Castle Peak (Washington)

Castle Peak[4] is a prominent 8,306-foot (2,532-metre) mountain summit located in the Hozameen Range of the North Cascades, on the shared border between Okanogan County and Whatcom County of Washington state. The mountain is situated 1 mile (1.6 km) south of the Canada–United States border, on the Cascade crest, in the Pasayten Wilderness, on land managed by Okanogan National Forest. The nearest higher peak is Jack Mountain, 14.8 miles (23.8 km) to the south-southwest.[1] Castle Peak is the second highest summit of the Hozameen Range following Jack Mountain. Castle Peak is the fifth-most prominent mountain in the Pasaten Wilderness.[5] Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains east into Castle Creek, a tributary of the Similkameen River, or west into tributaries of the Skagit River.

Castle Peak
Castle Peak seen from Frosty Mountain
Highest point
Elevation8,306 ft (2,532 m) [1]
Prominence3,226 ft (983 m) [1]
Parent peakJack Mountain
ListingWashington highest major summits 40th
Coordinates48°58′56″N 120°51′44″W [1]
Geography
Castle Peak
Location of Castle Peak in Washington
Castle Peak
Castle Peak (the United States)
Location
Parent rangeHozameen Range
North Cascades
Cascade Range
Topo mapUSGS Castle Peak
Geology
Type of rockGranite[2]
Climbing
First ascent1904 USGS Survey party [3][2]
Easiest routeScrambling[2]

Geology

The North Cascades features some of the most rugged topography in the Cascade Range with craggy peaks, granite 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 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 are 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.

Climate

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 higher precipitation than the east side, 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.[2]

Climbing Routes

Established climbing routes on Castle Peak:[2]

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See also

References
  1. "Castle Peak, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  2. Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
  3. "Castle Peak". Bivouac.com. Retrieved 2019-06-27.
  4. "Castle Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
  5. "Pasayten Wilderness : Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering : SummitPost". Summitpost.org. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  6. Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.
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