Castle Rock (Chelan County)

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.[3] 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.[1] Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into Lake Chelan via Castle Creek, Canyon Creek, and Bridal Veil Creek.

Castle Rock
Castle Rock from Lake Chelan
Highest point
Elevation8,137 ft (2,480 m) [1]
Prominence537 ft (164 m) [1]
Parent peakFlora Mountain 8320 ft [1]
Coordinates48°15′27″N 120°41′34″W [1]
Geography
Castle Rock
Washington, U.S.
Castle Rock
Castle Rock (the United States)
Parent rangeNorth Cascades
Cascade Range
Topo mapUSGS Stehekin
Climbing
First ascent1917 by Geodetic Surveyr[2]
Easiest routeScrambling class 2-3

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 North Cascades experiences high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall.[2] 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.[2]

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.[4] With the North American Plate overriding the Pacific Plate, episodes of volcanic igneous activity persisted.[4] Glacier Peak, a stratovolcano that is 21 mi (34 km) southwest of Tupshin Peak, began forming in the mid-Pleistocene.[2] 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.

See also
Castle Rock above Lake Chelan

References
  1. "Castle Rock, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  2. Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
  3. "Castle Rock". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2019-04-26.
  4. Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.
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