, 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 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. Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger. Precipitation runoff from Cowlitz Chimneys drains into the Cowlitz River.[1]

See also

• Geography of Washington (state)
• Geology of the Pacific Northwest

References

1. "Cowlitz Chimneys, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
2. "Cowlitz Chimneys, South- 7,605' WA". listsofjohn.com. 49134. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
3. Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
4. "Cowlitz Chimneys". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
5. Mount Rainier National Park Place Names. Gary Fuller Reese (author), 2009.
6. "Cowlitz Chimneys-Third Chimney, Washington". Peakbagger.com.

External links

• Media related to Cowlitz Chimneys at Wikimedia Commons
• National Park Service web site: Mount Rainier National Park
• Cowlitz Chimneys weather: Mountain Forecast