Mount Terror (Washington)

Inspiration Peak left, Mount Degenhardt centered, and Mount Terror on right, seen from north

Mount Terror is a mountain of the Cascade Range, located in the northwestern corner of Washington in Whatcom County. The peak is in North Cascades National Park, about Template:Convert south of the Canada–United States border.

Nearby mountainsEdit

Mount Terror is the highest peak of the southern Picket Range. The Pickets, north and south, are considered the most Alpine region of the Cascades. Mount Terror was first climbed in 1932 by William Degenhardt and Herbert Strandberg of the Seattle Mountaineers.<ref name=majors>Template:Cite book</ref> Thirty years later Ed Cooper led the first ascent of the more challenging north face.

ClimateEdit

Mount Terror is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.<ref name="Beckey">Template:Cite book</ref> 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 (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.<ref name="Beckey"/> Due to its temperate climate and proximity to the Pacific Ocean, areas west of the Cascade Crest very rarely experience temperatures below Template:Convert or above Template:Convert.<ref name="Beckey"/> 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.<ref name="Beckey"/> Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger.<ref name="Beckey"/>

GeologyEdit

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.

The history of the formation of the Cascade Mountains dates back millions of years ago to the late Eocene Epoch.<ref name=Kruckeberg>Template:Cite book</ref> With the North American Plate overriding the Pacific Plate, episodes of volcanic igneous activity persisted.<ref name=Kruckeberg/> In addition, small fragments of the oceanic and continental lithosphere called terranes created the North Cascades about 50 million years ago.<ref name=Kruckeberg/>

During the Pleistocene period dating back over two million years ago, glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured the landscape leaving deposits of rock debris.<ref name=Kruckeberg/> 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.

ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

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North Cascades National Park National Park Service

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