Pinnacle Peak (Washington)

Pinnacle Peak
Pinnacle Peak and The Castle (right) from Plummer Peak
Highest point
Elevation 6,562 ft (2,000 m)  NGVD 29[1]
Prominence 562 ft (171 m) [1]
Coordinates 46°45′29″N 121°43′57″W / 46.7581647°N 121.7325932°W / 46.7581647; -121.7325932Coordinates: 46°45′29″N 121°43′57″W / 46.7581647°N 121.7325932°W / 46.7581647; -121.7325932 [2]
Geography
Parent range Cascades, Tatoosh Range
Topo map USGS Mount Rainier East
Climbing
Easiest route Scrambling south face

Pinnacle Peak, is a 6,562 ft (2,000 m) peak located in Mount Rainier National Park in Lewis County, Washington. It is the second highest peak in the Tatoosh Range.[3] There is also another Pinnacle Peak near Enumclaw, Washington, roughly 30 miles to the northwest.

The trail to the saddle and summit has views of Rainier. Some scrambling and rock climbing is needed to attain the summit.[4] The Castle is situated 0.2 mile to the east.

Climate

Pinnacle Peak is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[4] Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel northeast toward the Cascade Mountains. As fronts approach, 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 Cascades experiences high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall.[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] Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 "Pinnacle Peak, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  2. ↑ "Pinnacle Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  3. ↑ "Pinnacle Peak Trail". Mount Rainier National, National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2007-12-26.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.


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