Kololo Peaks

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Kololo Peaks
Kololo Peaks seen from PCT.jpg
Kololo Peaks seen from Pacific Crest Trail
Highest point
Elevation 8,200 ft (2,500 m) [1]
Prominence 880 ft (270 m) [1]
Parent peak Glacier Peak (10,540 ft) [2]
Isolation 3.38 mi (5.44 km) [2]
Coordinates 48°03′51″N121°05′50″W / 48.06417°N 121.09722°W / 48.06417; -121.09722 [1]
Geography
USA Washington relief location map.jpg
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Kololo Peaks
Location in Washington
Usa edcp relief location map.png
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Kololo Peaks
Location in the United States
CountryUnited States
State Washington
County Snohomish / Chelan
Protected area Glacier Peak Wilderness
Parent range Cascade Range
Topo map USGS Glacier Peak East
Climbing
Easiest route Scrambling

Kololo Peaks is an 8,200+ ft (2,500+ m) mountain 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, and also straddling the boundary between Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and Wenatchee National Forest. The nearest higher peak is Glacier Peak, 3.29 mi (5.29 km) to the north. Precipitation runoff and meltwater from the White River Glacier on the southeast slope drains into White River. On the west slope, the White Chuck Glacier drains into the White Chuck River, and the Suiattle Glacier and Honeycomb Glacier on the north and east sides drain into the Suiattle River. Surrounded by these glaciers, Fred Beckey in his Cascade Alpine Guide describes the mountain as being almost a nunatak.

Contents

Geology

The North Cascades feature 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.

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 3.29 mi (5.29 km) north of Kololo Peaks, began forming in the mid-Pleistocene. [4] In addition, small fragments of the oceanic and continental lithosphere called terranes created the North Cascades about 50 million years ago. [3]

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.

Climate

Kololo Peaks is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America. [4] Most weather fronts originating in the Pacific Ocean travel northeast toward the Cascade Mountains. As fronts approach the North Cascades, 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 North Cascades experiences high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. [4] Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger. [4] 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. [4] Due to its temperate climate and proximity to the Pacific Ocean, areas west of the Cascade Crest very rarely experience temperatures below 0 °F (−18 °C) or above 80 °F (27 °C). [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

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

Chilly Peak is a 7,970-foot (2,429-metre) mountain summit located in the Entiat Mountains, a sub-range of the North Cascades, in Chelan County of Washington state. It ranks as 194th of Washington's highest 200 peaks. The 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, and west into Rock Creek, a tributary of the Chiwawa River.

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

Jove Peak is a 6,007 ft (1,830 m) mountain summit located 5 mi (8.0 km) north of Stevens Pass on the common border of Snohomish County with Chelan County in Washington state. This peak is situated 12 mi (19 km) west of Lake Wenatchee, in the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness, on land managed by Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Jove Peak was named by Albert Hale Sylvester for Jove in association with the mythology-theme of nearby Minotaur and Theseus Lakes which are near Labyrinth Mountain, 2.5 mi (4.0 km) to the northeast. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains west into headwaters of Rapid River, or east into Rainy Creek which is a tributary of the Little Wenatchee River.

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

Black Mountain is a 7,262-foot-elevation (2,213-meter) summit located in the North Cascades, in Snohomish County of Washington state. The mountain is situated in the Glacier Peak Wilderness on land managed by Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Neighbors include line parent Kololo Peaks, 6 mi (9.7 km) to the east, Painted Mountain two miles west, and Glacier Peak is 5 mi (8.0 km) to the northeast. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains west into tributaries of the North Fork Sauk River, and east into the White Chuck River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 3,460 feet above the White Chuck in two miles. The first ascent of the summit was likely made in 1897 by a survey team including A. H. Dubor, Thomas G. Gerdine, and Sam Strom, who named the mountain for the dark color of its rock. The ascent from the north via Lake Byrne is non-technical.

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

Mount Buckindy is a remote 7,320-foot-elevation (2,230-meter) mountain summit located in the North Cascades, in Skagit County of Washington state. It is the second-highest point of the Buckindy Range, or Buckindy Ridge. It is set in the Glacier Peak Wilderness on land managed by the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. It is situated 20 miles east-northeast of Darrington, Washington, and 17 miles north-northwest of Glacier Peak which is one of the Cascade stratovolcanoes. Precipitation runoff from Mount Buckindy drains south to the Suiattle River via Buck Creek and Downey Creek, and north to the Cascade River via Kindy Creek. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 4,700 feet above Kindy Creek in less than two miles. The mountain's toponym is a portmanteau of Buck and Kindy Creeks, and has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names.

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

Helmet Butte is a 7,400-foot (2,256-metre) summit located in the Glacier Peak Wilderness of the North Cascades in Washington state.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Kololo Peaks, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  2. 1 2 "Kololo Peaks - 8,220' WA". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.