Windy Peak (Washington)

Windy Peak[2] is an 8,333-foot (2,540-metre) mountain summit located in Okanogan County in Washington state. It is part of the Okanogan Range which is a sub-range of the North Cascades and Cascade Range. The mountain is situated 5 miles (8.0 km) south of the Canada–United States border, on the east side of the Cascade crest, in the Pasayten Wilderness, on land managed by Okanogan National Forest. The nearest higher peak is Haystack Mountain, 9.24 miles (14.87 km) to the northwest in Canada.[1] Precipitation runoff from Windy Peak drains into tributaries of the Methow River and Similkameen River.

Windy Peak
Windy Peak from Horseshoe Basin
Highest point
Elevation8,333 ft (2,540 m) [1]
Prominence1,771 ft (540 m) [1]
ListingWashington major summits 36th
Coordinates48°57′41″N 119°58′14″W [1]
Geography
Windy Peak
Location of Windy Peak in Washington
Windy Peak
Windy Peak (the United States)
Location
Parent rangeOkanogan Range
North Cascades
Cascade Range
Topo mapUSGS Horseshoe Basin
Climbing
Easiest routeHiking via Windy Trail

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.[3]

Geology

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.

Windy Peak from the north

The history of the formation of the Cascade Mountains dates back millions of years ago to the late Eocene Epoch.[4] With the North American Plate overriding the Pacific Plate, episodes of volcanic igneous activity persisted.[4] In addition, small fragments of the oceanic and continental lithosphere called terranes created the North Cascades about 50 million years ago.[4]

During the Pleistocene period dating back over two million years ago, glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured the landscape leaving deposits of rock debris.[4] 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.

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See also

References
  1. "Windy Peak, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  2. "Windy Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
  3. Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
  4. Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.
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