Big Snow Mountain
Big Snow Mountain from Snoqualmie Mountain
Highest point
Elevation6,680 ft (2,040 m)[1]
Prominence1,360 ft (410 m)[1]
Parent peakOvercoat Peak (7,432 ft)[2]
Isolation3.74 mi (6.02 km)[2]
Coordinates47°32′06″N 121°21′58″W / 47.534984°N 121.366119°W / 47.534984; -121.366119[1]
Geography
Big Snow Mountain is located in Washington (state)
Big Snow Mountain
Big Snow Mountain
Location in Washington
Big Snow Mountain is located in the United States
Big Snow Mountain
Big Snow Mountain
Location in the United States
LocationKing County, Washington state, U.S.
Parent rangeCascade Range
Topo mapUSGS Big Snow Mountain
Geology
Type of rockKeechelus andesite
Climbing
First ascent1917 by The Mountaineers[3]
Easiest routeScrambling

Big Snow Mountain is a prominent 6,680-foot (2,040-metre) mountain summit located 7 mi (11 km) north of Snoqualmie Pass in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in eastern King County of Washington state.[4] It is part of the Cascade Range and is situated on land managed by Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the Snoqualmie and Skykomish Rivers. The nearest higher peak is Overcoat Peak, 3.75 mi (6.04 km) to the east-southeast.[1]

Climate

Big Snow Mountain is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[3] 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, causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the Cascades (Orographic lift). As a result, the west side of the Cascades experiences high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. 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.[3] Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger.[3]

Geology

The Alpine Lakes Wilderness features some of the most rugged topography in the Cascade Range with craggy peaks and ridges, deep glacial valleys, and granite walls spotted with over 700 mountain lakes.[5] 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.[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 and shaped the landscape.[6] The last glacial retreat in the Alpine Lakes area began about 14,000 years ago and was north of the Canada–US border by 10,000 years ago.[6] The U-shaped cross section of the river valleys is a result of that 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 Alpine Lakes Wilderness area.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Big Snow Mountain, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  2. 1 2 "Big Snow Mountain - 6,680' WA". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Big Snow Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2019-04-26.
  5. ↑ Smoot, Jeff (2004). Backpacking Washington's Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Helena, Montana: The Globe Pequot Press.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.
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