Prairie Mountain

Prairie Mountain
Prairie Mountain
	Prairie Mountain seen with Sauk River
Highest point
Elevation	5,678 ft (1,731 m)
Prominence	1,358 ft (414 m)
Isolation	4.87 mi (7.84 km)
Coordinates	48°16′31″N121°28′16″W / 48.275179°N 121.471161°W
Geography
	Prairie Mountain Location in Washington Prairie Mountain Prairie Mountain (the United States)
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	Snohomish
Parent range	Cascade Range
Topo map	USGS Prairie Mountain
Climbing
Easiest route	class 3 scrambling

Last updated April 08, 2024

Prairie Mountain is a 5,678-foot-elevation (1,731 meter) mountain summit near the western edge of the North Cascades, in Snohomish County of Washington state.^[3] It is located six miles east of Darrington, Washington, and northwest of Glacier Peak which is one of the Cascade stratovolcanoes. It is situated on land administered by the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The nearest higher peak is White Chuck Mountain, 4.7 miles (7.6 km) to the south-southeast.^[1] Precipitation runoff from Prairie Mountain drains into the Sauk River and Suiattle River, both tributaries of the Skagit River. The mountain was so named because of the beautiful prairie at its base.^[4]

Climate

Prairie Mountain is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.^[5] 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.^[5] Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger.^[5] 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.^[5] 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).^[5]

Geology

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.^[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 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.

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Magic Mountain is a 7,610-foot (2,320-metre) mountain summit located on the shared boundary of Skagit County and Chelan County in Washington state. It is part of the North Cascades, a subset of the Cascade Range. Magic Mountain is situated southeast of Cascade Pass on the shared border of North Cascades National Park and Glacier Peak Wilderness. The nearest peak is Pelton Peak 0.4 miles (0.64 km) to the northeast, and the nearest higher peak is Hurry-up Peak 0.83 miles (1.34 km) to the south. The Yawning Glacier and Cache Col Glacier rest on its northern flank. Magic Mountain is at the northern end of the Ptarmigan Traverse. Surface runoff on the north side the mountain drains into the Stehekin River, while precipitation drains into the Cascade River from the southwest side.

Repulse Peak is a 7,923-foot (2,415-metre) mountain summit in the North Cascades in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located on the border of the Stephen Mather Wilderness and North Cascades National Park. It is situated midway between Black Peak and Fisher Peak, and can be seen from the North Cascades Highway. Precipitation runoff from Repulse Peak drains into tributaries of the Skagit River and Stehekin River. Topographic relief is significant as the east face rises over 2,900 feet in 0.53 mile (0.85 km).

McKay Ridge is a 7,000+ ft ridge located in Whatcom County in Washington state. It is part of the Okanogan Range which is a sub-range of the North Cascades. It's situated north of the North Cascades Highway on land administered by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. The nearest higher peak is Majestic Mountain, 1.6 miles (2.6 km) to the northeast. Precipitation runoff from the ridge drains into Ross Lake via tributaries of the Skagit River.

Sheep Mountain is a 6,166-foot-elevation (1,879-meter) summit near the western edge of the North Cascades, in Snohomish County of Washington state. It is located one mile east of Barlow Pass along the Mountain Loop Highway near the Monte Cristo area. It is situated on land administered by the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Back in the old mining days of the late 1800s, the long sub-range stretching from Cadet Peak to Sheep Mountain was known as Pride of the Mountains Range. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the Sauk River.

Jumbo Mountain is a 5,825-foot-elevation (1,775-meter) summit near the western edge of the North Cascades, in Snohomish County of Washington state. It is located four miles south of Darrington, Washington, along the Mountain Loop Highway. It is situated in the Boulder River Wilderness on land administered by the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The mountain was named by miners for its resemblance to an elephant. The nearest higher peak is Buckeye Peak, 3.34 miles (5.38 km) to the west. Precipitation runoff from Jumbo Mountain drains into tributaries of the Stillaguamish River and Sauk River.

Porcupine Peak is a 7,762-foot-elevation (2,366-meter) mountain located in Skagit County of Washington state.

Blackbeard Peak, also spelled Black Beard Peak, is a 7,241-foot mountain summit in the North Cascades in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located in the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest in Skagit County. It is situated northwest of Rainy Pass, southwest of Porcupine Peak, and southeast of Graybeard Peak. Its nearest higher neighbor is Repulse Peak, 1.06 mi (1.71 km) to the west. Blackbeard Peak can be seen from the North Cascades Highway. Precipitation runoff from Blackbeard Peak drains into Granite Creek, a tributary of the Skagit River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises over 3,000 feet above Granite Creek in one mile (1.6 km).

Rainy Peak is a 7,768 ft (2,368 m) summit in the Cascade Range in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located 3 kilometers south of Rainy Pass and one kilometer southeast of Frisco Mountain on the borders of the Stephen Mather Wilderness and North Cascades National Park. Its nearest higher peak is Corteo Peak, 2.33 mi (3.75 km) to the northwest. Precipitation runoff from Rainy Peak drains into Rainy Lake and tributaries of Bridge Creek. The retreating Lyall Glacier in its north cirque contributes to waterfalls which tumble 1,000 ft (300 m) into Rainy Lake.

Crooked Bum is a 6,937-foot-elevation mountain summit on the crest of the North Cascades in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located in the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest on the shared border of Skagit County and Chelan County. It is situated immediately west of Rainy Pass and two miles east of Corteo Peak. The scenic and popular Maple Pass Trail traverses the south slope of the peak while staying above Lake Ann. Precipitation runoff from the north slope of Crooked Bum drains into Granite Creek which is a tributary of the Skagit River, whereas the south side drains into Bridge Creek which is a tributary of the Chelan River.

Round Mountain is a 5,369-foot mountain summit at the western edge of the North Cascades, in Skagit County of Washington state. It is located nine miles northwest of Darrington, Washington, and is situated on land administered by the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Round Mountain is remarkable for its 4,840 feet of prominence which ranks as the most in Skagit County, and eighth-most of all the mountains in Washington state. The nearest higher peak is Whitehorse Mountain, 7.85 miles (12.63 km) to the south-southeast. Precipitation runoff from Round Mountain drains into tributaries of the Stillaguamish River.

Hurry-up Peak is a 7,821-foot-elevation summit located on the shared boundary of Skagit County and Chelan County in Washington state. It is positioned on the crest of the North Cascades Range, and is set at the northern end of the Ptarmigan Traverse. Hurry-up Peak is situated southeast of Cascade Pass on the shared border of North Cascades National Park and Glacier Peak Wilderness. The nearest higher peak is Spider Mountain, 1.49 miles (2.40 km) to the south, with Magic Mountain 0.83 miles (1.34 km) to the north, and Trapper Mountain 0.7 miles (1.1 km) to the east. The S Glacier rests on the eastern flank of the peak and meltwater from it drains into Trapper Lake. Precipitation runoff on the east side the mountain drains into tributaries of the Stehekin River, while precipitation drains into the Cascade River from the west side. Ess Mountain and S Mountain are variant names for Hurry-up Peak. This geographical feature's toponym was officially adopted in 1969 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.

Logger Butte is a 6,160-foot (1,880-metre) mountain summit near the western edge of the North Cascades, in Skagit County of Washington state. It is located north of Marblemount and Diobsud Buttes, on the shared boundary of North Cascades National Park and the Noisy-Diobsud Wilderness. Its nearest higher peak is Electric Butte, 1.0 mi (1.6 km) to the north. Precipitation runoff from Logger Butte drains into tributaries of the Skagit River.

Mount Ballard is an 8,371-foot (2,551-metre) double-summit mountain located in eastern Whatcom County of Washington state. It is part of the Okanogan Range which is a sub-range of the North Cascades Range, and the mountain is situated on land administered by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. Ballard ranks 84th on Washington's highest 100 peaks. The nearest higher neighbor is Azurite Peak, 2.04 miles (3.28 km) to the south. Precipitation runoff from Mount Ballard drains into Mill Creek and Slate Creek, both tributaries of the Skagit River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises approximately 4,000 feet above Mill Creek in one mile (1.6 km).

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.

Tiffany Mountain is an 8,245-foot (2,513-metre) mountain summit located in Okanogan County in Washington state. It is the highest point in the Tiffany Range, which is a sub-range of the Okanogan Range. The mountain is situated on the east side of the Cascade crest, on land managed by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. The nearest higher peak is Windy Peak, 18 miles (29 km) to the north. Precipitation runoff from Tiffany Mountain drains into tributaries of the Columbia River.

Sherman Peak is an 8,204-foot (2,501-metre) mountain summit located in western Okanogan County in Washington state. It is part of the Okanogan Range which is a subset of the North Cascades. This remote mountain is on Isabella Ridge, 10.5 mi (16.9 km) north-northeast of Mazama, on land administered by the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest. The nearest higher neighbor is Big Craggy Peak, 2 miles (3.2 km) to the north. Precipitation runoff from Sherman drains into tributaries of the Methow River.

References

1 2 3 4 "Prairie Mountain, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
↑ "Prairie Mountain - 5,678' WA". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
↑ "Prairie Mountain". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 2021-03-02.
↑ Edmond S. Meany, Origin of Washington Geographic Names, University of Washington Press, 1923, pg. 230
1 2 3 4 5 Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
1 2 3 4 Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.

External links

Mountain Forecast: Prairie Mountain
Prairie Mountain photo: Flickr

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[pb-1] 1 2 3 4 "Prairie Mountain, Washington". Peakbagger.com.

[listsofjohn-2] "Prairie Mountain - 5,678' WA". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2021-03-02.

[gnis-3] "Prairie Mountain". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 2021-03-02.

[4] Edmond S. Meany, Origin of Washington Geographic Names, University of Washington Press, 1923, pg. 230

[Beckey,_Fred_W_2008-5] 1 2 3 4 5 Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.

[Kruckeberg-6] 1 2 3 4 Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.

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