Colchuck Peak

Colchuck Peak[3] is an 8,705-foot (2,653-metre) mountain located in the Stuart Range, in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Chelan County of Washington state. The nearest higher peak is Dragontail Peak, 0.49 mi (0.79 km) to the east, and Argonaut Peak lies 0.9 mi (1.4 km) to the southwest.[1] The Colchuck Glacier which lies on the northeast slopes of the peak melts into Colchuck Lake. The mountain and glacier take their name from the lake, which in Chinook jargon means "cold water". Precipitation runoff from the peak drains north into Mountaineer Creek, a tributary of Icicle Creek, or south into Ingalls Creek, all of which winds up in the Wenatchee River.

Colchuck Peak
Colchuck Peak from near Colchuck Lake
Highest point
Elevation8,705+ ft (2,650+ m) [1]
Prominence665 ft (200 m) [1]
Coordinates47°28′42″N 120°50′47″W [1]
Geography
Colchuck Peak
Colchuck Peak
Colchuck Peak (the United States)
Parent rangeCascades
Topo mapUSGS Enchantment Lakes
Geology
Age of rockCretaceous
Type of rockGranite
Climbing
First ascent1948 Elvin and Norma Johnson, William and Kathy Long
Easiest routeScrambling[2]

Climate

Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east 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 Cascades experience 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.[4]

Geology
Colchuck Peak detail

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] Colchuck Peak is situated in part of the Mount Stuart batholith, a large area of clean granite rock that forms the Stuart Range.

Argonaut Peak (left) and Colchuck Peak (right)

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 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 are 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.

References
  1. "Colchuck Peak, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  2. "Colchuck Peak". Peakware.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2019-04-19.
  3. "Colchuck Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2019-04-26.
  4. Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
  5. Smoot, Jeff (2004). Backpacking Washington's Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Helena, Montana: The Globe Pequot Press.
  6. Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.
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