Williams Peak (British Columbia)

Williams Peak is a prominent 2,123-metre (6,965-foot) mountain summit located in the Chilliwack River valley of the Cascade Mountains in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is situated 14 km (9 mi) north of the Canada–United States border, 6 km (4 mi) northwest of Chilliwack Lake, and 6.7 km (4 mi) southeast of Foley Peak, which is its nearest higher peak. Williams Peak is the highest point of the South Hope Mountains, which is a subset of the Skagit Range.[3] Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into tributaries of the Chilliwack River. The mountain's name was officially adopted April 7, 1955, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.[4] Williams Peak was first climbed July 1908 by James J. McArthur and E.T. de Coeli via the southwest ridge.[1]

Williams Peak
Williams Peak, west aspect
Highest point
Elevation2,123 m (6,965 ft) [1]
Prominence793 m (2,602 ft) [1]
Parent peakFoley Peak (2293 m)[1]
Coordinates49°07′46″N 121°30′19″W [2]
Geography
Williams Peak
Location in British Columbia
Williams Peak
Williams Peak (Canada)
LocationBritish Columbia, Canada
Parent rangeSkagit Range
North Cascades
Topo mapNTS 92H/4
Geology
Mountain typeIntrusive
Volcanic arc/beltPemberton Volcanic Belt
Climbing
First ascent1908 by James J. McArthur and E.T. de Coeli
Easiest routeScrambling

Geology

Williams Peak is related to the Chilliwack batholith, which intruded the region 26 to 29 million years ago after the major orogenic episodes in the region. This is part of the Pemberton Volcanic Belt, an eroded volcanic belt that formed as a result of subduction of the Farallon Plate starting 29 million years ago.[5][6][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.[8] 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.

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 which lead to vegetation variety defining the ecoregions in this area.

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Williams Peak is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[9] Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east toward the Cascade Range where they are forced upward by the range (Orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall. As a result, the Cascade Mountains experience high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. The months July through September offer the most favorable weather for climbing Williams Peak.

Climbing Routes

Established rock climbing routes on Williams Peak:[1]

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See also

References
  1. "Williams Peak". Bivouac.com. Retrieved 2019-11-28.
  2. "Williams Peak". BC Geographical Names.
  3. "Williams Peak, British Columbia". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2019-11-28.
  4. "Williams Peak". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2019-11-28.
  5. Cenozoic to Recent plate configurations in the Pacific Basin: Ridge subduction and slab window magmatism in western North America
  6. Miocene peralkaline volcanism in west-central British Columbia - Its temporal and plate-tectonics setting
  7. Catalogue of Canadian volcanoes: Franklin Glacier Archived 2010-12-11 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.
  9. Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L. & McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11. ISSN 1027-5606.
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