Ice Box (Washington)

Last updated
Ice Box
Ice Box from Upper Ice Lake.jpg
Ice Box (summit left) from Upper Ice Lake
Highest point
Elevation 8,112 ft (2,473 m) [1]
Prominence 472 ft (144 m) [1]
Parent peak Mount Maude (9040+ ft)
Isolation 1.51 mi (2.43 km) [1]
Coordinates 48°06′44″N120°47′44″W / 48.112143°N 120.79555°W / 48.112143; -120.79555 [1]
Geography
USA Washington relief location map.jpg
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Ice Box
Location in Washington
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Ice Box
Ice Box (the United States)
Location Chelan County
Washington, U.S.
Parent range Entiat Mountains
North Cascades
Topo map USGS Trinity
Climbing
Easiest route class 3

Ice Box is an 8,112-foot (2,473-metre) mountain summit located in the Entiat Mountains, a sub-range of the North Cascades, in Chelan County of Washington state. Ice Box ranks as ninth-highest in the Entiat Mountains, and 147th of Washington's highest 200 peaks. [1] Its nearest higher neighbor is Mount Maude, 1.8 miles (2.9 km) to the north, Spectacle Buttes are set 1.9 miles (3.1 km) to the northeast, and Chilly Peak is 1.3 miles (2.1 km) to the southeast. Ice Box is situated 1.25 miles (2.01 km) south of Ice Lakes in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains east into Ice Creek, or west into Box Creek. This peak is positioned between these two creeks, hence its name.

Contents

Climate

Lying east of the Cascade crest, the area around Ice Box is a bit drier than areas to the west. Summers can bring warm temperatures and occasional thunderstorms. 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 North Cascades experiences high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. [2] With its impressive height, Ice Box can have snow on it in late-spring and early-fall, and can be very cold in the winter.

Geology

Ice Box (right) from trail to Ice Lakes, (Peak 7919 to left) Trail to Ice Lakes.jpg
Ice Box (right) from trail to Ice Lakes, (Peak 7919 to left)

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. [3] With the North American Plate overriding the Pacific Plate, episodes of volcanic igneous activity persisted. [3] Glacier Peak, a stratovolcano that is 14.7 mi (23.7 km) west of Ice Box, began forming in the mid-Pleistocene. [2] Due to Glacier Peak's proximity to Ice Box, volcanic ash and tephra is common in the area.

During the Pleistocene period dating back over two million years ago, glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured the landscape leaving deposits of rock debris. [3] 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 area.

See also

View from Mt. Maude with Freezer front/center, and Ice Box upper left Freezer and Ice Box from Maude.jpg
View from Mt. Maude with Freezer front/center, and Ice Box upper left

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonanza Peak (Washington)</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

Bonanza Peak is a tall peak in the North Cascades in the U.S. state of Washington and the Glacier Peak Wilderness of the Wenatchee National Forest. At 9,516 feet (2,900 m) in elevation, it is the highest point in Chelan County, and the highest non-volcanic peak in Washington and the Cascade Range as a whole. Bonanza Peak's prominence is 3,711 feet (1,131 m), making it the 26th most prominent peak in Washington. The nearest higher peak is Glacier Peak, 14.4 miles (23.2 km) to the southwest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bacon Peak</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

Bacon Peak is a mountain located in North Cascades National Park, in the Cascade range in the U.S. state of Washington. Its glaciers cover 1.2 square miles (3.2 km2); the three main glaciers are Diobsud Creek Glacier, Green Lake Glacier and Noisy Creek Glacier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tricouni Peak (Washington)</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

Tricouni Peak is an 8,102-foot (2,469-metre) mountain summit located in Skagit County of Washington state. It is situated in North Cascades National Park, north of the North Klawatti Glacier and southeast of the Borealis Glacier. Its nearest higher peak is Primus Peak, 0.54 mi (0.87 km) to the west. Precipitation runoff from Tricouni drains into Thunder Creek. The peak is named for the tricouni which was used for traction on ice, and the approach to the peak involves traversing a glacier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle Rock (Chelan County)</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glory Mountain</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Napeequa Peak</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

Napeequa Peak is an 8,073-foot (2,461-metre) pyramidal mountain summit located in the Glacier Peak Wilderness of the North Cascades in Washington state. The mountain is situated on the crest of the Cascade Range, on the shared border of Snohomish County and Chelan County, also straddling the boundary between the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and the Wenatchee National Forest. Its nearest neighbor is Cirque Mountain, 0.3 mi (0.48 km) to the north, and the nearest higher peak is Buck Mountain, 2.56 mi (4.12 km) to the east-southeast. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains east to the headwaters of Napeequa River; or west into the Suiattle River. The mountain's name is taken from the river's name, which was applied by Albert Hale Sylvester (1871-1944), a pioneer surveyor, explorer, topographer, and forest supervisor in the Cascades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devore Peak</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

Devore Peak is an 8,360+ 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 peak is Martin Peak, 3.36 mi (5.41 km) to the southwest, and Tupshin Peak lies 1.55 mi (2.49 km) to the north-northeast. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains to nearby Lake Chelan via tributaries of the Stehekin River and Devore Creek.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Copper Peak (Washington)</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

Copper Peak is an 8,964-foot (2,732-metre) mountain summit located in the Entiat Mountains, a sub-range of the North Cascades, in Chelan County of Washington state. Copper Peak is situated 80 miles northeast of Seattle in the Glacier Peak Wilderness, on land managed by the Wenatchee National Forest. Copper Peak ranks 22nd on Washington's highest 100 peaks, and 19th on the "Bulger List". The nearest higher peak is Mount Fernow, 0.88 miles (1.42 km) to the south. Precipitation runoff from the mountain and meltwater from the glacier on the southeast slope drains into nearby Lake Chelan via Railroad Creek. The first ascent of the peak was made in August 1937 by Franklin Bennet, Edgar Courtwright, and Toivo Hagman. The peak's name refers to an abandoned copper mine that once operated at the northeast base of the peak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spectacle Buttes</span> Mountains in Washington (state), United States

Spectacle Buttes are a pair of mountain summits located in the Entiat Mountains, a sub-range of the North Cascades, in Chelan County of Washington state. The pyramid-shaped south summit is 8,392-foot (2,558-metre) in elevation, and the lower north butte is 8,080-foot (2,460-metre) in elevation. Spectacle Buttes are situated 77 miles northeast of Seattle in the Glacier Peak Wilderness, on land managed by the Wenatchee National Forest. Spectacle Buttes ranks 78th on Washington's highest 100 peaks, 81st on the "Bulger List", and seventh-highest in the Entiat Mountains. The nearest higher peak is Marmot Pyramid on Mount Maude, 1.9 miles (3.1 km) to the west-northwest. Precipitation runoff from the peaks drains into headwaters of the Entiat River. The first ascent of the south peak was made by Rowland Tabor and Dwight Crowder on August 20, 1953.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emerald Peak (Washington)</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

Emerald Peak is an 8,422-foot-elevation (2,567-meter) mountain summit located in the Chelan Mountains, in Chelan County of Washington state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saska Peak</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

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."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cirque Mountain (Washington)</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

Cirque Mountain is a 7,966-foot (2,428-metre) mountain summit located in the Glacier Peak Wilderness of the North Cascades in Washington state. The mountain is situated on the crest of the Cascade Range, on the shared border of Snohomish County and Chelan County, also straddling the boundary between the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and the Wenatchee National Forest. Its nearest higher peak is Napeequa Peak, 0.3 mi (0.48 km) to the south. The peak is set on Chiwawa Ridge with Napeequa, and other notable peaks on this ridge include Fortress Mountain, Buck Mountain, Brahma Peak, Mount Berge, and Chiwawa Mountain. Topographic relief is significant since the western aspect of the mountain rises 4,000 feet above the Suiattle Valley in approximately 1.5 mi (2.4 km). This mountain has small, unnamed, hanging glaciers in cirques surrounding the summit. Precipitation runoff from the peak and meltwater from the glaciers drains east to the headwaters of Napeequa River; or west into the Suiattle River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pinnacle Mountain (Washington)</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

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.

Martin Peak is an 8,511-foot (2,594-metre) mountain summit located in the North Cascades, in Chelan County of Washington state. Martin Peak is situated 80 miles northeast of Seattle, and 3 mi (4.8 km) northwest of Holden, in the Glacier Peak Wilderness, on land managed by the Wenatchee National Forest. Martin Peak ranks 56th on Washington's highest 100 peaks, and 54th on the "Bulger List". The nearest higher neighbor is Bonanza Peak, 2.35 miles (3.78 km) to the west, and Riddle Peak lies 3.7 miles (6.0 km) to the east-southeast. Precipitation runoff from the mountain and meltwater from the glacier in the east cirque drains into nearby Lake Chelan via Railroad Creek and Company Creek. Topographic relief is significant since the southern aspect of the mountain rises 4,900 feet above the Railroad Creek Valley in approximately 2 mi (3.2 km). The first ascent of the peak was made in July 1936 by Ida Zacher Darr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riddle Peaks</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

Riddle Peaks, also known as Riddle Peak, is an 8,212-foot (2,503-metre) mountain summit located at the head of Riddle Creek in the North Cascades, in Chelan County of Washington state. Riddle Peak is situated on the Glacier Peak Wilderness boundary, six miles west of Lake Chelan, and 2.5 mi (4.0 km) northeast of Holden, on land managed by the Wenatchee National Forest. The nearest higher neighbor is Flora Mountain, 2.25 miles (3.62 km) to the northeast, and Martin Peak lies 3.7 miles (6.0 km) to the west-northwest. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into Lake Chelan via Railroad Creek, Riddle Creek, and Devore Creek. Topographic relief is significant since the southern aspect of the mountain rises 5,000 feet above the Railroad Creek valley in approximately 2 mi (3.2 km). The first ascent of the peak was made September 11, 1940, by Everett and Ida Zacher Darr, Joe Leuthold, and Eldon Metzger via an easy ridge from Tenmile Pass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chilly Peak</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

Chilly Peak is a 7,960+ ft mountain summit located in the Entiat Mountains, a sub-range of the North Cascades, in Chelan County of Washington state. It ranks as 192nd of Washington's highest 200 peaks. Its nearest higher neighbor is Ice Box, 1.3 miles (2.1 km) to the northwest, and Spectacle Buttes are set 2.1 miles (3.4 km) to the north-northeast. Chilly Peak is situated 2.5 miles (4.0 km) south of Ice Lakes in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains east into Ice Creek which is a tributary of the Entiat River, or west into Rock Creek, a tributary of the Chiwawa River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Saul</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

Mount Saul is a prominent 7,293-foot (2,223-metre) mountain summit located in Chelan County of Washington state. The mountain is situated in the Glacier Peak Wilderness, on land managed by the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Mount Saul is the fourth-highest point on Wenatchee Ridge, a subrange which also includes Indian Head Peak, Whittier Peak, Mount David, and Mount Jonathan. Its nearest higher neighbor is Mount David, 3.1 mi (5.0 km) to the south-southeast. Precipitation runoff from Mount Saul drains into tributaries of the White River. Although modest in elevation, relief is significant since the south aspect of Mt. Saul rises 4,000 feet above the Indian Creek Valley in a little more than one mile. This peak was named for the biblical Saul because of its gloomy appearance by Albert Hale Sylvester, a pioneer surveyor, explorer, topographer, and forest supervisor in the Cascades who named thousands of natural features.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carne Mountain</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

Carne Mountain is a 7,080+ ft double-summit mountain located in the Entiat Mountains, a sub-range of the North Cascades, in Chelan County of Washington state. Carne Mountain is situated on the boundary of the Glacier Peak Wilderness, on land managed by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. Its nearest higher neighbor is Chilly Peak, 1.4 miles (2.3 km) to the northeast, and Ice Box is set 1.7 miles (2.7 km) to the north. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains east into Rock Creek, or west into Phelps Creek, both tributaries of the Chiwawa River. This peak can be accessed via the 3.7-mile Carne Mountain Trail which gains 3,600 feet of elevation. The mountain once had a fire lookout building on its south peak. Views from the top include Bandit Peak, Brahma Peak, Buck Mountain, Fortress Mountain, Chiwawa Mountain, Mount Maude, Ice Box, and Chilly. This mountain was named by Albert Hale Sylvester for English clergyman W. Stanely Carnes. This feature is pronounced "karn".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fifth of July Mountain</span> Mountain in Washington (state), United States

Fifth of July Mountain is a 7,696 ft (2,350 m) mountain summit located in the Entiat Mountains, a sub-range of the North Cascades, in Chelan County of Washington state. Fifth of July Mountain is situated in the Glacier Peak Wilderness, on land managed by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. Its nearest higher neighbor is Chilly Peak, 3.8 miles (6.1 km) to the north-northwest, and Carne Mountain is set 4 miles (6.4 km) to the northwest. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains west into Rock Creek which is a tributary of the Chiwawa River, or east into Cow Creek, a tributary of the Entiat River. This geographical feature was named by surveyor Albert Hale Sylvester for the day he visited it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helmet Butte</span> Mountain of Washington (state)

Helmet Butte is a 7,400+ ft summit located in the Glacier Peak Wilderness of the North Cascades in Washington state.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ice Box". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  2. 1 2 Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
  3. 1 2 3 Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.